Enlightenment
• true wisdom and understanding
• a fuller comprehension and awareness
• freedom from illusion, ignorance and misinformation
Enlightenment comes from above, from God. It shines Light and Wisdom on what was previously darkness and ignorance. Enlightenment brings Truth (Sura 91:7-10), and with Truth Freedom; Freedom from the darkness, confusion, illusion and lies. Even Freedom from one’s “self”.
Enlightenment is precious. It is NOT something to be taken for granted. It is a GIFT from God, provided to those who seek true enlightenment (Matt. 7:7-8; Acts 5:29-32). It restores one’s Soul (Psalm 23).
The prefix “en” in the English language is used to form a verb from a noun, so that noun can be put into action. A few examples:
Those who are rich in spirit have been enriched by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 5:3).
Those who seek true courage will be encouraged in finding Light and Truth.
Those who receive the lightening that comes from the Sun/Son have been enlightened.
The Greek word ἀστραπὴ (astrapē), which is found 4 times in the New Covenant – in Matthew 24:27, Matthew 28:3, Luke 11:36, and Luke 17:24 – means “lightening”, as in a light shining brightly, just as the sun does every day here on Earth.
From the King of kings’ Bible:-
Matthew 24:27 For as the lightening cometh out of the East, and shineth even unto the West; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 28:3 His countenance was like the lightening [of the sun], and his raiment white as snow:
Luke 11:33-36
11:33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth [it] in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of Light; but when [thine eye] is evil, thy body also [is] full of darkness.
11:35 Take heed therefore that the Light (energy – force) which is in thee be not darkness.
11:36 If thy whole body therefore [be] full of Light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of Light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
Luke 17:24 For as the lightening, that lighteneth out of the one [part] under heaven, shineth unto the other [part] under heaven; so shall also the Son of Man be in his day.
In some versions of the Bible, the Greek word ἀστραπὴ (astrapē) has been mistranslated as “lightning”, which makes absolutely no sense for multiple reasons.
“Lightning” is a momentary flash of light in the night sky, which can be in any direction. After that momentary flash of lightning, which can cause injury or even death, the darkness returns. “Lightening”, on the other hand describes a lasting, life-giving light, like the light that shines forth from the sun.
Also, lightning doesn’t habitually come out of the East and shine forth unto the West. It is the sun that does that, destroying the darkness and bringing with it the Light (Enlightenment) and Warmth (Love) that makes life possible on Earth.
Further, the same word is used to describe being FULL of Light (Matt. 6:22-23), having no dark part, as when the bright shining of a candle gives its light.
Lightning obviously does NOT do that.
In spiritual terms, the enlightenment that Christ brings is the permanent, lasting effect of Light and Love, which destroys darkness/evil and hatred (1 John 3:8), just as the daylight destroys the darkness at the dawn (2 Pet. 1:19).
John 3:19-21
3:19 And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil.
3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, lest his deeds should be revealed.
3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Along with destroying darkness, lightening also has another meaning: making less heavy, as in lightening the burden of another.
Matthew 11:28-30
11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
11:30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is LIGHT.
Someone on the path of spiritual enlightenment, will eventually lose the selfish desire to try to control others (Matt. 7:1-4; 1 Pet. 5:6-7). This doesn’t mean that sharing an observation which could help another to avoid a potential pitfall or danger should be neglected. Instead, it simply means that such observations can be viewed as a lesson in patience and an opportunity to identify and assess one’s own lack of self-control first (Prov. 25:28; James 1:26), ever maintaining a healthy spiritual attitude.
The result of removing the incessant urge to fret over the actions of others – as if Father and His Holy Spirit are somehow incapable of providing guidance and correction to whomever is fit to receive it – is LIBERATING. Consider lightening your own burden today with this loving, Christ-like approach and, in doing so, find the spiritual rest we have been promised.
Some additional words of wisdom from the Serenity Prayer:
God, please grant me the serenity, to accept the things that I can not change;
the courage, to change the things that I can change; and the Wisdom,
to always know the difference between the two.
This freedom and serenity leads to yet another meaning of the word “lightening”:
becoming more joyful which, like a smile and a yawn (yes, Father has a sense of humour too 🙂 ), is one of the few things on this planet that’s actually contagious.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full.
Isn’t it time to lighten your life, lighten your load and lighten the atmosphere by spreading some joy from above (John 16:19-25)? Free your mind of all of the baggage you presently carry around with you: past mistakes, failures and regrets, resentment toward others, and the weight of the world we were never meant to bear.
God Calling: Forget. – May 29
Regret nothing. Not even the sins and failures. When a man views Earth’s wonders from some mountain height he does not spend his time in dwelling on the stones and stumbles, the faints and failures, that marked his upward path.
So with you. Breathe-in the rich blessings of each new day – forget all that lies behind you.
Man is so made that he can carry the weight of twenty-four hours – no more. Directly he weighs down with the years behind, and the days ahead, his back breaks. I have promised to help you with the burden of today only, the past I have taken from you, and if you, foolish hearts, choose to gather again the burden and bear it, then, indeed, you mock Me to expect Me to share it.
For weal or woe each day is ended. What remains to be lived, the coming twenty-four hours, you must face as you awake.
A man on a march on earth carries only what he needs for that march. Would you pity him if you saw him bearing too the overwhelming weight of the worn-out shoes and uniforms of past marches and years? And yet, in the mental and spiritual life, man does these things. Small wonder My poor world is heartsick and weary.
Not so must you act.
Unhitch that wagon. Don’t worry (about the future)… be happy (in the present moment).