Right Shadow

Hebrews 10:1-2 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
 
HEBREWS refers to the law as a shadow of the good things to come. It is interesting to note that the word “shadow” has both a negative and positive meaning in Scripture. For example, shadow can mean a fearful place as in
Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Trouble, insecurities and affliction can cast a deep shadow over our lives. In contrast, several times shadow refers to God’s protection as in Psalm 36:7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. How good to know God’s protection replaces the shadow of fear.
    A third way we see shadow in the Bible is a reference to a brief, incomplete picture: Job 8:9 for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,
and our days on earth are but a shadow. Shadows come and go quickly as the light brightens, moves or fades. A shadow can show the shape of an object, but it does not give the details.
    Understanding shadow as danger, protection and brevity may describe the law. The sacrificial laws of sin’s atonement were first a protection for Israel. They were God’s rules to approach the holy God. The law was the way of protection from the world’s idolatry and deadly sins. Israel needed to obey God’s worship laws to demonstrate faithful hearts of obedience to protect them from the deadly shadow of disobedience.
    Now that Jesus has come, the sacrificial laws cast a dangerous shadow. To cling to the law and to reject Jesus as Savior is the pathway to death. If the sacrificial laws were sufficient for eternal redemption, there would have been no need to repeat them weekly, monthly and annually. It’s as if you were to continually repent of your sins and pray for Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Jesus is the one way to heaven. He is the only one who can remove the shadow of death from our souls. You need only to repent and confess Jesus once to be eternally saved.
    The law, then, is brief. God formed it for a time to prepare the world for the Son. Now the law’s shadow is gone. The Son has risen over the world to cast his light of salvation. Jesus is your Eternal Protection.