Title: Last Stronghold/Luke 9:7-9
content last bastion
Our country has produced many prisoners of conscience in the recent democratization process, and there have been many declarations of conscience. Conscience is a precious gift from God to people. God uses His Word, the Bible, and conscience to guide people in the path of righteousness. Since the fall of man, the function of conscience has not been perfect, but if people listen to their inner voice and live conscientiously, our society will be much better. Through today's text, I would like to receive a lesson about the role of the conscience.
First, King Herod was rebuked.
King Herod, who slaughtered infants at the time of Jesus' birth, ruled the whole country, but after his death, the country was divided into four regions and divided into rule. Herod in the text ruled Galilee as his son. Because he had abandoned his wife and lived with his brother-in-law, he was publicly rebuked by John the Baptist for his immoral life. Among the kings of the Old Testament, the most wicked people were King Ahab of the Northern Kingdom and his wife, Queen Jezebel, during the divided kingdom. The figures of the New Testament era that can be compared to them are King Herod and Herodias.
Second, King Herod was pierced.
When people are rebuked for their sins, broadly speaking, they show two reactions. One is to rebel without any regard at all, and the other is to suffer with remorse. The former reaction occurs when the person's conscience is dulled and becomes numb. These people are also called demons in human disguise because they sin so innocently.
"Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord, that from now on you do not walk as the Gentiles do in the vanity of their hearts. Their understanding is darkened, and they are turning away from the life of God because of the ignorance that is among them and the hardening of their hearts. Come, they became numb, and gave themselves over to licentiousness, doing every unclean thing with greediness” (Ephesians 4:17-19).
They are referred to in the Bible as those whose consciences have been burned with fire.
“But the Holy Spirit plainly says that in the latter days some will depart from the faith and turn to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons.
The good news is that for most people, the conscience is functioning, though limited. A person like King Herod was also stabbed when he heard the rebuke of John the Baptist and suffered greatly (Mark 6:20). That's not all. He eventually beheaded John the Baptist, but his conscience was not quiet. He continued to rebuke him for his sins. Herod was so remorseful that he even thought that John, whom he had killed, had risen when he heard the news about Jesus.
When people feel pain in their body, they pay attention to their health and seek treatment. Knowing this well, God allows people to suffer from remorse in order to realize that they are spiritually ill and to be healed.
Third, King Herod did not repent.
King Herod was pierced by the rebuke of John the Baptist. But he did not repent. After killing John, when he heard about Jesus, he was also stabbed, but he did not repent. He wanted to meet Jesus, not to solve his sin problem, but out of curiosity about the miracles he performed. Furthermore, he even tried to kill Jesus like John. If you do not repent after being stabbed over and over again, your conscience will become dull and you will no longer be able to respond.
Jesus called King Herod, whose conscience was so dull, a fox (Luke 13:32). And before he was crucified, when he was being judged before Herod, he did not answer a single word of his question and turned him away (Luke 23:6-12). This is how the Lord will turn away from the unrepentant people in the final judgment.
In the case of believers who have received Jesus as their Savior and have their sins forgiven, care must be taken so that their consciences are guided correctly by the Word of God.
“Have faith and a good conscience, for some have cast aside this conscience, and as regards that faith they have been shipwrecked” (1 Timothy 1:19).