THE SHADOW

THE SHADOW

2 Kings 20:9 “And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?

2 Kings 20:10 “And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.

2 Kings 20:11 “And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

On a sun dial a pointed and angled and upright protrusion casts a shadow upon a round flat surface which is marked into degrees according to the season of the days. For that shadow to move backward on the dial the earth must turn backward. If not, some other celestial body must move into a different position and reflect the sun light differently. Whatever made the shadow move backward, God did it. He also has the power over our lives. Whether we live in the shadow of death or walk in the brightness day, He wills the condition. The choice is not ours to make. Within ourselves we are bet a wisp of wind or a fading flower. Want as we will, we cannot change the days or even moments of the life we live on earth. (Job 8:9) “For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)” (Job 14:1) “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble” The troubles and trials of this life are but for a moment and like the flowers of fall when winter kisses them, they wither away. Trusting in God to ride out the storm with us is the key to acceptance and endurance. (James 1:17) “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Psalms 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Psalms 57:1 “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”

Jesus came as an antidote to the curse of the man modified Law of Moses. He matured in a body of flesh as do we. At age of accountability at his appointed time he began to open doors of heaven that never had been before opened to a people gone astray and those never having an opening into heaven. (Mat. 4:16) The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Hebrews 10:1 “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.)

As was the law a precursor of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus was come to precede and initiate His mighty Love into the world and sacrifice Himself so that those living in the shadow of death might live forevermore. He placed images of the future in minds gone dead with complacency; given up but struggling. Jesus came seeking souls as a man. (Colossians 2:17) “Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

With determination we must pass the day in labor. Knowing that our shadow casts a darkness that we cannot outrun, we face the light boldly. Know that Jesus Christ is Lord and in him there is safety and life. Do it His way.

James 4: 13 “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils”.

One little sip of the devils poison may be all that is needed to cast a shadow of doubt over those you seek to gain and also to your promise of rewards for your attaining your spiritual goal. Know God, know peace. Amen. 03-08-2020 BLL