In 1940, Walt Disney released a delightful, animated film called Pinocchio, where we are introduced to Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket. Having just brought Pinocchio, a wooden puppet, to life, the Blue Fairy gives Jiminy Cricket the task of being Pinocchio’s conscience. She leaves the two with the instruction to Pinocchio to “Let your conscience be your guide!”

They start their new friendship with a heart-to-heart talk. Jiminy Cricket explains to Pinocchio about temptations and learning right from wrong with the hope that following his advice will one day turn Pinocchio into a real boy. Pinocchio makes the choice to do right. Jiminy promises his help with the offer to come at the sound of Pinocchio’s whistle. Enjoy watching this little scene from Pinocchio!

It does not take long for Pinocchio to find himself in trouble. Rather than listening to Jiminy Cricket, his conscience, he falls for the lies of con men, being sold to a puppeteer, and after being used for the puppet show, is locked up. Freed by the Blue Fairy, Pinocchio is soon tricked again and ends up at Pleasure Island, a place where boys do whatever they want. Again, ignoring his conscience, Pinocchio starts to transform into a donkey but is spared the fate of the other boys when Jiminy returns and takes him off the island.

As the story ends, Pinocchio’s good actions in saving Geppetto, his father, from a whale cause the Blue Fairy to turn him into a real boy. Jiminy is awarded a badge for not abandoning Pinocchio and for his service as a good conscience. Letting your conscience be your guide proved to be a challenging task for Pinocchio, and he went through some difficult waters, but he found Jiminy Cricket was a guide he could count on. His conscience led him to make good choices in the end that gave him life.

While we all do not have our own Jiminy Crickets, those who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior by faith are provided Someone far better. The moment a person seeks forgiveness from God for their sins and trusts in Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters into their heart.

“God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13b)

As new life in Christ begins, the Holy Spirit begins His work of sanctification, the process of making us more like Jesus. Similar to Jiminy Cricket, He helps the new believer understand right and wrong. However rather than just being near us, the Holy Spirit indwells each believer, enabling us to live a holy life, conforming us to the likeness of Jesus. He helps us choose obedience to God over the temptations of the world that lead to sin. In leaving this world at our death, not only will we enjoy eternal life with Jesus, but we will be like Him. No longer will we deal with the temptations of sin. The Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification in us will be complete. Until then, however, we will experience difficult waters.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” (Galatians 5:16-17)

And isn’t that the truth? Like Pinocchio, we set out to make good choices. We want to be obedient to Christ, but temptations of the world come along, and we choose sin. We are tricked by lies and foolish talk and fall into trouble. Rather than keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and following truth, we choose our own way. Like Paul, we can say, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:15) We ignore the Holy Spirit, and soon we cannot find God.

Have you struggled with temptations, maybe the same struggle more than one time? Have you sensed the Holy Spirit’s guidance and walked the other way? Has your walk with God become stagnant, and you can no longer find the way? Maybe you struggle to know whether it is your conscience or the Holy Spirit who is your guide. If you know Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit lives within you. He is with you on your journey. He provides you with the strength to walk away from sin and leads you to the Father.

Call on Jesus. Talk to Him. Remember His promise to never leave you. With the power of the Holy Spirit, you can walk away from sin. God wants you to find Him. He will hear you when you call. As you draw near to God, He will gently remind you to “Let the Holy Spirit be your guide!”