Today's Journal
THE POLE
In baseball there is a Pole that rises at the end of the outfield to mark the boundary line to the left and the right so when a ball is hit into the outfield it can be determined if it is a ball in play or out of play. The Pole determines if a batted ball goes foul or fair. It marks the inbounds from the outbounds. Sometimes by an inch and sometimes by 50 feet. Some balls are close to The Pole and some are not.I think we are all born with a built-in Pole called the conscience to determine what is foul or fair. Those who have never known Christ still have a reasonable grasp of right and wrong, good and evil, foul and fair. Paul, an apostle, mentions this in Romans 1: “Wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God” (Romans 1:18-20). “Their minds became dark and confused.” (1:21)
Paul also wrote to Timothy, “seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.” (1:2) He again mentions in 1 Corinthians, “their conscience being weak is defiled.” (8:7) When our conscience is compromised, many things can go foul.
On the other hand, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.” (Acts 23:1) And, “I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.” (Acts 24:16) When our conscience is clear many things can then be fair. The Pole is the marker. The Holy Spirit is the Pole maker.
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled.” Jesus