Do you know someone who seemingly subscribes to the philosophy that if you ignore a problem long enough...that the problem will go away? 

 Why are wives usually the first ones to raise their hands to that question as they glance at their husbands? :- ) 

 Leaky faucets do not fix themselves, nor do squeaky doors stop squeaking until you give it a dab of oil. And contrary to popular opinion, ignorance is only bliss to those who want to remain ignorant. 

 Speaking of ignorance (or being ignorant), that word often times can carry a harsh undertone when directed at someone. But in all honestly, all that word means is to be lacking knowledge or information pertaining to any particular subject or piece of news or topic. If you were to complete this sentence: “I don’t know the first thing when it comes to ___________”, whatever you filled that blank in with, you could say you are ‘ignorant’ when it comes to (whatever you wrote down). 

 When it comes to our knowledge and understanding as to who God is and what He is like, we read in several places where scripture points out our ‘former ignorance’; Paul even explaining in times past God may have ‘winked at’ or overlooked our ignorance, but now commands men everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30). In other words, it would not appear that we can use the excuse of saying “But I just didn’t know!” anymore. (Rom. 1:18-20) 

 Then there is that crowd who simply do not ‘want’ to know. Jesus talked about them in John 3:19-21. Many might begin this walk of faith for a host of sincere (or not so sincere) reasons. But at some point, this path will narrow. (Matt. 7:13-14) That’s when people start motioning to the conductor with the desire to get off this ‘train’ and continue on no more. We see that in John 6:66 and 2 Tim. 4:10. Then there was that rich young ruler who chose to not ‘get on the train’ when he found out the price of the ticket. (Matt. 19:21; Luke 14:33) 

 Paul also wrote about a great ‘falling away’ from the faith in the end times (2 Thess. 2:3), where others would ‘fall away’ being deceived by other gospels and deceiving spirits. (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Cor. 11:2-4).  I guess that is why Jesus added this little caveat about the ones who would be ‘saved’ in Matt. 24:13- are “those who endure to the end”. 

 But back to this issue of being ignorant, or simply...’not knowing’. To not ‘know something’ would imply that someone is ‘without knowledge’. 

 Why did God say that His...people were ‘destroyed’ there in Hosea 4:6? I believe it was due to a lack of knowledge. And don’t you think that is significant that He points out that it is HIS people...who suffer because of this lack of information. Yeah....let that one settle in for a moment. 

 I often chuckle when I see those “We’re Not Going to Make it, Are We?” memes. It usually is pointing out some absurd fact that that should not have to be stated, but due to our ignorance, it has to be stated....[Do not eat these Tide-Pods] for example. 

 None of us should be ashamed of the fact that we were ALL ignorant at one time or another. That’s kind of one reason why Jesus came...to bring light...and truth...that we might be set free. People in darkness, don’t know where they are going, as He stated so eloquently. (John 12:35) 

 And as I mentioned yesterday, we can be quite sincere in our beliefs, while at the same time, be sincerely wrong, or in error. Paul talked about God’s people having a ‘zeal for God, but not according to knowledge’. (Rom. 10:2). There’s that ‘knowledge’ word again. 

 So...all that to say this: IF we are not taught the ‘whole counsel of God’, then our faith or belief system can be distorted. In other words, it won’t ‘work right’. If you are piloting an old time schooner or ship across a vast ocean with a single compass...and that device is ‘off a few degrees’...you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize you will most likely not reach your destination. 

 Have you read there in Acts 20 where Paul was getting ready to depart from Ephesus and implored those there to remain vigilant and steadfast. And he makes it known that he was ‘innocent of the blood of all men for he has not shunned to declare to them the whole counsel of God’. (26-27). No doubt, he had the serious warnings on his mind, given by Ezekiel to watchmen who failed to warn the people when they saw the sword, or curse of God’s wrath coming. God was pretty straightforward there...saying the watchmen would have “blood on their hands”. (Ezek.33:1-11) 

 But did you catch that mention by Paul that he did not ‘shun’...declaring the ‘whole counsel’ of God’s message? (Acts 20:27). Think about that a second...is it possible he himself felt resistance to give them ‘all the truth’ and not just ‘pick and choose’ the good stuff to share? Do you think your pastor may ever feel that ‘pressure’ to ‘back off’ certain parts of the bible for any number of reasons? What do you suppose is working there in all that? We surely don’t want to ‘offend folks’ or make them feel ‘uncomfortable’ now, do we? 

 What did Paul warn Timothy about regarding preaching the word because the time will come when people will not ‘endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers” who will tell them what they want to hear and be turned away from truth. (2 Tim. 4:2-4) It’s not like that has never happened before...go read Isaiah 30:8-15....you might underline a few lines there that jump out at you. 

 So now if you would, please turn to Romans 11:22 and mark that. Paul writes that we should give consideration to the fact that God has not only a ‘good side’, but there is ‘another side’ to God as well. “Behold the goodness and...the severity of God”. If you read further down, he even mentions there that he desires for the brethren to ‘not be ignorant’. (25) 

 Let me pause here and state the obvious: While I have no idea as to what kind of reach these daily postings have...if there are only ten of you reading regularly, ...it is most likely that all ten probably come from different backgrounds of religious upbringing. I am fully aware that some were raised up in churches where they may have been ‘beaten and whipped’ with the bible from the pulpit every time they went to church; then they crawled out of there week after week feeling lower than a worm and made to believe they were the scum of the earth. Convinced they would never be able to please or satisfy this angry God of the heavens, they simply held on with all they had with the desperate hope they did not end up in hell. 

 Others...well...you were taught to believe God was up there operating a candy and toy store and you could just come any time, sit on His lap and enjoy all the good wonderful things He had to give you. The last thing God would ever consider doing would be disciplining or ‘spanking’ any of His kids and ‘everyone is a child of God’. 

 Is it any wonder there are so many shipwrecked people today that have been devoured, chewed up, and then spit out by what is commonly known today as a ‘local church’. When critics decry the damage done by ‘religion’, they have good reason to say that. There is no shortage of casualties out there. Can I get an ‘Amen’? (Obviously, I am not talking about 'your' church!)

 If any of you have spent time in either one of those ‘ditches of distortion’, I feel for you; as does God. And it is only the grace and love of God that can heal and restore your wounded soul and heart. That would be my prayer for your personally. But in the meantime, I myself, cannot shun declaring the whole counsel of God and will continue to do so here. I know what I have been posting of late can be unsettling for some as I have been teaching on the ‘wrath of God’. But please hear me on this...it is not ‘love’ to refrain from telling someone when impending danger is near. 

 Not...telling people on the Titanic that the boat was sinking for fear of making them upset would not be true ‘love’ when there were lifeboats available. Firemen who climbed smoky stairways in the towers on 9/11 to reach people trapped in offices did them no good if they did not present the dire situation they found people in and then make it known there was a way of escape if they would follow them out. 

 This is not about tapping down the tone of a message or working people up into an emotional frenzy. This is simply presenting truth for people to process, study out and pray over. 

 Jesus continued to reach out and minister to the countless multitudes who wandered like ‘lost sheep’ falling prey to the beast of the fields. (Matt. 9:35-36; Ezek. 34:8; Acts 10:38) 

 You can hear the passion in His cry as recorded there in Matt. 23:38 where He implored the people to ‘come to Him’ that He might gather them under His protective wings...but they simply were not willing. 

 Here’s the truth of the matter: This ‘flood of darkness’ is not going away any time soon. Singing louder will not make it subside, nor will ignoring it. But here’s the good news...the ‘Door of the Ark’ is still open and there truly is a place of peace and rest in the shelter of His arms. But I would not be declaring to you the whole counsel of God if I told you that you could enter this place on your own terms. You truly have to surrender your whole heart to Him. 

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST (renewal, blessed quiet) FOR YOUR SOULS. (Matt. 11:28-29-Amp)