The human brain is an amazing organ. It has immense capacity to process, remember, reason, create, interact, and much more. We cannot fathom the complexity of our own bodies. David rightly stated, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). And there is great mystery to the human brain associated with life itself. Although the science of the brain has come a long way medically, we still do not understand aspects of the brain associated with individuality and the differentiation of the actions and reactions of one person as compared to another. Ultimately, we struggle to define life. It is a mystery hidden away in terms we use such as soul, spirit, and the real self. Unlike the amazing computers we create that have astounding capabilities to store data and are beneficial in determining complex equations, human brains have an individuality and mysterious life that cannot be duplicated. Every individual is not only unique but marked by being an otherwise unexplainable created individual with reasoning and moral abilities.

Among the mystery of who we are as living beings that can think, move, reason, rule, and create is the whole issue of perception. Why does one person have a sense of wisdom in their reasoning that sustains and guides them spiritually and others do not? Our Lord addresses the matter of enlightenment in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6). He proclaims the need to have a vision and focus on God and eternity, and then goes on to explain why some do and others do not. It is an issue of illumination. This special enlightenment, more than anything else is something that sets humanity apart not only from machines, but all other creatures, and also divides among mankind. Our Lord explained it using a physical parallel we can understand. He said, “The eye is the lamp of the body; so that if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad your whole body will be full of darkness, how great is that darkness?” (Matt. 6:22-23). He is addressing spiritual perception using a physical analogy. He has done this after stating that our vision and focus should be on God and eternity, and in so doing He turns to the central matter affecting mankind’s reasoning and the division that exists between the saved and the unsaved.

I believe these two verses are some of the most important in all Scripture. Christ is dealing with the doctrine of man’s ruined condition in sin and why we naturally live as fools and make vain decisions. The effects of sin have perverted our right thinking on matters of spiritual discernment.  In John 3:19 Christ states, “Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.” This is not only a spiritual perception blindness, but an exclusive attraction and love of that same blindness. He uses the physical eye as an illustration of our ability to understand what is truly important. The issue is do we have a spiritual receptor to spiritual reality? Paul states, “And even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:3-4). Born as sinners we are ruled over by the prince of this world (1John 5:19) who would have us to remain in his captive darkness. Paul goes on to say, “For God, who said, light shall shine out of darkness, is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). Here is the difference made among mankind. We are born as sinners in a state of darkness and Satan uses his power for keeping our perverted heart in this darkness. He causes doubts, taints our wills, promotes immorality, makes sin appear reasonable and attractive and much more. The unsaved people work all their lives under this darkness in and for this fallen life ending up with nothing but hell. This is the “great darkness” of which our Lord refers.

He says of our natural perception, “If your eye is bad your whole body will be full of darkness” (Matt. 6:23). The need is for reception of illumination which is true perception and discernment reflecting wisdom from Him who created us, our God. How can we possess this glorious enlightenment? John says that it comes through the Gospel (John 1:9). Paul says speaking of unregenerate Israel, “But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (2 Cor. 3:15-16). Illumination requires a person to truly turn to God. James says it this way, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). No person can have illumination within their darkened mind aside from the work of God.

It is also true that a person that has a true saving encounter with Christ is initially illuminated. The veil is removed. But it is also a progressive illumination. In the Old Testament this is seen in the great Psalm speaking specifically about the Bible (Psalm 119:18, 33-34, 102). And in the New Testament, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2); and, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 3:15).  We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.

Illumination by God is the most precious commodity we can possess. It is a work of God that He brings about while we prayerfully seek Him and study His Word. All of us are reminded of its exclusive value, and of our proper commitment to feed on God’s Word at every opportunity, asking our Lord for wisdom and rejoicing in His inner work within us. May God shine more and more illuminating each of our hearts!