Keep the Son in Your Eyes

Have you ever played shadow tag as a child? We frequently played this game on sunny days or with another light source when playing inside. In the version that I learned, the person who was the chaser\tagger would count to 10 and then run after the other players. He would attempt to step on someone’s shadow. If your shadow was stepped on, you were temporarily out of the game. The last person to evade the tag of a shadow chaser was the winner.

How often do we as adults and believers in Jesus still run from the shadow chasers? Hard times and negative circumstances attempt to defeat us. But do they truly touch the real us? Or do they merely attack the shadow of who we are in Christ? Concerning this life the Bible states, “our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope or expectation of remaining.” (1 Chronicles 29:15b AMP)  Eternity is the true reality for the believer. The spirit man within us will live far beyond the problems of this life. We can also live in peace and joy during these times, knowing that only our earthly existence is being touched.

Newcomers to the game of shadow tag generally play with the same strategy you would play regular tag. The strategy involves running from the pursuer, always aware of how close the pursuer is getting to you. If one is a fast runner, this strategy can be successful. If one is not able to run as fast as the pursuer, this strategy will not bring about good results. Either way this strategy becomes exhausting.

Man-made religion and good works are bit like this strategy. We can try to outrun temptation or trials by setting up rules to live by and formulas to follow. Don’t get me wrong, living by the principles in God’s word is essential to life. Trying to live by them in our own power is both exhausting and futile. Trials, like the pursuer in the game, can come at us from an unexpected turn, touching our shadow and our daily lives.

The more experienced and most successful players of shadow tag use the most unorthodox and unexpected defense. During the initial 10 count, this player acts like the others and puts as much distance between him and the pursuer as possible. Once the pursuit is on, the tactics change drastically. The skilled player no longer runs from the pursuit, but turns to face it.  He has chosen the path of his run carefully and now the sun is directly before him. Facing the sun, his shadow is always behind him. In order for the shadow chaser to step on the shadow, he must pass the actual player, who is ready to maneuver and block the attack.

God’s word gives us many of the same principles for our approach to life. We are to run with the Son of God daily. Just as sunshine provides light, Jesus is our light. “Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life.” (John 8:12 AMP)   When the trials of life find us, we are to turn and face them head on. We are always to look to the Son, seeing the brightness of His promises even more than our problems.

When we turn toward the enemy, he stands face to face with the real us. He sees this truth, “Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 AMP)  It is time for us to, “Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!” (Isaiah 60:1 AMP)  He must look at that glory and pass that conqueror to get to the shadow that is this life.  Although he may at times actually step on that shadow, but he cannot touch the spirit that has an eternal destiny.

So play the game to win and have fun while you play.  Do not look at the circumstances and trials that pursue you.   Remember that this life on earth is a mere shadow. The real you is eternal so always walk in peace and joy keeping the Son of God in eyes.