Ignorance is Not Bliss

I do not watch the news or look at it online very often.  Only when it is a serious matter to pray about.  Of course, all serious things in the world are serious to those who suffer or who are at the wrong end of a situation.  Especially war, famine or disaster. 

So much of the news may or may not be true, and it is depressing to look at or read for the most part.  I feel better off not knowing about all of it which could be why the saying of, “Ignorance is Bliss” may fit that situation. 

Dictionary descriptions define this saying as: “It is better to remain unaware or ignorant of things that may otherwise cause us stress; if you don’t know about something, you don’t need to worry about it.” 

“What you may not know won’t hurt you?”  This is not always true. 

God does require us to be smart and know His Word for sure.  He also wants us to be aware of what is happening beyond our own backyard sitting on our deck.  Reminds me of a comedian who said, “Back when I was a boy, my Daddy and my brothers and sisters used to sit on the front porch after dinner and debate whether it was going to rain or not.”  We wanted it to rain so we could make mud pies. 

As kids, we could care less about the weather, but we listened to our Daddy debate this issue with himself for what seemed like hours.  Front porch dwellers.   

The good thing about being on the front porch was that you could see who was in the neighborhood who may not belong there as they strolled by your front porch headed down the road.  You can’t see the potential thieves from a backyard deck.   

This is long before neighborhood watch groups.  You could leave your front door unlocked at night, but not now.  Need 5 dead-bolts and a German Shepherd dog sleeping on a rug by the front door inside your house in the days we currently live in.  Loaded pistol by your bed in the nightstand drawer too. 

None of us today need any additional stress or anything more to worry about, but to be ignorant or uninformed about the issues of the day is not wise.  It is important to be well-versed and well-informed.  Primarily in God and His Word. 

James 3:13, “Who among you is wise and intelligent?  Let him by his good conduct show his good deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom.” 

Versus 14-18, “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.  This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.  For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” 

Can’t be a bridge builder or a peacemaker if we are not paying attention to things around us.  Like an ostrich with its head buried in the sand.  They can’t see, hear or sense anything around them. 

The main contrasts in these scriptures are that earthly wisdom is driven by jealousy and selfish ambition, which leads to chaos and evil, and heavenly wisdom, which is pure and peaceable produces good works and righteousness.  It is not about worldly success or cleverness, but about a life characterized by humility, mercy, sincerity, and a commitment to making peace.  Godly wisdom is best shown through our actions. 

Ignorance is “not” bliss.  Bliss defined as supreme happiness, perfect joy, or utter contentment.  It is used to exclaim a state of perfect elation like “wedding bliss” or relaxation during a vacation.  (I can’t see bliss waiting in line with young children for two hours to ride a rollercoaster at a theme park which the ride only lasted 1- or 2-minutes tops.) 

Spiritual bliss can refer to our close relationship with Jesus Christ which can bring ecstatic joy from Heaven with serenity and contentment.  Not in ourselves, but the Christ living in us brings the joy and peace.  Even in the worst of times, He is there with us. 

Paul the Apostle had a situation which challenged his Roman citizenship.  He did not bury his head in the sand.  He did go through some things though. 

Acts 22: 24-30, “the commander ordered him (Paul) to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him.  And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”  When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.”  Then the commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.”  And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”  

Then immediately those who were about to examine him (whipping) withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.” 

The crowd of hostile Jews do not want to hear Paul’s testimony anymore.  They interrupted him and threatened him, calling for his death. 

“Do we really think we can live this Christian life without having trials or challenges from people?”   

Our ignorance, not of God’s Word, but of our stupidity in thinking we can just row along the river of life with no waves hitting our rowboat, can be our demise spiritually. 

I get challenged weekly when I preach in this prison in Hondo, Texas. 

It is a ministry to the “faith-based” dorms.  Meaning, that the men who have deserved to be in this housing unit have faith.  The problem is that many believe in different Gods.  Not Jesus the Christ. 

My battle weekly is a spiritual battle.  I must be girded up in my spiritual loins, producing good things from my mouth regarding God’s Holy Word.  No compromise.  Just the simplicity of the truth in His Word. 

I had an inmate come up to me as I left last week to say this: “Hey Joe, please do not be offended that I do not come up for prayer, okay?  It is because I do not believe the way you preach, so I abstain from you praying for me for personal reasons.” 

Spiritual battle?  Of course.  I expect this as I know not every man I preach and teach the Word of God is a Christian.  I know this “faith-based dorm” is filled with some Christians, but mostly Buddhists, Agnostics, Jehovah Witnesses, and many other religions such as Moorish Science, Mormonism, and Rastafarianism.  This last religion is more of a “way of life” than a religion to those who follow this lie.  It is a modern, monotheistic religion with roots in Judaism and Christianity that developed in Jamaica in the 1930’s.  “Yes, I called it a lie, because it is a lie from Satan.” 

My response to this man who purposed to corner me as I left was simple.  I said, “Well sir, I respect you and I will continue to pray for you even if you never come to the altar for prayer.”  He respected that, rather than me debating him on the truth about Jesus.  Fact is, he sets under my teaching “hearing” God’s Word weekly.  It will never come back void, and my prayer is that he will receive Christ as Savior before the class is finished before December of this year. 

It is the Holy Spirit who convinces, convicts one of sin, and converts them.  He then, will control their lives once they are truly born again in Christ. 

I am just a messenger with a message.  Ignorance is not bliss when you have had an encounter with God.  Your “so-called” ignorance of the truth is simply blindness, not stupidity.  Your eyes have been darkened by the enemy of your soul until Jesus reveals Himself to us. 

The fact that I am willing to go into the lion's den weekly to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ is in a little way a “scourging” of sorts to my soul.  It is taxing under the anointing of the Holy Ghost to present Jesus to those who live in darkness.  I am not afraid, but I can honestly say that I am spent in my spirit and soul and even in my body when I leave this prison every Tuesday.  It is not because Jesus is weak in me.  It is because I am fighting a battle in this prison.  The scourging I speak of is about men who ignore to a degree the truth.  I feel the “whip” upon my spiritual back as the whip hits me.   I can feel the audience of felons resisting in the spiritual realm, until the altar invitation arrives at the end.  Last week some 30 plus men came forward and received Christ as their personal Savior.  Not because of me, but because of His Word being taught truthfully.  The bliss came for me as I drove home.  Knowing His peace and His love surrounded me in my truck.  I know in my heart I pleased the King of Kings, Jesus. 

Ignorance is “NOT” bliss for anyone who understands counting the costs in serving Jesus Christ.  We know that our mandate is not easy.  Never was it intended to be that way for Paul, Timothy, Peter and the rest of His followers.  Jesus never demands perfection.  He demands obedience.  I would rather submit to Him and then keep my head out of the sands of this life, not ignoring the things around me as if to say, “I do not care.” We should care. 

I care because Jesus cares.  He not only cares.  He loves us by caring to carry His Cross up the hill to Golgotha and die for us. 

Men in prison would rather see a sermon than hear one any day.  They see my sermon more than just hearing it.  They see it more than they feel it too.  “How do they see it?” 

Jesus said, “I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.” 

I come to these men every Tuesday.  I come for one reason, and one reason only.  Hopefully they will receive what I received while I was in prison in 1977.  Only the good shall they receive.  Not the things my sin created which were received by punishment for my sins.  I received time, which was handed down to me by a judge in a courtroom in Dallas, Texas.  I received pain from the cotton I had to pick with chains between my ankles in the vast fields of cotton at Ferguson prison in Midway, Texas. 

I received fear from all the horrible things I witnessed in prison. 

The most important thing I have ever received was a gift.  Not a free gift.  It was the gift of life through receiving Jesus as my Savior while I was in prison.  He visited me.  He came to me when I needed Him the most. 

I have bliss from Jesus Himself.  Every time I mention His name, I am less ignorant of His truths found in the Holy Bible.  Thank God. 

Do yourself a favor.  Let Jesus visit you today.  Receive His love, mercy, and forgiveness. 

When you do, you will never take for granted what the world may be doing around you.  You will be a light in the midst of this dark world we live in. Embrace His call on your life.  He will use your life in Him. 

My prayer is that HE uses you up.  Fully.  When He is done using us up, then we will be in His presence forever more. 

“For those who call upon the Name of the Lord, will be saved.”  Romans 10:13.   

Pick up your spiritual phone and dial his number.  He is never too busy to answer your call.  He will not put you on hold or leave you an auto-message.  He is there for you.  Dial Him up.  Jesus is on the Main-Line.  Call Him.  He is waiting for your call. 

Copyright © 2025 by Joe Wilkins