To Be Ignorant, Or Not To Be

Verses:

John 8:32: And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

2 Thessalonians 2:10: And with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

John 17:3: And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Thoughts:

A phrase I’ve been thinking about recently is "Ignorance is bliss.” And really, if your goal in life is to live in bliss and happiness, why would you seek knowledge?

As a culture, we idolize comfort of self, often to the point of sacrificing truth on the altar of comfort. And it honestly can be alluring: The promise of comfort if only you don’t work to pursue the truth. It’s like asking a lazy person not to move.

I think much of our society today would follow Cypher’s footsteps and choose to go back into the Matrix, if only it could be put in with fame and money.

More often than we wish the truth is not what we want to hear. But, even though it is hard, it is somehow still right and good to know. However, I can only say that previous sentence if I have a worldview that acknowledges the need and superiority of truth over my personal, immediate comfort.

Truth is important because there is a God who is truth. And this God cares about truth. 

It is not wrong to seek to be comfortable or to love yourself. God commands us to love your neighbor as yourself, and that assumes that you are loving yourself well. But, when love of self becomes everything, we fall dangerously into idolatry.

And the basis of idolatry is a rejection of truth. We may even outwardly say we love God, but by living in a way that idolizes something over following God, our lives become a lie. Our actions speak louder than our words. And God, who is truth, hates lies.

Some might still say, “Even if God is truth, I still don’t get why I should care so much. Can’t I just live happily on my own in my ignorance?” We should not do this because God commands us to follow him and to walk with Christ. If we are to chiefly glorify God, we are to be creatures of truth. 

We are created in God’s image. I would argue this refers to our rationality, but it also means that when we fell into sin we became a twisted shape of something that was once perfect and lovely. By sinning, we stray from our original “form.” But by seeking the truth, we are molded more into His form. And, I would argue, we are more human.

But, we can only do this by the Spirit’s guidance. It is by the Holy Spirit that we can actually see and accept the truth. Without his grace, we would be lost in a world of lies. But in the light of His truth, God blesses us with a peace and comfort far greater and lasting than the transient bliss of this world. 

Summary: A worldview without God cannot account for why truth is important. If all we seek is our own comfort, then our goal would be blissful ignorance. But, because there is a God who not only cares deeply about truth but who also is truth, our chief end is not to seek our personal pleasure. Our end is to glorify God, and truth enables us to do this. And God graciously gives us a peace in truth that far surpasses all worldly comforts.

Ask Yourself: Do I live a truthful life, or do I lie with my actions? What actions do I lie with? What comforts do I value? Are these godly or worldly? What lies am I allowing in my life to perpetuate my comfort?

#31

6 Feb 2026