“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13).

Paul knew the need for the brethren at Thessalonica, as well as everywhere else, to know the truth about those who died in the Lord.  They needed comfort and those words would bring it (cf. 1 Thess. 4:18).  There are multiple references where the emphasis of not leaving people ignorant is found (cf. Rom. 1:13; 11:25; 1 Cor. 10:1; 12:1; 2 Cor. 1:8; 2 Peter 3:8).  While some may declare, “ignorance is bliss,” such is not the case in the important matters of life.  Consider three products that come from an ignorance of the truth.

1. It Produces a Life Foreign to the Life of God. Paul wrote to the Ephesian brethren, “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 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” (Eph. 4:17-18).  Sin makes one vain, darkened, alienated and hardened so that such ignorance separates man from the life that God wants him to have.  If a man dies in his sins, he is eternally lost (cf. John 8:21).  If a man lives unto sin, his life is a continual struggle of bondage and following a path toward death (cf. Rom. 6:6, 12, 16-17, 20-21, 23).  Yea, he is living in death while he lives (cf. Eph. 2:1; 1 Tim. 5:6).  God who gave life knows what is best for man.  Walking with God is indeed the greatest blessing of life now and the life to come later.  This is one of the reasons why God gave his word to mankind in the Bible.
2. It Produces a Life Following the Lusts of the Flesh. Peter wrote, “As obedience children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance” (1 Peter 1:14).  Ignorance causes man to follow the lusts of his own heart and mind.  While he is foreign to the ways of God, he is well acquainted with the ways of the world.  Peter continued to address this mindset, where he wrote, “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).  The holiness of God (cf. 1 Peter 1:15-16) coupled with being a holy nation (cf. 1 Peter 2:9) demands holy living.  Ignorance of that truth only makes life fall into the pattern of the world around him.  Study carefully the lives of people who live in ignorance of the Bible and see how sin destroys.
3. It Produces a Life Failing to Have True Righteousness.  Paul wrote to the Roman brethren, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 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” (Rom. 10:1-3).  Peter stated to certain hearers in Jerusalem concerning the death of Jesus, “And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers” (Acts 3:17).  Paul realized that his former actions and beliefs concerning Jesus were out of ignorance (cf. 1 Tim. 1:13).  True righteousness does not come accidentally or haphazardly.  It comes through submitting to the will of God (cf. Rom. 10:3).

Jimmy Clark

“And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness” (Eze. 33:31).

The Lord was letting Ezekiel know how the hearing of his words by the people was truly being perceived.  Outwardly, it appeared that genuine hearing was taking place, but inwardly, the words were falling on materialistic hearts.  Jesus would address such hearers in Luke 8:14.  How anyone hears the word of God has everything to do with bearing of great fruit or lack thereof.  Consider three ways how listening to the word of God can take place.

1. To Gainsay the Message. People who are steadfast in unbelief of the truth can listen to preaching and teaching but with an ear to find fault.  This is how the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees often heard Jesus.  All four gospel accounts reveal such kind of hearing (cf. Matt. 16:1; 19:3; 22:18, 35; Mark 10:2; 12:15; Luke 11:16; 20:23; John 8:6).  The apostles also faced a similar type of hearer (cf. Acts 13:8, 45; 22:21-22).  As long as the words harmonize with what one already believes to be true, hearing tends to be supportive.  However, if truth is given that shows the person must make the necessary changes to be right with God, it is not uncommon for a preacher or teacher to hear, “Well, you have quit preaching and gone to meddling.”  It is possible for people to visit an assembly and sit to be critical of everything said and done to seek to justify themselves in their own beliefs and practices.  Such is tragic for such hearer who will give account (cf. Rom. 14:12).
2. To “Get Through It”. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” (2 Tim. 4:2-3).  Is it possible that some today are simply enduring the preaching and teaching?  The Old Testament prophet Amos repeated the words of certain people in his day, “When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?” (Amos 8:5).  The law and the prophets were publicly read every sabbath day (cf. Acts 13:27; 15:21).  However, “going through the motion” was often the practice of hearing it, for “their heart is far from me” (Matt. 15:8).  Amos was told to tell the people who cared little if anything for the word of God, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11).  Such is equally as tragic as the gainsaying hearer.
3. To Gladly Apply. Luke wrote of those devout Jews who heard the gospel on the day of Pentecost, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).  This is one of many such examples in the book of Acts (cf. Acts 4:4; 8:6; 18:8).  The Lord is looking for the diligent, cheerful hearer.  While some would not hear this way, such did not stop those who would.  Thanks be to God for such.

Jimmy Clark