illumination
so, i'm studying for a mid-term, but i read this in my notes and had to share it.
when you think of the word "illumination" (think outside of any spiritual context for a minute) what do you think of? the light bulb going on (literally or figuratively!), plugging in the lights to a CHRISTmas tree, turning on a flashlight on a dark night to "illuminate" your path. really, that's what Spiritual illumination is too...it's having the eyes of your heart enlightened so that you might see the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ (Eph. 1:18-20; 2 Cor 4:6).
here's the quote I wanted to share:
wow. pretty cool, huh?
when you think of the word "illumination" (think outside of any spiritual context for a minute) what do you think of? the light bulb going on (literally or figuratively!), plugging in the lights to a CHRISTmas tree, turning on a flashlight on a dark night to "illuminate" your path. really, that's what Spiritual illumination is too...it's having the eyes of your heart enlightened so that you might see the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ (Eph. 1:18-20; 2 Cor 4:6).
here's the quote I wanted to share:
...We are there abundantly taught, that the saints differ from the ungodly in this: that they have the knowledge of God, and the sight of God, and of Jesus Christ...this plainly shows, that there is a discovery of the divine superlative glory and excellency of...Christ, peculiar to the saints; and also, that it is as immediately from God, as the light from the sun...For it is compared to God's creating the light by His powerful word in the beginning of creation [cf. 2 Cor 4:6]...The change made by this spiritual opening of the eyes in conversion would be much greater, and more remarkable every way than if a man born blind should have the sense of seeing imparted to him at once, in the midst of the clear light of the sun discovering a world of visible objects. For though sight be more noble than any of the other external senses, yet this spiritual sense is infinitely more noble and the object infinitely more important.~Jonathan Edwards
wow. pretty cool, huh?
posted by Elias at 20:59
4 Comments:
Definitely cool! Thanks!
Oh my! I was nearly finished writing all that I'll probably attempt to write again here when the power went out! It's not even storming or anything. Peculiar, much?
Attempt #2 --- (!)
How blessed I am to have come across this post!
Over the past two weeks our philosophy class has spent a good amount of time sorting out the finer points of Plato's 'Allegory of the Cave,' the golden centerpoint of which is Plato's deep-seated belief that the sun is the ultimate truth and wisdom, and all who see by it are brought to a significantly richer understanding of the world around them.
Also over the past couple of weeks the Holy Spirit has really been prompting me to pray that God would help me see as He does, namely, with my heart. Praise God, He has certainly been delivering this prayer in remarkable ways, and I have been more stunned and excited --and humbled-- with every glimpse.
Thanks to you and your collaboration with Mr. Jonathan Edwards, here, I am helped to realize more about God and his incredible, impeccably-timed knack for helping everything we know about life to fall into all the right places in our minds and in our hearts. And both at the same time, no less!
Praise God for this, and thank you for being a good student and studying for your midterm :). (I hope it goes well!) You are very fortunate to be studying this!
Take care, and peace,
Ashley :)
One of the most damaging things to illumination is our pragmatic approach to life. For what we see in principle we apply with our own methodology, and thus miss God's blessing for doing things God's way. Moses at Miribah striking the rock, steadying the ark of God, or creating false fire which God never asked for. Illumination is spoiled when we do not heed the Word as sufficient. Our methodology must be driven by our theology!
i'll stick w/ simply saying, "i love j-wards"
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