"WE LOVE CHRIST MORE THAN HIS SHADOW!" A certain lady was born into poverty and shame, and without the least means or ability to improve her plight even slightly. Her king could have had any woman he wanted for his wife, but he chose her. He has graciously manifested his love to her by ascertaining that she is fed sumptuously, clothed grandly, housed comfortably, and ever protected. Because of the greatness of his love to her, she loves him above all others. But she has never seen him! And she has waited patiently many long years to embrace him and to finally see what he truly looks like! All that she knows about his features are in the silhouettes he has sent to her over the years. She treasures those shadowy likenesses. But they leave a lot to be desired, for they are but shadows without substance, and certainly do not perfectly portray her beloved. After lovingly longing for him for a very long time, he arrives for her. Lo and behold! he is altogether lovely, more handsome than she had ever imagined in her wildest dreams. She quickly puts down the silhouettes and embraces the substance that cast those shadows. She is content to never leave his embrace in order to return to his shadows. She loves her husband more than his shadow! Everything I have just described to you is found in the gospel of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the King. The lady is His church, comprised of all the helpless sinners who were chosen out of the world unto salvation and betrothed to Him. The long years in which she waited for Him were those of the Old Covenant dispensation, as recorded in the Old Testament. The silhouettes of Him were the ordinances of that era that foreshadowed Him, such Israel's festivals, holy days, and sabbaths. The coming of the King is the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Upon His arrival, His bride moved her gaze from the shadows to the Substance that cast them, and forsook the shadows to embrace Him. Believers in Christ love Him more than His shadow! However, there are some religious people who judge against us for doing so. They would require us to depart from Christ and return to the shadows, to revert to observing Old Testament dietary laws, and its holy days, festivals, and sabbaths, especially the weekly sabbath day. How should Christians react to such judges? Paul, an apostle sent forth by our Lord and Savior Jesus to instruct us, cites our answer in Colossians 2:16f: "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." And simply say, "We love Christ more than His shadow! You will too if you will believe and trust in Him!" - Daniel E. Parks
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