Shadow Puppets
Posted on December 21, 2017 by Graeme Wilson in Freedom Fighters
“For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect” — Hebrews 10:1
I was always fascinated by shadows, I remember as a kid taking the lamp shade off of the lamp to give a bright light to create a bigger more intrusive cast. Another thing that intrigued me was when I was shown how to make shadow puppets by forming my hands to create images resembling rabbits, ducks, and other comical things.
The Bible talks about the law being a shadow of the things to come, something to follow until the true Image of the good things are here. The biggest hurdle Israel had to clear was moving from the ceremonial to the true and living God. The task of convincing them to move from sacrifice to the Sacrificed.
I would imagine the challenges of convincing someone that a Man born of a woman that lived among them is the One they need to move to. In Matthew 13:55-57 it’s recorded of Jesus’ peers saying, “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” So they were offended at Him.
The prophesy of Isaiah 9:6 starts with “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given”, The Child is the shadow, the Son is the Sacred. The Child speaks of an earthy being but the Son of an eternal One. Moving from the “Shadow to the Sacred” is the most important thing we do. Just like the Israelites, we can sometime become fixed on the shadow and miss the Sacred.
It would appear that the enemy has done a good job making shadow puppets out of the original Image cast by the Light, which the true meaning of Christmas was meant to be. We can be easily drawn away from the original image of the Baby that should lead us to become fixed on the Son. But now it seems we follow Puppets to resemble jolly man with a white beard in a red suit, or the tradition of over spending to purchase things to keep the “meaning of the season”.
Now I’m not trying to put a damper on the things that we do to celebrate, but just a reminder to move from the “Shadow to the Sacred.” To be able to represent the things that the true Image of Christ the Son which was given. I may glance at a Santa, but my eyes must be fixed on Jesus. I need to walk past the “Shadow Puppets” that the world tries to create with only a brief grin but smile on the Image of the Son.
Although we may even find this jolly man in some of our places of worship, let’s just hope and pray that the unsaved know that we have put our trust on the true Image.
Have a Blessed “Christ”mas season.
Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, and serves with her as full time staff members. He is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.
The Daily Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 5-6| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here
Daily Quote: “You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father’s face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.” – John R. Rice
This Week’s Verse to Memorize:
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
Romans 12:12
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