Christian Epiphanies

"As a feeling, an epiphany is the sudden realization or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something. The term is used in either a philosophical or literal sense to signify that the claimant has "found the last piece of the puzzle and now sees the whole picture," or has new information or experience, often insignificant by itself, that illuminates a deeper or numinous foundational frame of reference.

"Epiphanies of sudden comprehension have also made possible forward leaps in technology and the sciences. Famous epiphanies include Archimedes' realisation of how to estimate the volume of a given mass, which inspired him to shout "Eureka!" ("I have found it!"). The biographies of many mathematicians and scientists include an epiphanic episode early in the career..." (wikipedia.org)

Adam's Epiphany

"I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" (Genesis 3: 10,11)

An Epiphany of King David

"Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51: 4,5)

David realized that all his sins, though committed against other human beings, are all chiefly committed against God. The first step in salvation is to "realize" that you are a justly condemned sinner under the wrath of God. When a person truly "feels" and "senses" this truth in the depth of his being, he has truly experienced a great "epiphany."

Christians have their own unique "epiphanies" in life. These moments of deep "realization" are significant for them. They all have experienced the -

Prodigal Son phenomenon or epiphany.

"And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants." (Luke 15: 14-19 KJV)

"He came to himself," or "it dawned on him," or "he experienced an epiphany," coming to see and comprehend his situation, and of the way out of it. This is a kind of enlightenment or illumination. True deliverance from sin and its evils generally is preceded by God giving to the heart, soul, and mind an inner revelation of life transforming truth.

The Exorcised Gardarene

"And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid." (Mark 5: 15 KJV)

A man who was once possessed of a "legion" of demons, and "out of his mind," must truly have experienced the profoundest of epiphanies in going from his criminal insanity to the "calm and submissive state" at the "feet of Jesus"! Christians are people who have been put in their right minds, who have been given divinely sent "epiphanies," times in their lives when God "wakes them up" mentally and spiritually and imparts to them truth that changes their entire being.

Notice these typical "epiphanies" in the life of the Apostle Peter.

"Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating." When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door." (Acts 12: 11-13 NIV)

Notice the coupling together of the phrases "came to himself" and "dawned on him." What a grand life changing phenomenon this is to the sinner and to the Christian as well! God is to be praised for these "epiphanies," whereby God leads, directs, and conforms the mind to see truth and comprehend the "why of things." In an "epiphany" there is the concept of "awareness" that is often expressed by such words as "eureka."

Finding the Lord

"One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ...Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (John 1: 40,41,45)

Eureka! We have "found him"! The Messiah and Savior of sinners! What an eye opening experience this is for the sinner! Friend, do you need for the Lord to "open your eyes" so that you might see and comprehend the greatest of life transforming truths? The above verses are able, by the blessing of God's Spirit, to give you this glorious Christian phenomenological experience.