Many have heard the sayings “Ignorance is bliss” and “What you don’t know can’t hurt you”. However, I argue that ignorance is NOT bliss and that what you don’t know CAN hurt you. How many times have you said or thought to yourself, “If only I knew then, what I know now”? In a moment of reflection, how many people around you have also expressed that regret? Maybe it’s I “shoulda, coulda, woulda”, or if only I had known better. The Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines ignorance as a lack of knowledge, education, or awareness. As a consequence, God’s Word says we are “destroyed for a lack of knowledge”. Apparently, the “so-called” bliss one receives is an illusion because lacking knowledge does not exempt us from the consequences of ignorance.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6)
“Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasted with his feet sins.” (Proverbs 19:2)
We Are All Ignorant Until We Receive Knowledge of Our Ignorance
We’re all ignorant until we receive knowledge, or the consequences of a lack of knowledge come knocking on our door. We cannot buy the knowledge I speak of. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a degree to get some knowledge you’ll rarely, if ever, use. I spent precious time and a lot of money on a Master’s degree that I have yet to use. Like so many others, I have student loan debt that seems to increase than decrease. My situation is probably better than most as my employer is paying my student loans. However, I think about the countless people that are paying off school loans for an education they may never use. I am sure they’re saying to themselves what I say often, “If only I knew then what I know now”.
Godly Knowledge Costs Nothing, But It is Everything!
The world says that getting a college education is what’s most important, however, there are a lot of educated fools in the world. See, the knowledge I’m referring to is not earthly, but godly knowledge/wisdom. Without knowledge, we make piss poor decisions. We end up being led by anything/everything else rather than by our Creator. How many toxic relationships have we gotten into and what about the precious time lost going down the wrong path? We’ve all made decisions in our lives that we truly regret because the consequences were inescapable. Most of the consequences occurred because of misplaced trust and fear. I give all glory to the Highest as His grace is sufficient indeed. That even in our ignorance of conforming to this wicked world, He seeks to wake us up both physically and spiritually. Godly knowledge costs nothing, but it is everything!
“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent:” (Acts 17: 29-30)
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)
What You Don’t Know Can Kill You!
Some believe that in this Information Age, with information available at our fingertips, no one would willingly choose ignorance. However, many would rather live wrong, then know they are wrong because knowledge would require them to act or change. It would mean they are accountable for their actions and their decisions, whether right or wrong. I’ve been on both sides of the spectrum, everyone has, and I much prefer to know than not know. I’d rather be in a position of power than powerless; to be proactive than reactive. I want to know who my enemy and his agents are, then blindly trust everything I hear or see. The stakes are too high, and it’s far too late in the game to be shepherded like sheep by the wicked. In these times we live in, ignorance is not bliss, because what you don’t know can kill you!
“For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: (1 Peter 2:15)
“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” (Ephesians 4:18-19)
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10:3)