Shadow & Substance

Scripture:

“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17)

Reading:

There is a particular time of day when I love to walk on my road. The sun crests just above the tree line before me, and its light is dazzling, diamond-like. The grass and leaves glow with an incandescence I rarely notice. I close my eyes, soaking in the warmth, and still sense the brightness ahead. There is no shadow or weight of life, just peace. This surrender, by the grace of God, awakens in me an anticipation of what is to come.

In moments like this, the veil between the ordinary and the sacred seems to thin. Even a simple walk carries deeper meaning. Christ has left His impression on every created thing, and when I look for Him, I catch glimpses of His splendor and reminders of His Kingdom (Colossians 1:16-17).

Scripture confirms what my heart senses in these moments. When we choose to view life through the lens of Christ, we begin to understand that “all things were created through him and for him.” (Col. 1:16) We also come to see that whatever we encounter in creation is “a shadow of things to come … the substance belongs to Christ.” (Col. 2:17)

Christ is the lens through which all things are rightly understood. As we walk in faith, we learn to interpret the world through the eternal reality of Christ. The light of morning, the refreshment of water, the fruit of the vine - each whispers of the One who holds all things together (Col. 1:16-17).

With this understanding in mind, I return to my morning walk, seeing it not as ordinary, but as a parable written in light - the light and revelation of Jesus Christ. The same Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3), opens my mind to recognize His glory along my path. The radiance before me reminds me that the Lord goes ahead of me, and the warmth on my face assures me that His mercy is always near. So, I continue down the road, held together in Him, guided by Him, and quietly confident that every glimmer of beauty along the way is a promise of the glory yet to be revealed.

Your Turn:

1. In what ways can you practice viewing your surroundings through the lens of Christ?

2. What do these scriptures tell you about your future hope?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to the presence of my Lord and Savior Jesus around me. May every good thing remind me of Your glory and draw me closer to You. Thank you for the hope of Your coming Kingdom. Amen.