Have you found the illuminated way?

Several years ago, my book 'True Worshipers' was awarded third prize in the Illumination Awards. The organizers of this award contest want to shine a light on exemplary Christian books.

I remember that, at first, I raised my eyebrows at the name 'Illumination Awards'. It sounded a bit too much like a New Age term for my taste. But, as with so many words used in the world, they are stolen from the Bible and then twisted.

Spiritual enlightenment

According to the dictionary, illumination is the action of illuminating or the state of being illuminated, such as spiritual or intellectual enlightenment, or a lighting up as in decorative lighting or lighting effects.

When it comes to spiritual enlightenment, it was the apostle Paul's prayer that people would experience this kind of illumination. He longed for the moment the light would go on in people's hearts and mind, so to speak. 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 (Ephesians 1:18, NIV).

The good things of heaven

Enlightenment therefore, is not a New Age term; it is a Biblical term. When my husband and I first came to faith, it was the talk of the town. We had seen the light, as people called it then, and our eyes were fixed on Jesus from that moment on. We can read in the Bible: For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 6:4, NLT).

The illuminated way

To be enlightened, to have an illuminated heart, is a spiritual experience; the Bible is clear about it. There is, however, only one way to get there:

And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News (2 Timothy 1:10, NLT).

Jesus is the light of the world, and He illuminates the way to life and immortality! Do you know Him?

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For You are my lamp, O Lord; The Lord shall enlighten my darkness.

[2 Samuël 22:29, NKJV]

➤Read my book 'True Worshipers'.