Shadowlands

 The Bible speaks both to living in the the darkness as well as living in the light, His light. While there are many who have chosen to live in one or the other, I think there may be even more who live in a place found between them. The Shadowlands.

Shadowlands isn't a place of total darkness. Some light does break through, yet not enough to see things clearly. It's a place where one's sight is hindered, especially to the eyes of our heart. Most things appear very murky and ill-defined. Nothing is really as it seems to be. We're easily fooled there, or as the Bible calls it, we're deceived. That's life in the Shadowlands and far too many professing believers dwell there.

There's a Scripture in Matthew 4:16 that's based on a prophecy from the book of Isaiah concerning the coming of Christ. It says, "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined." All who are without Christ are people sitting in darkness. We're born into it. When we receive Christ in faith, the Light of the World has come to us. He leads us out of the darkness and into His Light. Christ came to take us out of the land where death casts its shadow. A land we cannot free ourselves from. What happens to too many is that somewhere in that journey into the fullness of His Light and Life, we stop. Something from that land of darkness, foul as it is, tries to lure us back. We end up living in a netherworld, neither dark nor light. The Shadowlands.

Has some part of you taken up residence there? Does something of the darkness still have a grip on you? Hindering your following Him, keeping you from going forward? Unhealed wounds? Habits, no, addictions that we can't seem to be free of? Attitudes, bitterness, unforgiveness? Unfinished business with others? With Him? Whatever it is, it's keeping us trapped there. Trapped in a land where we can't see clearly and are easily deceived. Where all is not what it seems, and what it seems is not what it is. It's the Shadowlands. More dark than light and more death than life. It's not His place for you and you can leave it. How? By giving that "thing" that thing that holds you there to Him. Completely to Him. Confessing it, offering it, surrendering it to Him, and so breaking its power over you. This is your ticket out of Shadowlands. You've always had it but till now, have not had the faith to use it. Paid for by His blood, shed for you and for me on the cross. His cross. 

Are you ready to come out of the land where death casts its shadow? From the shadow of death into the Shadow of Christ. Psalm 91:1 says, "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the Shadow of the Almighty." This is the dwelling place we were created for, that you were created for. It is found at His side, all along the journey, as we dwell in His Presence. As we dwell with Him.

Blessings,
Pastor O