COSTLY IGNORANCE

Topic: *COSTLY IGNORANCE*

*By Sister Loveth Nwokeohuru*

Bible Text: *Hosea 4:6*
*My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children*.

*Definition*:
*Ignorance is a lack of knowledge and information*

The word "ignorant" is an adjective that describes a person in the state of being unaware, or even cognitive dissonance and other cognitive relation, and can describe individuals who are unaware of important information or facts. 

Opposite of Ignorance
Knowledge.

There are different types of ignorance, and different explanations, but for the purpose of this study I will be talking about three:

1. *Invincible ignorance* : lack of knowledge that a person has no way or means to obtain.

2. *Vincible ignorance* : lack of knowledge that a rational person is capable of acquiring by making an effort.

3. *Nescience* lack of knowledge that doesn't matter in the circumstances: not necessary to know. (from Latin ne-, “not” plus scire, “to know.”

Knowledge and understanding of things can be vast, but for the purpose of this study, we're going to limit our study to knowledge of important facts that would affect our eternal life.

🎯1. Invincible ignorance is when a person is unable to obtain knowledge, (based on constraints) of some facts that can improve his or her spiritual life, or fact that can either determine the person's eternal life.

Acts 17:29-30
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.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

From this Scripture, Paul said those who have not known the true God, who ignorantly worshipped gods that were graven thinking it was Almighty God, God overlooked their ignorance because they didn't have the opportunity to know the true God, but God doesn't want us to be ignorant again, rather He wants us to know the truth and change.

Let's get more understanding of this from the book of Romans 2:12

Romans 2:12
*For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law*

Romans 2:14-15

*when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves*

15  *Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;*

Eg, stealing, killing, adultery lying, etc.. these are things that even a child know that it is wrong to do.

🎯*How Would God Judge This Type Of Ignorance* ?

Psalms 51:4b
*That thou mightiest be justified when thou speaketh, and be clear when thou judgest*

I believe God is not going to condemn us of what we're not aware of, especially when it is not within our power or reach to learn. But he expects us to walk diligently in the truth that we have received.

That is why, the bible also says in Matthew 24:14 *And the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the worlds as a *Witness* then the end will come.
That is why we were commanded to go and preach the gospel, so that people would hear the truth.

God sent his prophet, Jonah to warn the people against their evil ways, before he sends destruction.
God is just in all His doings, He is always clear in His judgments...

🎯2. *Vincible Ignorance* : This is the part that most people and Christians fall under.

●a. This simply means not accepting the truth: rejecting the truth because it doesn't suit your definition of the truth.
This is arguing with the truth when you come in contact with the truth.

●b. This is also when someone intentionally runs away from the truth.

Eg, you turned on your TV set, and you hear a preacher preaching about something, and you don't just want to hear, you turn off the TV set.
What if the knowledge you will get from him is what God wants you to hear at that moment, but you decided to shut yourself out.

Another example is when someone gives you tracts, and you don't want to read it because you don't like the person's Church or you don't want to be disturbed, you throw away the tracts, what if , what is written in the tract is the truth you needed at that moment, you have purposely shut yourself out from the kingdom of God.

I can go on and on...and God is not pleased by these things.
Some of us have been guilty of these things, but God's mercies still keeps us alive so that we may have a second chance to accept the truth and be saved.

This is also a process of sanctification, because when we come in contact with the truth and accept it and start living by the truth, then we are being sanctified. John 17:17.
But sometimes, PRIDE wouldn't allow us to accept that we have been wrong.


●c. This is when people refuse to make effort to find the truth. Some persons intentionally refuse to seek knowledge, even when they're in the position to do so, they prefer to remain ignorant, because they claim Ignorance is *bliss* they don't want anything to hunt them, they want to remain *simple*.
This is also wrong, and you would be held accountable.

Proverbs 1:22

*How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge* ?

🎯3. *Nescience* lack of knowledge that doesn't matter in the circumstances: not necessary to know. (from Latin ne-, “not” plus scire, “to know.”

This is a kind of knowledge that is not really needed, or wouldn't add value to our Spirutual growth.
Sometimes when people delve into acquiring knowledge, they tend to overstep their boundaries and land themselves into a serious problem.

Eg, dark knowledge. Trying to find out about creation or the universe or about the supernatural through the wrong means..this usually land people into problem. (Occultism, witchcraft, magic, evolution theory, Atheism etc..)
They're some certain things that we must not know in this life..but the bible has said that we know in parts, and see in parts, a time is coming when all that is a mystery to us will be fully revealed.

1 Corinthians 13:
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part
Verse 12
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

There are some certain fields, many people are ignorant about, I would like to just list them, you go and do a further research on them, find out the truth by yourself.
The enemy has devised so many means to deceive the world, *Food and Drug Sector, Fashion, Entertainment, Climate Change, Education, Health, Science and Technology, Economy, Religion* etc...

If you have noticed, all that I have listed here, has a universal body which governs them.
Eg, United Nations.
UNESCO: United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation.
WHO: World Health Organisation
FDA: Food and Drug Agency

These are some of the organisations, and I can tell you that the People running these organisations are not loyal to God, rather they're loyal to their god(satan) it would be wise as children of God not to depend wholy on them because they can lead you astray.

●Under Science and Technology and Health, the Scientists have come up with what is called *Transhumanism*
They believe that they have found the cure for death, in the near future, people would live forever.
How do they intend to achieve this?
By merging the human brain with machines, and as long as that machine is charged, you can turn it on speak to your dead loved one.
But this is *Spiritism* in disguise, when you give your consent to this, or do this, what you're doing is that you're communicating with the dead, and of course, those are fallen Angel's, demons (familiar Spirits) and God has explicitly said in his word that those who do that *defile* themselves.
Note: This is also thesame with a pastor or prophet telling you to go and do sacrifices on behalf of your dead loved ones...or to go to their graves to present sacrifices or to pray.
When you see tour dead loved ones in the dream speaking to you, please rebuke it when you wake up, these are false signs and wonders.

Isaiah 8:19
*And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living* ?

Ecclesiastes 9:5
*For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten*

1 Chronicles 10:13
*So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance.
2 Corinthians 11:14
1 John 4:1
1 Timothy 4:1(deceiving Spirits and spirits of demons)

● Under Food and Climate Change, we have another DECEPTION called *SOYLENT* GREEN MEAT SOLUTION.
They're advocating for human beings to start eating their fellow dead humans beings, this would solve the food crisis that is coming and would also help to reduce climate change.

*They have gone as far as using dried and grounded human flesh to prepare seasonings and spices for food and fillings in sandwiches*.
Please, we have to be careful how we eat, where we eat and what we eat, especially processed meat in stores..
The world is going crazy.
Imagine if you have never heard about these things and you're busy consuming dead bodies, would God be happy with you?
That's why knowledge is very important.

●*One World Religion and the Unification Of Churches*
So many people see this as something good, but God's children know that there is a sinister agenda around it, and that is to cause the world to worship the false Christ *the New Age Christ*
The bible warned us about this so called false Christ, that would appear to be kind, good and healing all manner of diseases, performing all kinds of miracles. (Matthew 24:23-24)
This man promises, peace, safety and a better world.
He preaches love, equality and inclusiveness.

We have to be watchful, in as much as we want peace and safety, because of al the troubles in the world, don't forget that the bible says that is when *sudden destruction comes* ( 1 Thesalonians 5:3)

● *Under Science, we also have *Evolution* theory, this theory is so much against God, because God made it clear that in *6days* , He created the world.
Evolution says no, it can't be a literal 6days.
They said no, it's not God who created, it's *Big bang*
● What some persons dont know: Anyone who teaches Evolution in school or anywhere, is also an enemy of God.
What you're doing is, you're recruiting members for the devil, cause the devil is the founder of this theory.
As Christians, we should teach what we believe.
Many Christian's have been led astray because of this theory.
What gave rise to Atheism?
The theory that there is no God, therefore, God didn't create the world in 6days, he didn't make us either, we came from Ape, and therefore shouldn't be worshipped.

● Another one is the Sabbath.
You can see that the fight against the true Sabbath, because in it, you can find who God is, his title as the creator, and the reason why we should worship him and none else.
It explains the story of creation and point to God as the true CREATOR.
Exodus 20:8-11, Revelation 14:7

● Another Serious Issue, I have also noticed is the issue of *artificial Wombs*
Still under Science, Technology and Health.
The Scientists, are advocating for an artificial womb (a machine or a robot, created for that purpose) that can carry a baby for nine months, during that period, they have the access to Amend the genetic material of the child, build a perfect child, (they call it a designer child)
The parents would describe how they want their child to look and behave, the kind of I Q they want him/be to have, and they would design such babies and sell to parents. These babies won't fall sick, probably, won't suffer death too as time goes on.

A time is coming when women would no longer have to get pregnant, but pay money to Doctors/Scientist, and they will create the kind of child they want for them.

These so called scientist, claim that Nature has some defect, nature is not perfect and therefore they want to perfect what nature cannot make perfect.
Who do you think they're referring to here as nature?
This is a serious Battle between good and evil, and please don't join the ranks of the enemy to oppose your God.
He says in His word, that everything he made was good!

Let me stop here, I believe God Almighty would lead us to so many other things we need to know, in order not to be deceived.

🎯 *Consequences Of Ignorance*

When we refuse to gain the knowledge that we ought to, or reject the truth, we would not be able to see the DECEPTION of the enemy, and at the end we end up falling into his pit(destruction)

Hosea 4:6a

*My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge*

Proverbs 1:24-32
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
*Vs 25* - But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
*Vs 26* - *I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh*
*Vs 27* - *When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you*.
*Vs 28* - Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
*Vs 29* - *For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD*
*Vs 30* - They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
*Vs 31* - *Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices*.
*Vs 32* - *For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them*.


🎯 *How Do We Gain Knowledge* ?
There is something I have noticed: as long as you're seeking for the truth from God, He will grant you the access to gain knowledge. Note: He searches our hearts, He knows those who really love the truth.
It is the truth that sets us free...John 8:32

****The best place to get knowledge or truth is from the Holy bible.
The bible is the word of God, in it we have the blue print on how to live.
The bible is a lamp unto our feet, it directs our paths.
In the bible we find the true character of God, through studying the word of God we come to understand who God is and gain the necessary knowledge we need in order to be saved.

2 Timothy 2:15
*Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth*

2 Timothy 3:16-17

*All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works*.

So, not studying the Scriptures to find out the truth is a terrible mistake, because you don't have any excuse for not knowing what you're supposed to know, since the bible has been made available for everyone. (Acts 17:29-30)

Our Christian pioneers suffered greatly to preserve this bible(the word of God)
Some of them were burnt alive, some were imprisoned and tortured....we shouldn't take the word of God lightly, for in it we find eternal life.

John 5:39
*Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me*.

When we study the bible and believe in SOLA scriptura, then we will never fall into the DECEPTION of the devil, cause the bible has already revealed his deceptions to us.
 Proverbs 2:3-7
*Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
If thou SEEKEST her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures*

5 *Then shalt thou understand the fear of theLord, and find the knowledge of God*.

6 *For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding*.

7 *He layeth up sound wisdom for the RIGHTEOUS: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly*

Matthew 7:7
*Ask and it shall be given, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened unto you*

*Conclusion*:
John 3:19
*And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil*
May God help us to recieve the truth whenever we find it, and live by that truth.
May he lead us to people, places where we can gain *good knowledge* that can add value to our eternal life in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.