Our Spiritual Shadow

I John 1:5-7

On Groundhogs Day many people flock to Punxsutawney Pennsylvania to see if Phil the groundhog will see his shadow. Poor Phil! He doesn’t have a clue as to what’s happening and probably thinks humans have lost their minds!…lol. Everything that surrounds this day is superstitious at best and it’s just an early celebration of the coming of spring. Phil’s shadow is in no way going to affect his life or ours, but I wouldn’t dismiss the importance of the shadow.

As Christians it is important that we see our spiritual shadow everyday. If we do then that means we are “walking in the light.” You can’t have a shadow without the presence of light. Jesus said that he is “the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Jesus is also known as the “Sun of righteousness with healing in his wings.” Just like earth revolving around the natural sun, at least some portion of the earth is always in the light of it. And if we allow our lives to revolve around Christ and him be involved in our daily life there may be some aspect of darkness, but it is only a shadow.

This aspect of darkness or shadow is our sinfulness of which we have but it does not have its power over us. The reason why is has no power is that when we walk in the light “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from our sins.” In the Greek this means as long as we are in fellowship with Jesus we live under a constant flow of his cleansing blood and forgiveness. Our sins are but a shadow because they have no power over us. As we abide in Christ his grace and forgiveness overshadows completely our sins. (Romans 5:20)

David said in 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.” Even in a valley you can find shadows because there is nowhere of which the light cannot penetrate. Oh what hope for a soul in darkness! No matter what sin or how much sin one may have, he or she can be reached by the glorious light of the gospel! (2 Corinthians 4:6) And once the light has shined into the heart of a sinner then even death becomes a shadow because Christ, who is light and life is with you and in your to take away the sting of death!

Go outside today in the sunlight and look for your shadow. When you do think of Christ. He will not promise us an early spring or six more weeks of winter, but he does promise us eternal life! And I agree with Paul who said “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” 2 Corinthians 1:20

Pastor Robby