A Word from the WORD: "BE NOT IGNORANT" (Article 206)

[Life Fellowship]

BE NOT IGNORANT

 

While many think that “ignorance is bliss”, few realise that ignorance is dangerous and deadly also. This is especially true in the Christian life. “Do not be ignorant” is a phrase which recurs repeatedly in the pages of the Scriptures. Clearly, there are certain truths which we cannot afford to be ignorant about.

1. Do not be ignorant of the ways of the Lord (Jeremiah 5:4-5).

The Lord was disappointed and angry with the nation of Israel for they were a people who did not know His ways (Psalm 95:10). Infact, when the Lord looked down from Heaven, He found that the animals He had made seemed to have more sense and knowledge concerning His ways than His own people. Listen to God's lament: “The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, My people do not understand” (Isaiah 1:3) and “Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift, and the thrush observe the time of their migration but My people do not know the requirements of the Lord” (Jeremiah 8:7).

 

Tragically, many Christians are more familiar with issues like politics, finance, sports, entertainment, food and so on, than the Kingdom of God. And yet, Jesus's message and ministry revolved round this very subject. Even after His resurrection, He appeared to His disciples over a period of forty ways and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:).

 

It is to the humble and teachable that God reveals His ways. He opens His heart and guides those who truly fear Him. Those who seek Him with all their hearts will truly find Him. (Psalm 25:8-9, 12; Jeremiah 29:13)

As believers, we have been appointed as ambassadors and witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is therefore all the more vital that we are well-versed with the ways of the Lord. We must ever be ready to instruct and direct people in godly ways. When sinners or unbelievers come across our path seeking advice, we must have the Word ready in our mouths to share and counsel.

 

2. Do not be ignorant of the warnings given in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 10:1).

 

Over and over again in the Epistles, the apostles issue warnings to believers with regard to standing firm and staying faithful to the end of one's life. It is easy to start strong in the Christian life. However, with passage of time, one's dedication and commitment to the Lord can weaken if care is not exercised (Hebrews 3:12-13).

 

The believers at Ephesus had started out well but over a period of time had lost their love and longing for the Lord. True, they still had the knowledge of the Scriptures and were zealous in ministry matters but when it came to true devotion and passion, they were found to have failed miserably (Revelation 2:4).

 

Three times in the New Testament, the apostles use the example of the two million Israelites who left Egypt but failed to make it to the Promised Land to remind believers that faith and patience need to be maintained till the very end of one's journey. Again, throughout the New Testament, there are some very solemn warnings to Christians about backsliding.

 

All this does not mean that believers should wake up every morning wondering whether they are saved or not. There is certainly an assurance and confidence that comes from a believer's walk with the Lord. But this assurance is not based on a past decision made at some point in time, but on one's present relationship with God. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans that the Spirit “goes on witnessing” (an ongoing activity) with the believer's spirit that he or she is a child of God (Romans 8:16; 1 John 4:13).

 

3. Do not be ignorant about spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1).

 

This is an area fraught with danger. And yet it cannot be avoided. Spiritual gifts or the power of the Holy Spirit are vital to the healthy functioning of a church and effective fulfilment of her mission. They empower us to destroy the works of darkness and meet the needs of people. It is actually a means of “doing good” (Acts 10:38).

 

From Paul's letter to the Corinthians, we discover that believers should not be ignorant of the necessity, significance, purpose and operation of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12 and 14).

 

The necessity: We are encouraged to earnestly desire and pray for spiritual gifts, especially those gifts which will help build up other people (14:1, 13). The significance: Each gift is vital and no gift is to be despised (12:14-26). The purpose: Spiritual gifts are given to serve others for the glory of God (12:7). The operation: When exercised in the church, there must be discipline and order in true reflection of the kind of God we serve and in whose Spirit we minister (14:26-33).

 

4. Do not be ignorant of the hardships suffered by other brethren (2 Corinthians 1:8)

 

The way human nature is, it is easy to get immersed in our own world and problems. Paul described people who were genuinely interested in others' welfare and living for the interests of Jesus Christ as a rare breed (Philippians 2:20-21).

 

We must not forget that there are believers everywhere who face sufferings and undergo hardships which are either similar or even greater than our own. This should be an encouragement to us, knowing that we are not alone in this battle and understanding that it is normal to experience trials and difficulties in this life. This should also be a reminder to us, that there are others around us who need to be refreshed and deserve a helping hand from us.

 

Each one of us should choose to be an encourager. What would have become of Paul if Barnabas (The Son of Encouragement) had not stood by him and spoken up for him in his early days! Giving away a smile, an encouraging word, a comforting touch costs nothing but will mean everything to those who desperately long for it and need it.

5. Do not be ignorant of Satan's schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11).

 

Satan is an ingenious schemer, all the time at work trying to paralyze and prevail over God's people. He roams about like a roaring lion, watching and hoping for someone he can pounce on and devour (1 Peter 5:8). The believer must therefore ever be on guard and resist him by standing firm in the faith.

 

To know Satan's schemes does not mean that we must learn everything there is to know about demonology or delve deep into the working of the kingdom of darkness. On the other hand, it means that we are aware and alert to the possiblity of Satan's access and attack given the presence of certain factors. This is what the apostles talk about and warn against.

 

We must realise that discouragement, intimidation and fear are special weapons Satan likes to use against us. We must be on guard against traditions and teachings which are contrary to the Word of God or not mentioned clearly in the Scriptures. We must not indulge the flesh or relate to others in ungodly and unloving ways. Dwelling in the Lord's presence and walking in the Holy Spirit are sure safeguards that will protect us from falling into the traps laid in our path by the Enemy.

 

6. Do not be ignorant of the mystery concerning Israel (Romans 11:25).

 

In the early days of the Church, we notice that there was a great difficulty for the Jews to accept the Gentiles into the family of God (Acts 10, 15). Today, it seems that things have turned the other way completely!

 

Even a whole school of thought has emerged by the name of “Replacement Theology”. This school teaches that Jews have been replaced by the Gentiles and the former are no longer God's chosen people. The Scriptures do not support this view however.

 

What we find is that rather than the Jews being replaced, Gentiles have been “included” into the family of God. Paul reiterates in his letter to the Romans that God has not rejected the Jews. He still has a plan for “ethnic Israel”, the physical descendants of Abraham. It is true that they have experienced a hardening in their hearts because of their refusal to accept the Messiah, but this is only temporary. What's more, a remnant of believers among the Jewish people can be found even today.

 

7. Do not be ignorant about what happens to dead believers (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

 

Nobody likes to talk about death or looks ahead to it. While people just can't wait for their birthdays to come, they try by some means or the other to prolong the day of their death. For the Christian though, the fear of death has been taken away and it no longer has any power of him.

 

We do not have any fear of death because we know what will happen to us when we die. The Scriptures, through various verses and incidents, reveal this to us.

 

When a believer dies, the inner person is carried by angels immediately into the presence of God (Luke 16:22; 23:43, 46; Acts 7:59; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23). Death, for the believer, is thus a pathway into the very presence of God. It is an event whereby one “goes home”- to be with the Lord!

 

In the presence of God the believer is fully conscious and experiences a time of rest and refreshing. He receives comfort and enjoys the good things of God’s presence (Daniel 12:13; Luke 16:25; Revelation 14:13). When the Lord Jesus comes back to earth at the second coming, the dead believer will also come back with Him. The inner person will then be joined with his new resurrected and glorified body which has been raised up from the earth (1 Corinthians 15:50-56; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you!

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