Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.

Hi, Pastor Bob here. Welcome back to the Men of Valor podcast. The verse for today is from the book of Hosea chapter 4 verse 6. It says, “...My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.”

During the pandemic, I found myself probably like you doing several things I typically don't do. Eating certain foods was one of them. During one meal, I found myself eating a sausage sandwich with a side of potato chips. To some of you, you're thinking, “Wow, that sounds pretty good.” but to you health conscious people, you're thinking, “Doesn't he know how bad that food is for him?” Which brings me to my title: Desired Ignorance.

How many things in our lives do we desire to be ignorant of as if that ignorance negates the result of what we're doing? I'm going to shock many of you again by admitting that I was around before nutritional labels were printed on food packaging. (It actually wasn't mandatory in 1990 so just that fact alone really doesn't make me that old). Before the labels were on the package, people would say things like, “I don't think that food is really that bad for me” or “I don't think there are that many calories in these cakes, cookies, or my soda. However, since 1990, all that information is on every food product you buy. So here's the question: Do you read the label or do you walk in deliberate ignorance because then, not having the knowledge doesn't make us feel bad when we do what we know we shouldn't do?

“...how many eternal things do we claim deliberate ignorance with…”

While praying for people in the critical care section at the hospital, I've met several people that probably had a day or two to live. When I ask them, “Do you want to know what the Bible says about getting into heaven or not going to hell?” They say, “No, I'm not really that interested.” It's as if they think, “If I don't know how to get to heaven or how to stay out of hell, my deliberate ignorance will protect me.”

“I knew deep down, my god was what I spent my time thinking most about and doing what I really enjoyed.”

Then I heard what Jesus said in Matthew 22:37. He said, “...’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Quickly followed by the other verse, “If you love me, you will obey me.”

“I think my plan was deliberate ignorance even with God.”

I also was led to Matthew 10:37-39, which I deliberately skipped verses like these most of my life. It states, “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

Wow, I had to repent on so many of these things. Read the Bible and live it? Get to know God to love Him? Take up my cross and follow Jesus who died for me? Me choose to lose my life, by serving God and others? Wow, instead of reading and following the words of Jesus like that, I deliberately followed the books and the words such as, Think And Grow Rich, “get your best life now”, “look out for number one”, and I'm OK - You're OK. I just thank the Holy Spirit for showing me how I deliberately ignored the words of God because I wanted to be my own god.

“Do you choose the wisdom of the Lord leading to salvation or do you choose deliberant ignorance leading to destruction?”

Lord, we thank You that we can get to know You through Your Word and spending time with You. We thank You that we can receive Your wisdom by asking for it. And truly, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, obey You as we grow to love You Lord, more and more. What an amazing God we serve. God bless.