Whether Thomas Gray actually
coined the phrase “ignorance is bliss” is really
inconsequential. The important
thing is not being ignorant of what we need to know.
To say someone is “ignorant”
is not to say they’re stupid. That isn’t what it means. It simply means that
they are uninformed. The most brilliant among us can be ignorant, or uninformed.
Synonyms are:
uneducated · unknowledgeable
· untaught · unschooled ·
untutored · untrained ·
illiterate · unlettered · unlearned · unread · uninformed · unenlightened ·
benighted · inexperienced · unworldly · unsophisticated
As for the word “bliss,” it
just means enjoyment, happiness, ecstasy, delight or pleasure.
Sometimes, I’ll grant you,
ignorance is bliss. For example, I wish to be ignorant as to when I die and the
manner in which I die. Don’t you? I would rather not know. So, in this case it
is good to be ignorant. However, there are other times we really should not
want to be ignorant.
I have known people, and you
probably have too, that won’t go to the doctor because they don’t want to know
if they have something bad. Then they get really bad off and die. Now that’s
not only ignorance, but also stupid. Why would anybody do that? My guess is
“fear.”
By the way, synonyms for
‘stupid’ are:
unintelligent · ignorant · dense
· foolish · dull-witted · slow · simpleminded · vacuous · vapid · idiotic ·
imbecilic · imbecile · obtuse · doltish · thick · dim · dimwitted · slow-witted
· dumb · dopey · dozy · moronic · cretinous · pea-brained · halfwitted · soft
in the head · brain-dead · boneheaded · thickheaded · wooden-headed ·
muttonheaded · daft · foolish · silly · unintelligent · idiotic ·
scatterbrained · nonsensical · senseless · harebrained · unthinking ·
ill-advised · ill-considered · unwise · injudicious · inane · absurd ·
ludicrous · ridiculous · laughable · risible · fatuous · asinine · mad · insane
· lunatic · crazy · dopey · cracked · half-baked · dimwitted · cockeyed ·
lamebrained · nutty · batty · cuckoo · loony · loopy
So in some cases ignorance is
bliss, and at other times it most certainly is not, at least in the long run.
I have heard that people who
are addicted to gambling will gamble over just about anything. This in turn
makes me think that those who say they’ll take their chances on Heaven or hell
after they die are, without a doubt, die-hard gamblers. In other words they are
‘stupid.’
Take God’s word for it, being
ignorant about our eternal destiny is not ignorance that will produce any bliss
whatsoever. This is one thing we should all be sure about.
Some folks are unsure of
their eternal destination and are not interested in trusting Jesus to provide
that for them. Others actually are those who really are Christians, but just
can’t seem to be sure that the very Jesus who saved them will also keep them.
So let’s forget this thing of
being ignorant and do something about it. Let’s go from being uninformed,
ignorant, to knowing that our eternal destiny is with Jesus for all eternity.
First of all, if you have not
put your faith in Jesus Christ to save and keep you, then you are not a
Christian. Let’s do something about that.
Jesus said, “All those the
Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive
away.” (John 6:37)
Okay, if you want to be
saved, then obviously the Father is giving you to Jesus. Furthermore, Jesus
said he will not turn you down (“whoever comes to me I will never drive away”).
He also says, “Whoever
acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in
heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)
In Romans He says, “That if
thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine
heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)
So put very simply, if you
believe in Jesus and aren’t ashamed to say so, He will save you and provide you
His righteousness.
He goes on to assure us that
when He saves us, He keeps us, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John
10:28)
Probably the number one
reason true Christians are not sure of their fate after they die is because
they spend very little or no time in God’s Word, the Bible. Reading the Bible
and prayer time is essential for every Christian. Just as the body needs food
and water to survive, the same is true for the Christian. We must have the
nourishment of fellowship with God to grow spiritually.
Another very important reason
for Bible reading and prayer time is to keep us on the right path in our walk
with the Lord. The Apostle Peter said,
“Stay alert! Watch out for
your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for
someone to devour. Stand firm against
him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and
sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you
are.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT)
Satan is always throwing lies
at us and they come from every direction. The world listens to Satan and is
very adept at masquerading his lies with a little truth to advance the cause of
that fallen angel who strives to be a god. It’s often called being ‘politically
correct.’
Unfortunately, false gospel
often comes from the pulpit. It always has, and it is worse today than at any
time in history. So we must be knowledgeable in God’s holy Word. The Holy
Spirit will keep us on the right path if we just allow Him to do so. May the following verse not apply to us.
“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)
When the Word of God and
prayer is our daily routine, we will know the righteousness of God and not be
hoodwinked by the pseudo righteousness Satan is spewing from others. God’s
Word, the Bible, says the day will come when men will call that which is right
to be wrong and that which is wrong to be right.
“Woe unto them that call evil
good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that
put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)
We are in that day and must
not fall into the deception of listening to those who think they know more than
God, and frankly don’t care what God says.
“Woe unto them that are wise
in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:21)
After reading this, we have
been informed, and should no longer be ignorant. Let us not compound the
problem by being stupid.
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
