Beyond the Shadows

Who or what type of teaching has captured your attention lately?

There’s no shortage of “Christian” voices telling us what we should do, believe, pursue, defend, or expect from God. Some promise greater blessing. Others offer spiritual insight, political influence, or a more comfortable version of faith. But where are those voices leading us?

Paul warned the Colossian believers about teachings that appeared spiritual while drawing their attention away from Jesus. He described people who were “not holding fast to the Head,” the One from whom the whole body receives its growth. (v.19). And he spoke of religious traditions as a “shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” (v. 17)

That danger is still with us. A modern shadow uses selected scriptures wrapped in the cloak of Christianity to elevate its foundational message that becomes more central than Christ himself. The impact shadows have on our spiritual walk happen gradually. We still believe, worship and follow Christ, but something else begins to direct our beliefs and priorities.

We can become more interested in what God might give us than in knowing and following Him. When blessing becomes the focus, disappointment can shake our faith because God hasn’t provided the outcome we expected.

We can become fascinated with spiritual experiences, personalities, and prophecies. Instead of carefully examining what we hear through Scripture, we follow whoever sounds most appealing or promises something extraordinary.

We can become so consumed with political battles and cultural influence that we give less attention to maturing in Christ, loving our neighbors, sharing the gospel, and living as citizens of Christ’s kingdom.

Or we can build a comfortable faith around our preferences, picking and choosing scriptural truths that we like and want and ignoring those that make us feel uncomfortable or challenged.

These shadows capture our attention because they appeal to something we want: security, significance, certainty, or control. But none of them can give us the abundant life we receive from Jesus. We need to pay attention to what is shaping our faith and where it is directing our hearts. Does it help us know Jesus more deeply? Does it lead us to obey Scripture, love others, and depend on the Holy Spirit? Can we remain faithful when following Him becomes challenging and costly?

The challenge for us today: Look beyond the shadows and fix your eyes on Jesus!

Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus requires that we keep returning to His Word, listening to the Holy Spirit and responding to His leading. Spiritual growth comes from abiding in Christ. He is our Savior, our Lord, and the source and sustainer of our faith.

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Tim