Ignorance is a word that will insult some people to the core. They equate it with stupid, dumb, or many other demeaning terms that are insulting. Ignorance simply means lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about a particular thing. Therefore, we are all ignorant about something. When it comes to many areas of life, I am totally ignorant. I know nothing about the mechanical issues of a car or electrical issues in the home. These and many others are issues that do not concern me unless they break and then I hire or have my husband check things out. Ignorance is something that can be fixed if we have the determination and the ability to learn. While we cannot learn everything about everything, God does give us the ability to learn the most important things that will affect us eternally. Those who cannot learn about God because of mental disabilities are already “safe” and secure in their eternal destiny. However, that is not the case for the majority of people that walk this place called earth. The problem is not the ability of this majority to learn, it is their desire to be alienated from God because they are full of pride and remain ignorant of His word.
In Ephesians 4:17, Paul is again speaking to the church about their walk with the Lord. He instructs them not to walk as other Gentiles, these would be those that do not know the one, true God. He names the authority given to him to preach to them and teach them where they are wrong, it is from the Lord. Their minds are vain. In scripture the word not only can mean empty it is used in reference to moral wrong to those who worship vain idols and are alienated from the true God. He goes on in verse 18 to tell them their understanding has been darkened. Their darkness came when they indulged in sin. It always starts little, with the thinking “It’s no big deal.” Soon sin takes on a life of its own. Like the person who says we need more things so I will work more shifts. It is the American way, right? We want more so we work more. Before you know it, church attendance is skipped for work, then family time is cut short because we are too tired for family devotions or to listen to the kids or spouse. You just want everyone to sit and watch tv or the kids to grab their tablet or X-box and let you chill. You have sold out to the God of covetousness, and you are not even cognizant of what is happening. You have become ignorant because you have replaced God with a religion that is convenient. Our hearts have become blind to our own sins.
Ephesians 4:17-18 “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:”
According to verse 19, we are past feeling God in our lives. We make excuses until one day we believe our own lies. One sin leads to another, and we feel justified and satisfied with our relationship with God. After all, I’m saved and still going to Heaven. I sometimes doubt if a person is truly saved if they can walk away from what they have known, and who they have known, Jesus. Do they really love God if their only desire is to escape Hell? I think not. Jesus Himself said in John 14:15 that if we love Him, we WILL KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. In John 8:42, Jesus said if God were your Father, you would love Him. If you do not love Him, you will not make it to Heaven. Do not kid yourself or allow Satan to deceive you. When we allow ourselves to live in ignorance because we have seared our conscience and become past feeling guilty over what the Bible says is sin. either through direct command or Biblical principles, we are on dangerous ground. If there is anything in your life you once believed the Bible spoke about being wrong and now you ignore those verses or try to convince yourself, it doesn’t apply to you, pray and ask God to open your eyes and do a work in your heart. If you want to increase your knowledge to be more like Christ, ask the Holy Spirit to show you anything in your life that is not pleasing to Him. Then, repent and turn from that sin. In verse 19 they had willingly become so ignorant of God and what Jesus and the disciples had taught them. They were involved in lasciviousness, uncleanness, and greed. In Romans 1:24-25, Paul speaks of those that were living this way. They had exchanged the truth for a lie, but as in our culture today, they have become so ignorant of God’s word and ways, they have believed their lie and are teaching and pushing their lie. They are worshiping themselves rather than God. When we would rather do what we want, than what God wants, we have done the same thing.
Ephesians 4:19 “Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”
Romans 1:24-25 “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
If you do not believe it can happen to you then you are already ignorant. It can happen to anyone who does not study His word, spend time talking to God in prayer, and seek Him. They were taught by Jesus, yet they did not learn and obey what He had taught them.
Ephesians 4:20 “But ye have not so learned Christ;”
Where are you today? Have you allowed yourself to grow cold on the things you have been taught? Are you actively seeking Him daily, praying, and asking the Holy Spirit to teach you? Maybe you have been saved but are not in a church that challenges you to dig deeper in your walk with Him. Maybe Christians that you know are ignorant of the truths that you should be living by, and the things in your life that are sinful, or they are just lazy and content with where they are. These Christians, or so-called Christians are not helping you to grow, therefore you need to find another church that is serious about teaching, preaching, and living the word of God. It is time to step up and realize you will stand before God one day and give an account for your life and there will be no one to take the blame but you. Do not allow yourself to be deceived and live in ignorance. It will not stand up as an excuse to God.
