Text: John 14: 1 - 6
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
There are, I suppose a number of reasons or factors which influence and affect our level of faith and trust at any given time. One thing which is most likely to be detrimental and a hindrance is a bad conscience; that is a bad conscience regarding sin. This can often trouble the longstanding Christian more than the new convert. This is because usuaiiy, the ionger one has been a believer, it is expected that the more sensitive and aware he becomes of the sin in his life. And as one recognizes, that despite having known about God‘ 5 grace towards him for many years, despite knowing and having heard many times of the severity of the sacrifice, the suffering, the pain that Jesus went through, still somehow, such cannot manage to be properly rid of sin. To one's shame we stiil find ourseives succumbing to it and thus remains a sinner.
Compared to the unbeliever, the Christian‘ 5 understanding and realization about what constitutes sin in Gods eyes, is an enlightened view. The worldly man will often justify his failings and shortcomings and is able to overlook them with his claim that he is doing his best, and does not feel that punishment should be applied to him. But the Christian view should differ, by showing godly sorrow and contrite heart for sin. One who is child of God should know very well that sin cannot be just brushed aside with by saying: “Well, I am doing my best, and if that is not good enough, then that is too bad”. No, the Christian conscience does not allow for that. We need to acknowledge sin, its damning consequences and that we are in need of mercy and forgiveness.