SHIFTING SHADOWS
By: Barry Shaw
“Jesus Christ is
the same yesterday, today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 “God does not
change.” Malachi 3:6 He is the Standard Bearer against which all
things are measured. He is Consistency in a world of inconsistency. He is our
Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer. (2 Samuel 22:2) “Every good and perfect gift is from
above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change
like shifting shadows.” James 1:17
On the other hand,
everything on earth is in a state of change. Our bodies eventually wear out and
die. “...they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will
change them and they will be discarded.” Psalm 102:26 We are as James calls us “shifting shadows.”
God created us in
His own image. (Genesis 1:27) Why then
are we not unchangeable like Him?
Perhaps it has something to do with James’ concept of “shifting
shadows.”
God gave us the
right to choose. The ultimate choice is whether to choose God or not. (See Genesis
2:16-17) Rejection of God is sin. Our
essence is in three parts: the body (flesh), the soul (will, mind and emotion),
and spirit. Our soul, the bearer of our will, is the mediator between our flesh
and spirit. In the process of choosing, our soul shifts back and forth between
flesh and Spirit; between sin and Righteousness; between Satan and God. When
our soul chooses spirit, we choose God. When our soul chooses flesh, we choose
sin. The conflict we experience in choosing sin wears us out. “For the wages
of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
“The Scriptures
employ the word “flesh” to describe man’s corrupt nature or life which embraces
soul and body... The flesh makes self the center and elevates self-will
above God’s will. ...It will do what is good in its own eyes. Self is
the principle behind every action...[It] opposes and quenches the Holy Spirit
by leaning upon its own strength without wholly relying upon God’s grace and
simply being led by the Spirit.” Watchman Nee, The Spiritual Man.
Jesus said: “If
anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross
daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 To be more like Christ, our God-given
“daily choice” must be to deny our flesh, our “self,” take up the gift of the
cross that He has given to us, and choose Him. In so doing, we shall become
less changeable and more like Him. We’ll no longer be “shifting shadows,” but
children of the Light. “[Then]... the trumpet will sound, the dead will be
raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable [the
changeable] must clothe itself with the imperishable [the unchangeable],
and the mortal with immortality...[for] He gives us the victory [over
death] through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:53
Barry N. Shaw writes from Applegate Valley, Oregon.