Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant… (1 Thessalonians 4:13, NIV 1984)
Those words really hit me this morning. Probably because next Sunday, I’m giving a message on Jephthah, for whom ignorance of God’s word was definitely not bliss. (Judges 11)
In this case, the Thessalonians’ ignorance led to unnecesary grief over those who had died.
I don’t want to be ignorant about God’s Word.
Sure, there are things we don’t know. We don’t know when Jesus will return. But we do know he is definitely returning. And when he does, he will conquer evil once and for all and make all things new.
We don’t know exactly what the resurrection will look like. But we do know for certain that death is not the end and that we have hope beyond the grave.
I don’t have to know everything. But I want to know everything God is clear on.
I want know all of God’s teaching. I want to know all of his ways.
Most of all I want to know him.
Because I know that in him there’s hope — and life.