The Candlelight Sanctuary

We’ve all heard it said that ignorance is bliss. Examination of the word ignorance reveals that the general definition applied to it would be, “A lack of knowledge”. Bliss, simply defined, is a state of ecstasy or pleasure. The above-mentioned statement suggests, then, that a lack of knowledge would give us a sense of happiness and contentment. It sort of goes hand-in-hand with, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you”. The antithesis would be that much knowledge brings unhappiness and discontentment. Let’s see why. (Ecc. 1:18)
This ground has been plowed many times before and by renowned Bible scholars, so, I certainly won’t do justice to the subject here. However, I often reflect on the Old Testament account of Adam and Eve in the garden. How true the above statements would have been for them. Eve believed satan’s lie that the wisdom she would gain from the fruit of the tree of knowledge (of good and evil) would make her as wise as her Creator. Of course eating it did not do what the devil suggested, but it surely caused them immeasurable hurt. At the very least, we see that when their eyes were opened the state of bliss immediately vanished.
Many harsh consequences followed that moment of rebellion. First of all, we see accountability. Being called to account for their actions was no small matter for God’s first couple. We see them, after eating the fruit, afraid of their Creator and trying to hide from Him. The covenant was broken, a confession was about to be extracted and sentences would be forth coming. They knew fear for the first time. Responsibility was now about to become a horrible reality.
There are, very well, several lessons to be learned from this biblical account, but I want to focus on just one for the moment. It could be summed up in the phrase, “With increased knowledge comes increased responsibility.” Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that His crowning creation, living in their state of bliss, had no need of the knowledge they sought. He knew the resulting burdens of those responsibilities would forever complicate, and in many cases, destroy the lives of many in future generations. We see it did not take long, Adam and Eve became the parents of the first murderer.
Most of us are aware of the truth of the above quoted phrase. As we continue to strive for increased knowledge the burden of responsibility presses ever harder upon us. Man cannot seem to control his desire to be his own god as he continues to believe satan’s (not capitalized intentionally) lie. Could it be that man now believes that through advanced medical technology he can achieve eternal life in the flesh? How many other ways can you think of that man is attempting to usurp God’s authority or contradict His Word?

2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: