The Shadow Of Things To Come
A shadow can give us an indication of who is coming toward us, but it is still just a shadow. The reality is found, not in the shadow but in the person casting the shadow.
Likewise, the Feasts of Isreal provided a foreshadowing of an approaching person, the Messiah of Israel. Each one anticipates some aspect of His arrival and redemptive work.
"Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ" (Colossians 2:16-17).
Blind To The Raging Fires
The NY POST reports:
Diners at a French cafe could be seen casually enjoying a glass of wine next to a flaming pyre of garbage amid riots against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform.
The viral video, posted on TikTok, shows the outdoor seating area at the Place de la Victoire, in Bordeaux, where rioters set fire to the roads on Thursday, the most violent day of the protests. … Throughout the video, the fire could be seen flaring up at times and sending embers flying up high, but the diners remained unfazed.
What a picture of our world today. Our culture and society are burning down around us in every corner of the globe. Political unrest. Cultural unrest. Religious unrest. Economic unrest. You name it.
Click here to watch the video.
With so much chaos raging, we run the very real risk of becoming desensitized to it -- desensitized to the needs and the questions and the concerns of those caught up in the rage. We can become so desensitized to it that we hardly respond to it anymore.
As the church, and as individual members of it, let us guard our hearts and ask the Lord to open our eyes and remove our blinders to the chaos raging all around us — the needs and the emptiness and turmoil raging all around us.
Times of great chaos can be times of great revival.
We are called to “understand the present time” knowing this, “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11, NIV).
Let’s not squander the richness of this moment.
The Bible Message In 217 Words
God said, “I created everything from nothing, order from disorder, life from lifelessness.” His children said, “No, the universe created itself and life came about by random chance.” God said, “I made mankind to be male and female.” His children said, “No, we’ll decide how many genders there are and which one we want to be.” God said, “I knew you in the womb, you have been fearfully and wonderfully made.” His children said, “No, the unborn are just fetal tissue with no right to live until WE grant it.” God said, “the marriage bond is to be between a man and a woman.” His children said, “No, we will have sexual relations whenever and with whomever we please.” God said, “Despite your rebellion, I love you with an everlasting love, so I sent my only Son to die for the sins of the whole world. Whoever believes in Him will gain eternal life!” His children said, “No, we reject the bigotry of such a narrow point of view.” God said, “One day I will return to redeem my Creation from corruption.” His children said, “No, we will save the planet ourselves.” And while God patiently waited for mankind to come to their senses and repent, His children mockingly asked, “Where is the promise of His coming?”
"Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this "coming" he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation' ... The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:3-4, 9, NIV).