In 1958, Bill Teitleff stole two hydrangea plants from Centennial Park in Nashville Tennessee. But every time he walked through the park, he felt guilty. It bothered him so much that recently, after more than 50 years, he returned the plants from the root system of the flowers. Someone may say “what a trivial thing to be concerned about.” But is it? The book of Proverbs reminds us that ”The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of the heart.” In other words, that disturbing still small voice within that speaks to us when we have done wrong, the conscience, is often the Lord talking to us and steering us away from wrong-doing. While our conscience is not a true guide, unless it has been conditioned by the truth of God’s Word it is a gift from God. It produces healthy guilt within, it reveals our need of a Savior who came to free us from the power of evil and guilt . The good news is – though “the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell