Ignorance is Bliss? (Dec 27)

Have you ever heard the statement, “Ignorance is Bliss?” What do you suppose that it means?

Well, let's see. What is ignorance? Ignorance is the lack of knowledge, education, or awareness. It can describe the state of being unaware or uninformed. Sometimes a person is ignorant because he or she chooses to selectively ignore pieces of information.

Some people might suggest that with ignorance is a certain innocence because if you are not aware of certain laws, then you cannot intentionally break them. If you are unaware of certain dangers, then you cannot possibly fear them. If you have not been introduced to various stress-causing elements of life, then you cannot possibly understand the pain and frustration that they cause. And so, it might be supposed that a person that is very unaware or uninformed might be in some sort of aloof, naïve, clueless state of happiness that is oblivious to reality. I suppose if that were true, then some might find ignorance to be bliss, but people have a conscience. The Law of God is written in the conscience and deep down we know right and wrong. We also know that there is a God and that we answer to Him. Even remote tribes that have never heard the Gospel have been found to have at least some sort of vague understanding of a supreme deity. Consider the folks in Athens that Paul met (Acts 17). They had not yet heard of the Gospel, yet there in the midst of all of their many altars and holy places was an altar to “The Unknown God.” Paul proceeded to tell them about this unknown God. Today, we have churches on nearly every other street corner and millions of Bibles printed every year. God's laws are written in our hearts and His words are preached to us from countless sources. I believe that what it pretty much comes down to is that a person ignorant of God is willfully ignorant of God. In other words: People ignore God.

Have you ever intentionally ignored someone? Have you ever been intentionally ignored? There is a guy at work that apparently doesn't talk to people. I heard about this the other day when someone brought it up. Apparently, they always greet him or try to talk to him, but he always brushes them off and ignores them. I had this happen to me just a couple of weeks ago. I walked into a room and greeted someone that I knew. They completely ignored me. Literally, there was no response. It was as if I hadn't spoken a single word. I must admit it was kind of awkward: should I have repeated myself or just pretended the whole thing hadn't happened? Walk down a busy sidewalk in a city. There are many people that won't even acknowledge your existence. But they are people you don't know. Walk up to someone and talk to them face-to-face. They don't acknowledge your existence either. Now you should be able to see the difference between ignorance and willful ignorance.

Many years ago, God sent His Son to people as a gift. He would teach them and lead them to the heart of God. Then He would die on the cross to pay the debt for their sins. God called the wise men and they journeyed across the world to find Him. God called the shepherds and they went out rejoicing, telling everyone what they had found. God called so many others. Some received the gift and some put their fingers in their ears, saying, “Lalalalalala, I didn't hear anything! Leave me in my ignorance!” As if not knowing God would somehow mean that they weren't really sinning and weren't really rebelling against God.

So God has been calling you. He's been speaking things to your heart. Maybe you've been ignoring Him. Maybe you've been acting like He isn't even there, just brushing off the words that He speaks. You are unaware of the blessings He has for you and oblivious to the empty spot that is in your heart...but not because you weren't told. It's because you chose to be ignorant. (But today is a new day.)

1 John 3:6

Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

Job 21:14

Yet they say to God, “Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.”

Zechariah 7:11-12

But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts.

So, is ignorance bliss? Did someone ever intentionally ignore you over and over again? How did that make you feel? Now multiply that by a million (a quick coefficient that I made up because certainly a supreme authority is so much more important than some lame person) and see that God in His mercy and patience continues to call you even though you ignore Him and fight against Him. But as we saw in Zechariah, the people refused to heed and God responded in wrath. God will not be mocked for long. Quit ignoring Him, thinking you'll somehow live in a state of oblivious bliss. Answer Him for once and let Him show you His heart.

Good Words (Dec 13)

Proverbs 12:25

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Colossians 3:12-17

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Philippians 2:1-8

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Galatians 6:9-10

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.