The dilemma comes when the man remembers his community below locked in a dark, dim world of only faint echoes and fleeting shadows. However, the man will realize that he himself is the enlightened one. He sees that the community below is still living in darkness and ignorance, and if he returns to the community whatever respect or honor he might otherwise receive there would be meaningless because of their unenlightened condition. One can surmise what the response would (usually rejection of course) be by the vast majority of the community if the man were to go try to tell them about what they see as reality is only dark shadows. And further what would happen if he tried to describe for them what true, enlightened reality really looks like—how much brighter and beautiful is the true light and its revelation of the “real” objects above. Sadly, most will not only reject but scoff in resentment (as happened with Christ himself).

The Allegory is meant to describe Plato’s view of “forms” in the “spiritual” world. These forms are the pattern for and are represented by the lower levels of reality in the physical world, i.e. trees, rocks, etc. Forms are the ideals behind the ideas. What the perfect “thing” is and how it is defined.

I know this is heady and philosophical. And while I believe any truth, such as Plato’s, can only reveal the ultimate truths of God, I believe there is a “form” for each one of us. The ideal me. What me done-right-looks-like. What my destiny is when God makes all things new and grants me the perfection that I was created for and which will be granted me finally.

But, in the meantime I find delight in striving with God to grow to that form. To have any lasting, positive effect, all resolutions, goals, and actions need be designed as steps toward that final vision of me-done-right. And, that looks like God. That’s what the Spirit is working to make happen—“we…are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). Jesus said we were to “Be perfect…as [our] Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). So, we look to Jesus because we can see him in our minds eye through the gospel revelation, and Jesus is “the exact representation of [God’s] being” (Heb. 1:3). Jesus is the vision and thus we are urged to, “…fix [our] thoughts on Jesus” (Heb. 3:1). He is the vision that will ultimately empower and drive any good and right resolution that we might make. But, only if that resolution takes us closer to being as He.

Jesus is what done-right-looks-like, and as Christians the Spirit is indeed “forming” him within us (Gal. 4:19). So strive to see him. And strive to see him formed within ourselves. Get a solid visual, as best you can, of what Jesus looks like as the living, human expression of the essence of God. Then above all resolve to yield to the Spirit’s work. Resolve to seek God with all your heart. Resolve to yield to that within you that longs to do good, right and lofty things. Then design and write out small, incremental steps in that direction. Keep sighting yourself to that image of Christ that is ever being completed and perfected in your heart.

Enjoy the journey and live in expectation for your ultimate ideal—the real YOU—to be finally realized when Jesus does his final “deal” on you!