Hebrews 10:32-36 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions
The word “illuminated” is the Greek word photizo. It means to enlighten; to give light; to make someone to see; to brighten up. The English word “light” is used some 95 times in the New Testament, but only 11 times in this form. Luke, the beloved physician, uses two separate Greek words for “light” in Luke 11:36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light (photeinos – the physical light itself), having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light (photeinos – the physical light itself), as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light (photizo; to enlighten; to give light; to make someone to see; to brighten up).
Paul said we “were illuminated” (photizo; given light; made to see; brightened up) and because of this we are not of them who are still in darkness, because, as Luke says, we are “full of light” (photeinos; actual light), and this is possible because, as Peter says in 1 Peter 2:9 (God has) …called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (Greek phos; the light of fire). So, we are called out of darkness into light and we are called out of coldness into fire!
It’s good for Christians who have been serving God for a while to remember the early days of their Christian walk when all they wanted to do was serve God. It didn’t matter how long the prayer meetings were or how late they were.
It didn’t matter how many people laughed at us because we went to church on Saturday night and not to the places we used to go! If anything, their mockery just added fuel to our fire. We realized that this world is temporary and fake. We were illuminated to the fact that we “have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance”.
Have you lost sight of that light? Have you lost the heat of that fire? We can still seek the Lord while He may be found and allow ourselves to be full of His light once again!
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