Our heavenly Father is searching the world for sincere, honest hearts who will do right as best as they know how. He deals with the motives of the heart. There is such a thing as honest ignorance. Paul says:

“For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12).

Honest ignorance

Perhaps our parents or grandparents were unaware of the fact that there has been a change of the Sab­bath. They thought that Sunday was the day God com­manded us to worship on. They were honestly ignorant. God understands such honesty and accounts for such misunderstanding. Acts 17:30 says the following, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.”

Browse: Which day is the Sabbath?

Walk in the light

But when we are enlightened as to the requirements of God's holy law, then God calls on us to change our ways in obedience to the added light we have received. If we know what God's Word teaches and then refuse to walk in the light, we can neither claim to be honest in heart nor ignorant of God's will. We become guilty. The Bible adds in James 4:17 that, “...To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Grow in grace and knowledge

Remember, friend, that God is looking down into your heart just now, as you read this article. He is watching to see whether you love Him sincerely enough to obey Him. If you accept the added light of God’s Word, you will grow in grace and knowledge, but if you refuse to do what you now know to be right you are in danger of losing eternal life.

1 Chronicles 28:9 says, “...For the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.”