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Writer's pictureBro. Caleb Taft

Morning Manna | Proverbs 20:27 | The Candle of The LORD

Proverbs 20:27

27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.




Our verse today is about one of the many lights that the Father of Lights has given to men. We have the light of creation all around us, pointing us to a creator, there is no way that this orderly, systematic world was the result of cosmic chaos, all the order in the universe is a light pointing us to a creator. Not only has the Father of Lights given us light about us, but in us, "The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD." This is the spirit that he breathed into us at creation,[Gen 2:7]. He made us a living soul, "He lighteth every man that cometh into the world."


Interestingly, at the moment of conception, they tell us that a chemical reaction causes a microscopic burst of light, called a "Zinc spark." In laboratory fertilization, it is how they determine the vitality of the fertilization, if there is no spark there is no life. So it is with our conscience, that there has never been a man born on this earth without the light of conscience.




While it is light, is not the brightest of lights, it is said to be the "candle of the LORD" It is not as bright as the light of the Gospel, or as bright as the light of the Word of God, but it is enough to reveal the things closest to you. It won't incinerate you like the light of the Sun but it is enough to burn you if you abuse it. Light is always for life and revelation. Without the Sun this creation wouldn't last more than a few weeks, and without light, we would not see anything around us. So is this little light of Conscience, the closer a man lives to it the better his vision will be of right and wrong. This candle of the Lord reveals to us the "Law of God written on our hearts"[Romans 2:15]. We know that this light can be abused and many times those whom we suppose have no conscience at all have simply abused it so long that they have grown numb to its searing. Verse 20 warns us that those who curse their parents will have their candles put out, that is, their conscience will be darkened. Romans Warns us of those who through sinfulness have had their foolish hearts darkened, then sinned against the light until they were so numb that the pangs of conviction no longer had any effect on them and were given over to a reprobate mind.  


How we respond to this inward light is often how we respond to the greater light of the Gospel. If a man has grown accustomed to sinning against the light of his conscience, then when the Glorious light of the Gospel shines unto him he will have no problem shrieking from the greater light. Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. So what can we do? This is where a man stands alone with his Creator, there isn't much we can do. If we are raising children we can be sure to nurture the light of their conscience and let the word of God illuminate their hearts more and more and eventually, they will see the light of the Gospel and it will reveal what their conscience has already shown them, that they are sinners. At the end of the day, that is what our conscience reveals about us, that we are sinful and in need. Then the Light of the Gospel comes along to reveal the remedy, Jesus, the Light of the World. If a conscience has been fostered and nurtured by the Word of God then the Gospel isn't so hard to accept and comes as a relief to a marred conscience instead of a shock to a puffed-up heart.


Lastly, As saved people, we have seen the light of the Gospel and had our conscience cleansed by the promise of God's word and now live in the light of the indwelling Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Yet, we still have this conscience in us and it can be misinterpreted, we know that our hearts can condemn us. In these cases, we should let the Word of God train our consciences, that is, borrow some light from the Word of God to illumine our consciences. The promises of God have illuminated my heart to not fear all my sinfulness as I once did. My heart used to regurgitate all my failures and I carried a heavy conscience about things that had already been confessed, forsaken, and forgiven. It was not until I let the light of God's word illuminate the promises of God's word, that my heart was no longer pondering on the sinfulness of my life but the faithfulness of God's word. Then I knew by experience What John was speaking of in 1 John 3:20-21 "For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God."


Dear reader, have you come face to face with the Light of the World Jesus Christ? If not I hope today you will and my prayer is that you will come to the light, believe on him for Salvation. All the pangs of conscience have been his light in you to lead you to the light of the gospel. You may feel as if this light will incinerate you and everything in you says run from the light, perhaps that has been your custom, your conscience has condemned you and yet you have continued to sin against it until you're almost without feeling. Don't take another step in that direction! Soon you'll be in outer darkness and while in this life the pangs of conscience have grown numb the instant you awake in hell, full consciousness will be revived and you'll spend eternity not only in literal flames but in burning consciousness of your sinfulness and separation from God. Dear Christian, do you still bear a heavy conscience from sins already forgiven? Then open the Word of God and let your heart rest on his promises. 

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