Conviction–the realization of guilt–has become a reality in the life of the one who realizes that God is speaking to him/her about his/her death-producing spiritual condition. The convicted person’s response is the deciding factor in determining whether he/she will be a sheep or a goat upon meeting the Lord on the Day of Judgment. Two diametrically opposed reactions are depicted in the Scriptures–positive and negative. A positive reaction will lead to eternal life if the convicted one continues on the Lord’s Bible-dectated course. A negative reaction leaves one in a worse spiritual condition than before coming under conviction. Scripture confirm this. For example, to know to do right and not do it is sin, the wages of which is death. Where Truth is known, that Truth must be obeyed.

Perhaps the best example of a positive reaction to guilt is found in chapter 15 of Luke’s gospel. Here we find Jesus presenting a parable about a wealthy man and his two sons living in the Levant area of the Middle East (assumed). Wanting to be on his own and out from under the strict control of his father, the younger son pressed his father to give him his legal portion of the family fortune so that he could leave the area and go out on his own. Eventually he found himself broke and making his living by feeding swine. Unable to afford human food, he had stooped to eating what he was feeding the hogs. Though it is not mentioned, he was probably living with them. If one cannot afford food, chances are one cannot affored housing either. Coming under conviction, the prodigal decided to return to the welcoming arms of his father who received him with great joy. This positive reaction to conviction brought happiness to both father and son.

Another positive reaction to conviction occurred when Apostles Paul and Silas found themselves in jail for having cast out a demon that had been instrumental in making money for idol makers. Having been imprisoned for their offence, the two apostles, though nursing the injuries they had received from the outraged mob, spent the late night hours singing hymns and praying to the God of heaven as they lay in their cell. Suddenly the prison shook, causing their foot shackles to fall off and the doors of the prison to open on their own accord. This awakened the warden who, seeing the open cells and believing that his prisoners had escaped, prepared to commit suicide. Realizing what he was about to do, Paul and Silas revealed themselves to him, assuring him that not one prisoner had escaped. The warden, seeing everyone in their cells, realized that he was dealing with the God of the Hebrews. Knowing that Paul and Silas were God’s men, he immediately came under conviction, fell to his knees and asked them how to be saved. They shared the Word of the Lord with him and, realizing that he was truly sincere, baptized him and his family. Afterward they took them to their home, wash their wounds and feed them.  Just as had Paul on the road to Damascus, the jailer had simply asked, “What must I do to be saved.” This positive response to conviction (along with fear) is what the Lord is looking for in one who has realized his retched spiritual condition. Knowing nothing about the jailer and his family’s future actions, I assume that they spent the rest of their lives in obedience to the Lord and will enter His kingdom upon His Son’s return.

In John 4:6-29 we find Jesus speaking to a woman who was drawing water from a well. When He told her things He had no normal way of knowing, the woman realized that He was no normal man. As soon as He told her who He was, she forgot about the water and hurried back to her friends where she told the what had just happened to her–she had met the Son of God face-to-face. Hearing this incredible news, they made haste and came to where Jesus was waiting to talk with them.

The story of the prodigal son, the jailer and the woman at the well show us the proper way to react to conviction of sin. In the next segment we will examine several incidences in which people heard the Truth of God, came under conviction, then reacted negatively to God’s voice. L.J.