An ABC of Faith

 

Enlightenment

In Ephesians 1:18-19 we read “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…”

As we read the writer of Ephesians I wonder if we would pray as generously for our friends. Perhaps it would be to call a friend to mind and read this passage again, praying from my heart for their good. Is this what is meant to have an enlightened heart?

Notice how the writer asks for a spirit of wisdom and revelation. Perhaps we too should look at our lives wisely and recognise God’s gifts. By allowing God to expand our hopes, and realising that God's desire for us is far beyond anything I might ask for ourselves.

We could suggest that this enlightenment is purely a different ways of seeing by means of the Light of Christ. Maybe we should also recall that Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12, NASB)

In the natural world order, light gives us the capacity to see or to see more clearly. It’s kind of like when I’m trying to retrieve a splinter out of one my kid’s finger and move next to the window so I can get a better look at it.

Remember Jesus also said, “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.” (Matthew 6:22–23, NASB)

The passage in Matthew states the importance of seeing clearly and the difference between a good eye and a bad eye. A good eye fills us with light while a bad eye fills us with darkness.

Bernadette Farrell perhaps gives us a sense of being enlightened by Christ.

Longing for light, we wait in darkness

Longing for truth, we turn to You.

Make us Your own, Your holy people

Light for the world to see.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in our hearts.

Shine through the darkness.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in Your church gathered today.