Ignorance
Be Strong, Be Well — Wednesday, February 24, 2021
We’ve all heard, “Ignorance is bliss.” Or, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.” These are flagrant and terrible lies some people continue to repeat, although so many do not believe them.
What loving parents refuse to instruct their children about the dangers of life, throughout their growing years? What person refuses to warn others of dangers they are not aware of?
What we need to hear is, “Knowledge is power.” Get an education.” “Learn from the mistakes of others.” “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.” Do you remember that long list of things, “What I learned in life, I learned in kindergarten.”?
The Bible tells us ignorance is harmful, condemning and spiritually deadly.
In Ephesians 4:17–20, Paul painted a picture of the ignorance of the Gentiles, comparing them with Christians. He said, they “...walk in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ…”
The apostle spoke of the consequences of not knowing God when Judgment Day arrives, “...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:7–8).
Long ago, God’s condemnation of ignorance came through the prophet Hosea, saying, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (4:6).
It is to our advantage to take heed to the scriptures as they reveal God’s saving message for us. If we hope to be saved, we must come to the knowledge of the truth (John 8:31-36). We must “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18: cf. 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17). —Chris