Illumination Brings Deliverance

By Rob Forth

Illumination is a great key of deliverance.  John the Baptist said of Jesus, ‘there was the true light which coming into the world enlightens every man.’  (Jn 1:9)  This is absolutely a key verse, for it declares the reason that the Lord has revealed Himself among us. 

His purpose in coming was so much richer than just providing forgiveness of our sin.  It was to bring enlightenment to each one of us, so that we can walk the way He has always planned.  We have all lost our way, but He has come to make His pathway clear to us.

In the first place Jesus came to talk to the Jewish people.  They knew all of the Old Testament scriptures which spoke prophetically of Christ’s coming.  Yet they did not understand when Jesus did come.  Jesus said to them ‘you are unwilling to come to Me that you may have life.  I do not receive glory from men, but I know that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.’  There were two small things they were missing – love and faith.  They claimed Abraham as their father, but Jesus told them that if this was so they should do the works of Abraham.  Abraham’s works were the works of faith.  (Jn 8:39,42)

It becomes clear, then, that reading the Scriptures is not enough.  Scripture alone did not save the Jews.  Nor will it alone save us.  There is another component that is needed - our co-operation with God and our hunger to seek Him. 

How can we respond to God?  Do we in our rebellious, darkened condition have the capacity to respond to God?  No!  The Bible says I am actually an enemy of God - I actually hate Him!  (Rom 5:10, Col 1:21)  So how is change going to come to each of our lives? 

It can only be as a gift of God’s intervention!  God must provide the capacity to believe.  But we must co-operate.  The good news He sends through a messenger must be mixed with faith. (Heb 4:2)  We need an illumination of the Scriptures in order for His life to be born in us.  Paul prays ‘that the eyes of our heart be enlightened’ . When our desire, our cry, our seeking, meets with the preached word we are ‘enlightened’ and something is born of God.

For those in captivity, there is a future and a hope.  God says, ‘if you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me then I will listen to you.’  (Jer 29:12-14)  When will you do that? When you get to an end of yourself.  While your life is self sufficient, it is unlikely that you will call out to God.  But when one does begin to cry out to God, then His promise is sure. He will come and meet them.  He will listen.  What a glorious hope! 

We do not need to live under the despondency of self-condemnation, for there is illumination, a pathway of life for everyone of us. 
Excerpt from a message by Rob Forth at the Chapel Hour