ENLIGHTENED
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ (Eph. 1:16-19).
In the eighteenth century, a flame burned across Europe and changed the course of world history. It’s a period known as “The Enlightenment” or the “Age of Reason.” Historians say it was a time of intellectual and philosophical
growth in which reason reigned supreme as the basis for all legitimate thought.
Innovative ideas in the areas of scientific understanding and individual liberty sparked political change and, in some cases, revolution. Much of what we think today is influenced by this time period. For example, the ideas of democracy, personal rights to liberty and property. As with any movement, The Enlightenment had its pros and cons, but the end result was lasting impact.
In many ways, enlightenment looks like a spotlight being shined in darkness, fully exposing something you have never seen. This is what Paul wanted us to experience when he wrote, “...having the eyes of your hearts enlightened.” He goes on to say that he wants us to open the eyes of our hearts so we fully know God.
Paul reminds us that God’s end goal for His Church (remember the Church is the people of God saved by the power of God for the purposes of God) is knowledge and revelation of Him–anticipating that we’ll understand the height and depth of the hope we’re called to; the riches of what we’ve inherited in Him; and the unfathomable power accessible to us. Let’s look at these three gifts more closely.
Hope, as defined in the Greek, is “looking forward with confidence
to that which is good and beneficial.” This isn’t the same as wishing for something, but knowing in the depths of our soul that God’s Word is true and He keeps His promises. We look forward with confidence.
Many of us today don’t expect to inherit much of anything from our earthly parents, but we do have an inheritance stored up in Heaven. The theme of inheritance runs throughout the Old and New Testaments. Let’s look at three scriptures from the Gospel of Matthew–these words come from Jesus Himself:
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth (v. 5:5);
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life” (v. 19:29);
Then the King will say to those on his right, Come you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (v. 25:34).
We serve the God of Heaven who appointed us a Savior, Jesus, and raised Him from the dead. His power toward us is immeasurable, and He wants us to know and understand the full extent of it. Multiple lifetimes of exploration wouldn’t begin to touch on the magnitude of this power.
We are not without resources. God gives us His Word for instruction and application. Entering into a personal relationship with His Son is the first key to unlocking understanding. Colossians 1:15 tells us: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
When we follow Him, we’re spiritually illuminated, and our destiny is discipleship.
Revolution isn’t possible until we change the way we think about Jesus.
What keeps you from seeing the hope you are called to, the riches of your inheritance and the power you have access to?