Who You Don't Know Just Might Hurt You

      Ignorance is bliss.

      What you don’t know won’t hurt you.

      I’m not responsible for what I don’t know.

      Perhaps in some circumstances the above statements are true. However, there is one very important circumstance in which none of them are—our relationship with God.

      The reality is, who you don’t know just might hurt you. Actually, it will definitely hurt you. II Thessalonians 1:7-9 says Jesus is coming some day to inflict vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.

      If we don’t know God, we will be hurt. We will suffer “the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord” (ESV). We often hear people say, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” With God the issue is “It is what you know because of who you know.”

      You might still think ignorance is bliss. However, Paul explained “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30, ESV). Ignorance is no excuse. None of us will get to stand before God in judgment saying, “I just didn’t know.”

      God has given us everything we need to know Him. He has given us the creation, which is itself an amazing testimony to His existence, causing us to recognize His eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:20). Further, He has given us His Word by the revelation of the Spirit that we might know His mind (II Peter 1:20-21; I Corinthians 2:9-13).

      We are responsible to read, study and obey. We are responsible to know God. Ignorance will not be bliss.

      If we don’t know God we will suffer affliction. However, if we do know God and do obey His gospel, we will be granted relief (II Thessalonians 1:7). Further, we will be glorified in Christ (II Thessalonians 1:12).

      Thus, our big question is do we know God? Have we gotten into His Word, the revelation of His Spirit, to learn His mind? Do we know what and how He thinks? Do we know what pleases Him and what upsets Him? Do we know how He reacts?

      We must not be happy with merely having met God or being acquainted with Him. We need to get to know Him, understanding His character and nature, drawing close to Him. We need to work at being people with whom God will be glad to be friends. Only then will we hear what God said about the faithful in Hebrews 11:16—“Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God” (ESV).

Edwin L. Crozier