Whether Thomas Gray actually coined the phrase “ignorance is bliss” is really inconsequential. The important thing is not being ignorant of what we need to know.
To say someone is “ignorant” is not to say they’re stupid. That isn’t what it means. It simply means that they are uninformed. The most brilliant among us can be ignorant, or uninformed. Synonyms are:
uneducated · unknowledgeable · untaught · unschooled ·
untutored · untrained · illiterate · unlettered · unlearned · unread · uninformed · unenlightened · benighted · inexperienced · unworldly · unsophisticated
As for the word “bliss,” it just means enjoyment, happiness, ecstasy, delight or pleasure.
Sometimes, I’ll grant you, ignorance is bliss. For example, I wish to be ignorant as to when I die and the manner in which I die. Don’t you? I would rather not know. So, in this case it is good to be ignorant. However, there are other times we really should not want to be ignorant.
I have known people, and you probably have too, that won’t go to the doctor because they don’t want to know if they have something bad. Then they get really bad off and die. Now that’s not only ignorance, but also stupid. Why would anybody do that? My guess is “fear.”
By the way, synonyms for ‘stupid’ are:
unintelligent · ignorant · dense · foolish · dull-witted · slow · simpleminded · vacuous · vapid · idiotic · imbecilic · imbecile · obtuse · doltish · thick · dim · dimwitted · slow-witted · dumb · dopey · dozy · moronic · cretinous · pea-brained · halfwitted · soft in the head · brain-dead · boneheaded · thickheaded · wooden-headed · muttonheaded · daft · foolish · silly · unintelligent · idiotic · scatterbrained · nonsensical · senseless · harebrained · unthinking · ill-advised · ill-considered · unwise · injudicious · inane · absurd · ludicrous · ridiculous · laughable · risible · fatuous · asinine · mad · insane · lunatic · crazy · dopey · cracked · half-baked · dimwitted · cockeyed · lamebrained · nutty · batty · cuckoo · loony · loopy
So in some cases ignorance is bliss, and at other times it most certainly is not, at least in the long run.
I have heard that people who are addicted to gambling will gamble over just about anything. This in turn makes me think that those who say they’ll take their chances on Heaven or hell after they die are, without a doubt, die-hard gamblers. In other words they are ‘stupid.’
Take God’s word for it, being ignorant about our eternal destiny is not ignorance that will produce any bliss whatsoever. This is one thing we should all be sure about.
Some folks are unsure of their eternal destination and are not interested in trusting Jesus to provide that for them. Others actually are those who really are Christians, but just can’t seem to be sure that the very Jesus who saved them will also keep them.
So let’s forget this thing of being ignorant and do something about it. Let’s go from being uninformed, ignorant, to knowing that our eternal destiny is with Jesus for all eternity.
First of all, if you have not put your faith in Jesus Christ to save and keep you, then you are not a Christian. Let’s do something about that.
Jesus said, “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (John 6:37)
Okay, if you want to be saved, then obviously the Father is giving you to Jesus. Furthermore, Jesus said he will not turn you down (“whoever comes to me I will never drive away”).
He also says, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)
In Romans He says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)
So put very simply, if you believe in Jesus and aren’t ashamed to say so, He will save you and provide you His righteousness.
He goes on to assure us that when He saves us, He keeps us, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)
Probably the number one reason true Christians are not sure of their fate after they die is because they spend very little or no time in God’s Word, the Bible. Reading the Bible and prayer time is essential for every Christian. Just as the body needs food and water to survive, the same is true for the Christian. We must have the nourishment of fellowship with God to grow spiritually.
Another very important reason for Bible reading and prayer time is to keep us on the right path in our walk with the Lord. The Apostle Peter said,
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT)
Satan is always throwing lies at us and they come from every direction. The world listens to Satan and is very adept at masquerading his lies with a little truth to advance the cause of that fallen angel who strives to be a god. It’s often called being ‘politically correct.’
Unfortunately, false gospel often comes from the pulpit. It always has, and it is worse today than at any time in history. So we must be knowledgeable in God’s holy Word. The Holy Spirit will keep us on the right path if we just allow Him to do so. May the following verse not apply to us.
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10:3)
When the Word of God and prayer is our daily routine, we will know the righteousness of God and not be hoodwinked by the pseudo righteousness Satan is spewing from others. God’s Word, the Bible, says the day will come when men will call that which is right to be wrong and that which is wrong to be right.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)
We are in that day and must not fall into the deception of listening to those who think they know more than God, and frankly don’t care what God says.
“Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:21)
After reading this, we have been informed, and should no longer be ignorant. Let us not compound the problem by being stupid.
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com