The Greatest Contemplation

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬
The greatest contemplation of the human heart and mind is God! God manifested Himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ! In Him lies all that life is!
Jesus is the very source of wisdom and knowledge!
“In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬
Paul was born a Hebrew, in a Roman city, and he had great knowledge of the Greek world.
To the Hebrews, light was the grand analogy. This could help us better understand why John used light in reference to Jesus in John 1.
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:1-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬
He also said this in 1 John:
“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:5-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬
Matthew, referencing Isaiah 9:1-2, says this:
“the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬
Consider this:
“He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:16‬ ‭NLT
Gods brilliance is so radiant that no human eye can glimpse His splendor. Only in the person of Jesus, by His Spirit, can we see God!
To the Greeks, knowledge was the greatest thing.
"Epistami" is the operative word (knowledge by observation). Philosophy was the driving force of the Greek world. Many today are under philosophy's spell. They believe in only what they can determine by observation. Theoretically, they build their views upon what they "know". There's one problem: they don't know everything, only God does! Paul warned Timothy about this:
“Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬
To the Romans, glory was the thing. The old saying "All roads lead to Rome" is the idea. Rome was the epicenter of the world in the time of the New Testament. Rome was the largest and most powerful city. The "Caesar" (Roman Emperor) ruled from there. Rome was the "glory" of the world.
Mankind has always wanted glory. However, true glory is found in Jesus Christ!
“Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory. Interlude”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭24:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once.”
‭‭John‬ ‭13:32‬ ‭NLT
Creation shouts His glory!
“The heavens proclaim his righteousness; every nation sees his glory.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭97:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭11:34-36‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:4, 6‬ ‭NLT‬‬
Jesus is the Light, Knowledge, and Glory of God!!!