Tony Evans Teaches On BibliologySample

Have you ever looked at a flip book? It’s a small book with a series of pictures that slowly change from one page to the next. When the pages get flipped, they appear animated. Whatever is on the page suddenly comes to life. Sometimes when you sit down to read the Bible, it feels like a waste of time. You feel like you can’t comprehend anything. Yet, at other times the meaning jumps off the page. It’s like a lightbulb turns on inside your head.

Archimedes, the famous scientist in ancient Greece, popularized the expression “Eureka!” He worked on the process of identifying the purity of gold. After testing a plethora of theories, when he finally discovered the right process involving water displacement, he ran through the streets naked crying out “Eureka!,” which means “I’ve found it” in Greek. As time passed, this word got associated with the excitement that comes when you finally understand something. In other words, eureka describes the “lightbulb” moment when an idea becomes clear. This is the process of illumination.

Illumination is the theological term describing the process by which God’s revelation is brightened. Scripture ceases to be just words on a page and suddenly comes alive in our hearts and minds. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that opens up believers’ minds to the Word of God and enables them to understand its meaning and personally apply it to their lives.

Even though illumination suddenly brings Scripture to life, it doesn’t necessarily happen overnight. Saul was trained by a prestigious rabbi and was an expert in the Law, but it wasn’t until the Holy Spirit opened his eyes that he could truly understand the meaning of the Scriptures and apply them to his life. So, don’t get discouraged when you have moments that seem like the Scriptures don’t make sense. Persevere. Continue to read and study. And pray that the Holy Spirit illuminates God’s Word in your life. 

What Scripture have you read that suddenly became alive so that you understood it’s meaning and how to apply it to your life?