Lack of True Knowledge, Part 4: Leads to Lacklustre Lifelessness

David W Palmer

God is the God of knowledge; he wants us to learn his true knowledge. Very clearly our Lord Jesus said, “Learn of me” (Mat. 11:29–30 KJV). Knowing what God has said to and about us, and knowing his promises and how to claim them is all of great benefit to us. Conversely, not knowing leaves us vulnerable to ignorantly being plundered by the thief, destroyed by the destroyer, and being impoverished, etc. Today, we continue from previous studies to look at what God says are the devastating consequences of a lack of his knowledge:

7. Lack of True Knowledge Leads to Alienation From the Life of God

(Ephesians 4:17–19 NKJV) “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, (18) having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; (19) who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

This segment of Scripture shows that a consequence of ignorance, or lack of knowledge, is “alienation from the life of God.” This is very serious; eternal life is having the “life of God” flowing into us … eternally. Without the flow of God’s life, we have no eternal life, at all. “Ignorance” and “blindness” of heart are enemies to everlasting life with God.

“Ignorance” comes from lack of access to, and/or learning of, God’s true knowledge. The above passage says that this happens to people “because of the blindness of their heart.” This, in turn, can come for two reasons:

Lack of the light that revelation of truth brings; or

The decision to close one’s mind to God’s light—even when it is presented to them.

(Matthew 13:15–16 NLT) “For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them. (16) But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.”

“They have closed their eyes.” Let’s ensure that we don’t wilfully close our own eyes to God’s revelation, harden our hearts to his understanding, or deafen our ears to hearing more of his truth.

Having dark understanding and ignorance—especially by your own choice—is absolutely devastating; it leaves you “alienated from the [eternal] life of God.” The resultant lifestyle in the here and now is also spelled out: “Who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Eph. 4:19 NKJV). The ultimate outcome of this lifestyle is a Christ-less eternity in hell, without any life at all.

Of course, I congratulate you; you are here today, reading, learning, praying, and seeking God for knowledge of his truth. But I encourage you to keep your eyes and ears open to what he is saying to you. To turn a deaf ear or blind eye to anything he reveals is literally closing your own entry points for God's light and life. This leads to areas of ignorance and darkness in your understanding. This in turn leaves you open to disobedience, which is rebellion against God. The outcome of which is not his fault, but leads to disastrous consequences (See: Psalm 107:17).

I know that it’s like eating humble pie at times to receive God’s input and correction; but we must ensure that we have our hearts and spiritual eyes and ears open to hear what he is saying to us today. Then we need even more humility to submit to his correction and learning. But if we do, we have eternal life to look forward to, and the avoidance of deception in the wicked world.

What is he saying to you today? Is the faithful Holy Spirit bringing a correction to you in any area? If so, in Jesus’s name, I encourage you to receive what he is saying deeply into your heart—even if you cannot see how you can obey him or make the change. The first step is to simply love, receive, and cherish what he is saying. Remember, Jesus, the Living Word of God, working in conjunction with the Holy Spirit has the exclusive power of holiness; we don’t! Only by his grace working in us and changing us can we obey. Our own feelings of inadequacy try to stop us receiving God’s correction, and that’s only natural. However, God’s gracious power of holiness and obedience is not natural, and it can “help in time of need”:

(Hebrews 4:16 NKJV) “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

To receive the help he offers, you first need to receive what he is saying—deeply into your heart. Acknowledge that the change is needed, then yield your will to him. Next go boldly to his “throne of grace,” ask for forgiveness, and then “find grace to help.” The grace that empowers change is available, but God requires us to actively “find” it. This means staying with God at his throne and searching till you find the grace you need. It is found in the “word of his grace” (Acts 20:32 KJV) in conjunction with the “Spirit of grace” (Heb. 10:29 KJV). Jesus hopes to see you there today.

Remember, receiving his correction keeps you in the flow of his life:

(Proverbs 10:17 NKJV) “He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray.”

(Proverbs 3:11 NKJV) “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction.”