Issue 1242 – Shadows – September 7, 2023
One of the things that amazes me about God is how often I see his presence in the midst of mundane, ordinary, everyday life. Given that the LORD is the most holy and powerful creator of everything, I expect to see Him in only the most extraordinary situations. Perhaps that means I should look at so-called ordinary things in a different light.
As I went for an early winter morning walk, the sun was just above the horizon. It caused the shadows to be larger than life. The shadows were four or five times longer than the trees were tall. That is a pretty ordinary event on a wintery prairie morning.
I started to compare the trees to the shadows they were casting. The shadows seemed not only larger but darker. The trees were a permanent fixture of the landscape, changing in size and shape as the sun journeyed across the sky. In some ways, the shadows were more impressive than the trees themselves.
I started to think about Psalm 23, arguably the best-known of Bible passages.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even 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.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever Psalm 23
David understood the idea of walking in the shadow of death. He lived in turbulent times when life was cheap. David was a warrior king, often at the risk of death on the battlefield or assassination. Even as a child shepherd, he faced the dangers of death due to the elements or marauding predators (two and four-legged).
We, too, live in the shadow of death. We all have a finite lifespan, and no one knows when our day will end. We might pass quietly in our sleep or abruptly in an accident. We may die in the throes of some agonizing, slow-moving illness.
People are terrified at the thought of dying. Our culture is obsessed with escaping death, even to avoid the word in any way possible.
Yet, to the believer, death is indeed a shadow. Yes, it will come to us in the Lord’s timing. Ultimately, we can do nothing under our own power to prevent it.
It is something we pass through on the way to glory. Even our mortal bodies will one day be resurrected. Death is not something we need to fear.
The post-death outlook for non-believers is far less pleasant. What they will face after death is worse than death itself. Their only hope is to find Christ before they die.
I’m not afraid of death because I know my final destination. I’m not looking forward to the actual dying part, and there are some ways I would prefer not to go. Even in that, I can trust in the ultimate goodness of God. My passing will not be wasted; it will be used in some way for His glory.
Embrace this life; it’s the only one we have before we pass. Enjoy it, make the most of it and serve the Lord. When the shadow draws near in your thoughts or circumstances, remember your destination and give God glory.
We can set aside the fear because He has conquered death and the grave.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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