A Simple Reflection on Why We Can’t Just “Follow Our Hearts”
Why Our Conscience Isn’t Always Reliable
Most of us have heard the phrase “let your conscience be your guide.” It sounds like good advice, but the truth is, our conscience isn’t a perfect guide. Think of your conscience like a judge that uses the rules you already know. If those rules are wrong or incomplete, your conscience can steer you the wrong way.
How Can Our Conscience Lead Us Astray?
- It’s a Judge, Not a Creator: Your conscience only judges using the beliefs and values you already have. If you grew up with wrong ideas or were influenced by others in a bad way, your conscience might say something is okay when it actually isn’t.
- Numbed Over Time: If you ignore your conscience repeatedly, it can become “numb” and stop warning you. What once felt wrong might start to feel normal.
- Cultural Influence: Society, media, and the people around us can shift what our conscience accepts. If the world says greed or lying is fine, your conscience may start to agree—even if it’s not right.
- Personal Weaknesses: Our desires and flaws can twist our conscience, making us believe what we want to believe rather than what’s actually true.
- Ignoring Warnings: Sometimes, we purposely tune out our conscience. If we do this enough, it may stop warning us altogether.
Why We Need Something Greater Than Our Conscience
At the end of the day, our own sense of right and wrong can be shaky. We can be fooled by our own desires, by the world around us, or by habit. That’s why just “following your heart” or trusting your conscience blindly isn’t enough. We need a higher standard—a truth that comes from outside ourselves, something solid and unchanging.
Even the best people make mistakes. If we had to rely only on ourselves, we’d lose hope. This is where God’s mercy comes in. It’s not about being perfect, but about being open to guidance, forgiveness, and help from God.
The Light of the Gospel in Our Lives
When we hear the message of Jesus—the gospel—it’s like sunlight breaking through the clouds. The gospel doesn’t just tell us what’s right and wrong; it can actually change our hearts, help us see the truth, and give us real hope.
The devil wants to keep us in the dark, away from this light. If he can’t hide the truth, he’ll try to make us ignore it or even fight against it. The real issue isn’t just that we don’t know the truth—it’s that our hearts sometimes resist what’s good.
The apostles who shared the gospel weren’t out for personal gain. They spoke about Jesus, the Savior, who offers mercy to anyone willing to come to God. Their message was sincere, not selfish. God chose ordinary, imperfect people to share His message so that everyone could see the focus is on His power and grace, not human greatness. The “treasure” of the gospel is carried by regular people, just like us.
Speaking the Truth Plainly
Paul and the other apostles made a point to be honest and straightforward. They didn’t use tricks, clever arguments, or hide their true message. Their preaching was open and clear, not sneaky or deceptive. Religion, at its heart, should be honest and direct. It shouldn’t rely on clever schemes or cover-ups—it should be about revealing and living out the truth.
When the truth is presented simply, it connects with everyone’s conscience. Even if people don’t like what they hear, deep down, their conscience recognizes what’s right. While our hearts might love things that aren’t good for us, our conscience, when it’s working properly, still knows the difference between right and wrong.
Key Takeaways
- Our conscience can be wrong, numb, or influenced by outside forces.
- We need a higher standard—God’s truth—to guide us, not just our own hearts.
- The gospel gives us hope, changes our hearts, and helps us see what’s truly right.
- Honest, open communication of truth is powerful and connects to everyone’s sense of right and wrong.
Final Thought
It’s comforting to think our conscience always tells us the truth, but that just isn’t the case. If we really want to know what’s right, we have to look beyond ourselves and seek the truth that comes from God.
Minister A Francine Green
February 2026
afrancinegreen.com 