FOUNDATIONS | WEEK 26

📖 What Is A Shadow?

Key Texts: Colossians 2:16–17; Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 10:1

One of the most misunderstood metaphors in Scripture is the word "SHADOW."

Paul writes:

> "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

> Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."

> (Colossians 2:16–17, KJV)

Before asking what Paul meant, let's ask a simpler question.

What is a shadow?

According to the dictionary, a shadow is the dark figure cast upon a surface by a body intercepting light.

Think about what that means.

* A shadow is produced by a real object blocking light.

* A shadow is evidence that something exists.

* A shadow points to its source.

* A shadow cannot exist without the object casting it.

No one sees a shadow and concludes the object has ceased to exist.

Quite the opposite.

A shadow tells us something real is there.

Or perhaps still approaching.

Now return to Paul's words.

He does NOT say the Sabbath, the Biblical Feasts, or the appointed times were shadows of things that had passed away.    ???

He says they are:

> "A shadow of things to come."

The shadow points forward.

Not backward.

Hebrews uses the very same imagery:

> "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things..."

> (Hebrews 8:5)

The earthly sanctuary reflected a heavenly reality.

Has Heaven passed away?

Has the heavenly sanctuary ceased to exist?

Of course not.

Again Hebrews declares:

> "For the law having a shadow of good things to come..."

> (Hebrews 10:1)

Notice the direction.

Good things to come.

The Kingdom is still to come.

The resurrection is still to come.

The New Jerusalem is still to come.

Our complete redemption is still to come.

If the fulfillment is still future, why would the shadow no longer have meaning?

Perhaps the shadow was never meant to replace the reality.

Perhaps it was always meant to point us toward it.

Every Sabbath reminds us of the eternal rest still promised.

Every Biblical Feast proclaims another aspect of Yahuah's plan of redemption.

These are not merely memorials of the past.

They are rehearsals of the Kingdom.

They are Heaven's shadow falling across the earth.

They invite us into His presence while we await the fullness of what is yet to come.

Yah Bless.

Question for Discussion:

If Heaven still exists...

If Messiah still reigns...

If the Kingdom is still coming...

Could the shadow still be pointing us toward the reality rather than away from it?

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