Illumination

Luke 11:33-36 again. Jesus says, "watch out." If your eye is good then you will be able to aim at things. Scopeo is used to describe aiming for the unseen (2 Cor.4:18), aiming at keeping one's self from being tempted (Gal.6:1), aiming for the interest of others (Phil.2:4), aiming at keeping an eye on those who cause division (Rom.16:17), and aiming for those who walk according the to the gospel pattern (Phil.3:17). But Jesus says to watch out "that the light in you does not become darkness." How could that be? There is a strange phenomenon in Christianity. The religion of light can become the religion of darkness. It is a real danger. Saul understood this regarding the Jewish faith. The light afforded by the commandments became darkness to him until he was illuminated by a light from above. The Jesus who enlightens every man (John 1:9) caused His light to shine on Saul, plunging him into darkness for three days until a gospel preacher showed up. If we were to Anglicize this word photizo as we did baptizo we might add another finger to our five finger exercise calling it photism (in addition to baptism). If a person is going to be saved they have to be photized. The Hebrew writer refers to this spiritual process twice, once in Heb.6:4 and once in Heb.10:32. Every person who comes to Christ must be illuminated or enlightened. Jesus is the true prototype of the Enlightenment.

For all our sophistication the world still dwells in darkness. For a world who survived the Dark Ages and saw the Enlightenment ushered in by such men as Locke and Newton and the advancements that followed their Reason, for many, leaving the Father and the Son out of the picture, their light became darkness. True illumination does not come by human reasoning and worldly wisdom. It can only come by Jesus. He is the light who enlightens every man (John 1:9). Paul taught us that our heart has eyes (Eph.1:18) which can help us see clearly our inheritance for which we hope and our great power which allows us to overcome death as Jesus did. It was Jesus who brought life and immortality to life through the gospel (2 Tim.1:10). And, one day the Lord will bring to light the things that are now hidden in the darkness and expose the motives of men's hearts (1 Cor.4:5). Jesus walked among many whose light was darkness. Of course, they did not know that at the time. Some understood at the brightness of the resurrection at sunrise on a Sunday morning. Others like Paul understood it later when the resurrected Jesus caused His light to shine in their hearts as they heard the glorious gospel. And some never really saw the light. So it is today. If you would be illuminated you must turn to the Lord, look square into His wonderful face, allowing the things of this earth to become strangely dim, going forth with faces aglow in the radiance of His being with the veil lifted (2 Cor.3). Praise God for rescuing us from the dominion of darkness and bringing us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.