Divine light…is a true sense of the divine excellency of the things revealed in the Word of God, and conviction of the truth and reality of them thence arising.--Jonathan Edwards, from "A Divine and Supernatural Light," preached at his church in Northampton, MA in August of 1733.
It is one thing to know about the sun and that it gives off heat, but it is another thing to feel, and love, and enjoy that heat. In fact, you can say that you really don’t have a full knowledge and understanding of the sun and what it does unless you also feel its effects. The same is true with knowing God. It is one thing to know about God, it is another to have love and enjoyment in Him and for Him.
Anyone can read the Bible and study history and conclude with confidence that Jesus of Nazareth lived, had a following of believers, that He claimed to be God, was tried and executed, and rose again from the dead. But it is a different thing entirely to be attracted to Him, to love Him, to want to obey Him and please Him, to believe that He was and is God’s Son and to give your life for Him.
James 2:19 says it like this, You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian or even a demon is not what we believe about God, its how we feel about those beliefs. When you have been given what Edwards called “divine and supernatural light” you are given this attraction to God’s beauty. It’s like a sixth sense. When Christ is our Lord and Savior, He gives us this new sense, this new taste, a new preference, and desire that sees the beauty of God, the wisdom of His Word, a love of His Son, and a desire for the beauty and grace of the Spirit in our own lives and the lives of those around us.
What I have been learning from Edwards over the years is that what I need to cultivate, and protect, and pray that God continues to work in my heart is a strong affection for Him and His Word. That is the main thing. Because when you desire God, when you find that your are most happy and most fulfilled in loving Him, knowing Him, and obeying Him, and sharing His love with others, you want to do it! Coming to church, being in small groups, giving of our money and time and talents, serving others, and sharing the Gospel cease to become chores and become longings!
If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, then you have this divine and supernatural light. I hope you are in a small group. If you are in a small group, I hope the people in your group are excited about what God is doing in them and through them for His glory. If you are not yet in a group, get in one! Do everything you can to grow and cultivate and enjoy your sense of the beauty of God. Trust me, you will be glad you did.
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