Shadows and Light

Shadows can be playful things.  Did you ever use a bright light to make animal shadows on the wall?  It might have been from a projector in school or at home, though kids now won’t ever know that joy.  I doubt their iPhones or laptops put out that much light.  The interesting thing about those shadows we made is that the further you are from the light source and the closer you are to the wall, the darker the shadow appears. 

I find it interesting that the same can be said of life and death.  In our youth, death casts only a dim shadow because the end of life is so far away.  As we age, the awareness of death does cause the shadow to darken with each passing year.  It is only when we must face death, either our own or that of someone we love, that the shadow is dark and deeply defined. 

When I say the words, “shadow of death”, my mind turns immediately to what is often referred to as the “Shepherd’s Psalm” – Psalm 23:

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.   (NKJV)

There is great comfort in these words for each of us, but especially when we think about what may seem our natural fear of death.  The psalmist promises that death (a result of evil and sin) shouldn’t bring fear for us because God Himself is right there, walking us through it.  I believe that Jesus was thinking about these very words as He hung on the cross.  He was, in that moment, hanging in the presence of His enemies while God was readying the banquet to celebrate His return.  As blood trickled down his face from the wounds on His head, He could imagine the warm oil of God’s love anointing Him as King forever.  This passage we call the Shepherd’s Psalm perhaps should be called the “GOOD Shepherd’s Psalm”.

Perhaps we could share some final thoughts about shadows?  Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in the shadows, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).  Funny thing about light – while it can create shadows, it also causes them to flee.  During those times when we fear the shadow of death the most, more light makes a difference.  The other thing about shadows?  They’re not real!  There is really nothing there when we look closely.  That shadow is simply the absence of the light we seek.  I'm pretty sure after passing from this life into the presence of Jesus there won't be any shadows to worry about.

Some days we may all feel a bit overwhelmed and fearful regarding the end of life, but on those days remember that light and shadow can’t occupy the same space at the same time.  Excuse me while I go turn on another lamp….

Wishing you brightness in your days ahead,

Jacob

The Importance of Being...Me

Did you grow up wishing you were different than you are?  Who among us hasn’t desired to be more like someone else at some point?  To be better looking, to be smarter, to be more outgoing, to be better at _______ - you can fill in the blank.

The problem is especially troubling when it happens in the life of a follower of Jesus.  You see, while we may accept that God made us like we are with certain unchangeables - where and when we were born, who are parents are, our genetic makeup – when we were RE-BORN we expected more!  How can it be that after plodding through life, pursued by the Holy Spirit, and finally yielding my will to God’s through faith, that I still have some of the same foibles and failings that I had before?

The catch here is that the Holy Spirit has given me (and you) the perfect gift, designed and determined by God before the beginning of the world to just fit in the package he was going to create!  (Romans 12:3-8)  Peter was a street-smart fisherman who was always living life at the edge and God gifted him to share his faith with the same “in-your-face” attitude.  After following Jesus, he didn’t magically transform into someone else – he just had to keep being Peter with supernatural power to change lives. 

John was a successful businessman with a conscience, his sensitivities shaped no doubt by his overbearing parents.  His gift?  The ability to see the deep needs in others and make an eternal difference in their lives.  I’m sure John wasn’t always happy about the unchangeables of his youth, but as an adult believer they gave him context for what God wanted to do through him.

How has God made you?  Which of your life’s unchangeables are you still fighting?  And which other follower of Christ would you prefer to be like IF God allowed you to veto the gift He gave you for a different one?  The Greeks had a word for those who would prefer that others see them differently.  It was related to the actors on the stage who used masks to hide who they really were so they could be seen as someone else.  The word: hupokrites.  In case you can’t see the point since the letters look a bit different in English, it’s the word “hypocrite”.

Believe in the supernatural power of God and His wisdom in making you just like you are.  Trust His gifts to you by embracing them for His glory.  (1 Peter 4:10)  If you’re not sure WHO you are in Christ, find someone who knows Jesus and ask them to help you on your journey….

Blessings,

Jacob