True enlightenment
by Eden Bishop
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The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world (John 1:9).
Light is an important symbol in many famous pieces of literature – the phial of Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings, the light of the two trees of Valinor in The Silmarillion, the green light at the end of the dock in The Great Gatsby and Victor’s sudden, dizzying light of realisation in Frankenstein.
Light can represent many things but is especially used to symbolise knowledge and revelation. We call the European intellectual movement in the 18th century ‘the Enlightenment’, which focused on knowledge and reason.
In this text, the light – Jesus – brings true enlightenment to us because he brings us into a direct relationship with God. This is not some philosophical movement that places rationality above all else but the true enlightenment of being in God’s presence. God is made known to us through Jesus’ coming into the world as a human being and his great sacrifice. Our once dark lives are illuminated through Jesus. We are brought out of our sinful and ignorant state when estranged from God and into a new life reconciled with God, who continually gives us his light.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your only Son into the world to bring us the light. Thank you for making yourself known to us and continually drawing us to the true enlightenment of your presence. Amen.
Eden Bishop lives in Adelaide and is a member at St Paul Blair Athol. She attends the University of Adelaide and is in the final year of her Advanced Economics degree. Eden enjoys reading (particularly The Lord of the Rings), playing the piano in church, knitting and learning fun facts about dinosaurs.
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