Chasing Shadows

Chasing Shadows

Colossians 2: ¹⁶ So let no one make rules about what you eat or drink or about holy days or the New Moon Festival or the Sabbath. ¹⁷ All such things are only a shadow of things in the future; the reality is Christ.

 

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When I realized that my life was really, really messed up, I tried to do “right.” I started praying and reduced sins. Soon I found myself living only by “the rules.” When something else went wrong, I wondered which rule I broke to deserve a trial.

 

• I was trying to control my life.
• I was tired of things going “wrong” so I tried being “good.”
• I wound up living for the rules versus living for CHRIST.

 

Paul addressed an issue that is still going on to this very day. People worshipped food and argued over which day was holier than the next. While there may have been some merit in following “the rules” for the individual, it paled in comparison to the one solid truth, namely JESUS.

 

My Observations

• GOD’s Word is there to guide me and comfort me.
• GOD wants me to place my faith in JESUS versus being disappointed when I don’t follow the rules correctly.
• GOD wants me excited enough to tell others about JESUS instead of telling people how to “live right.”

 

JESUS is the destination. I mean, when I get caught up in trying to “be holy” I place more trust in myself, than on HIS forgiveness. JESUS paid it all. All to HIM I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. HE washed it white as snow.

 

M destination needs to change. When I focus on what JESUS did and wants to do, it changes my wants. HE did away with all my mistakes and is in control of all my situations. I gladly live for HIM and know HE is my Savior.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer use “shadow” in the description? 
• Have you ever tried to measure how good you are by the number of rules you follow?
• Will you seek placing JESUS over everything in your life so you can be satisfied with how things are going right now and so HE can reveal people HE wants to draw to HIMSELF today?

 

Rules to Support the Rules

Matthew 15: Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, ² “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”

³ Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? ⁴ For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’⁵ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ ⁶ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. ⁷ You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

⁸ “‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.

⁹ They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’”

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“Wear a suit to church” was the statement given to me. I actually did not understand why. I mean it was July and I had layers upon layers of clothes on. I asked, “Why do I need to put on this suit?” “Because you have to give GOD your best!” was the reply. I went to church, frowning and hot, but I looked good.

• Many times I followed human traditions.
• Many times I thought human traditions were GOD’s rules.
• Many times I made up rules to support GOD’s rules.

At first I thought making up rules to support GOD’s rules was a good idea. I rationalized “suit wearing” and started to make others do the same. Then one day I went out into the neighborhood and invited people to church. “I don’t have anything to wear” was the person’s issue. I have never worn a suit to church again.

• GOD sees my rules as a barrier to HIS Word.
• GOD does not want me to add a “jot” or a “tittle” to HIS word.
• GOD recognizes when I am following tradition versus following HIS guidance.

Meet on Saturday. Meet on Sunday. Sing three sings. Sing four songs. Dress up. Celebrate church anniversaries. Celebrate calendar holidays. Wear a cross. Don’t wear a cross.

After a while I forgot the primary message “Believe in the SON and you will be saved.” My traditions are quite dangerous. Divisive tones and exclusion are the undetermined side effects of my innocent rule making. GOD simply wants me to follow HIM.

• Are you making up rules to support GOD’s rules?
• Do you follow rules and traditions that are not in the Bible?
• Can you assess the effort you are making to support human rules and give your life to following GOD’s guidance?

Higher Habit

Matthew 12 ⁹ Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, ¹⁰ and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

¹¹ He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? ¹² How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

¹³ Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. ¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

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Getting up and going to church was a real struggle for me. I mean after hanging out in the clubs with my “friends” I felt I owed it to myself to get some sleep. When I started going to church, it felt weird at first but soon became a habit. Soon I was a regular attendee and decided to tell “those sinners” they should do the same.

• I used to think church was the destination for sinners.
• I used to think church was a place to go that I could check off my list each week.
• I used to think church was the goal and getting “cleaned up” was the prize.

Taking my disgusting habits to a place where I could dump them off seemed like the right thing to do. Follow a few rules, sing a few songs, listen to someone tell me how wrong I was felt like the right thing to do to get my life on track. BUT GOD wanted so much more than that.

• GOD wants me to see HIM as the destination beyond church.
• GOD wants me to worship HIM daily not just minutes on a given day.
• GOD wants me to “be” with HIM rather than going to HIM.

Don’t get me wrong, going to a church that serves people through GODLY words and habits is great. BUT GOD wants more. HE wants me to open my eyes to HIS kingdom around me to tell people about the Good News. Church should not be a habit rather GOD should be a “relationship” that drives me to go to church and beyond.

• Are you judging someone because you attend church regularly?
• Do you feel you have made it because you go to church?
• Can you stop thinking more highly of yourself and seek those who need GOD today?

“I make you holy”

Leviticus 20: ⁷ “‘Set yourselves apart for me. Be holy, because I am the Lord your God. ⁸ Obey my rules. Follow them. I am the Lord. I make you holy.

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Careful is a place I had fallen into.  I was careful not to do anything wrong, say anything wrong or be in any wrong place in expectations that GOD would grant me my wishes.  I was being a goody two shoes, following every rule as written. Sounds great doesn’t it? The problem was my motive.

• I sometimes act good to manipulate GOD into getting my way.
• I sometimes do good things out of habit instead of doing them when it’s tough.
• I sometimes forget about GOD when I accomplish great things.

GOD doesn’t want my phony worship nor does HE want me to totally give up on HIS ways. HE wants me to love HIM enough to want to be with HIM, HIS way.

• GOD wants me to “set myself apart” so others can see HIM instead of me.
• GOD wants me to “obey HIS rules” as a way of protection instead of it being punishment.
• GOD wants me to know “HE makes me holy” not any of my actions.

GOD said my righteousness is like, excuse my graphic language, a dirty tampon or used toilet paper. It’s filled with sinful motive, lack of grace and perpetual sinfulness. BUT GOD forgave me and catches glimpses of me loving HIM back here and there. My actions don’t make me holy, belief in HIS SON’s death and resurrection make me holy!

• Can you set yourself apart?
• Will you stop trying to steer GOD and let HIM work out HIS great plan for you?
• Won’t you allow HIM to make you into the person HE wants you to be?