Shadows

The question “Where is your God” is one which has been thrown at believers down the centuries. Putting faith into an unseen God in our culture, which has given itself over to seeing, feeling, tasting, hearing and sniffing, usually confuses the masses. One of my friends recently told me he has more faith in his new Audi than he does in the God of the Bible. He calls me the shadow chaser, which I think sounds quite cool.

Friday morning I was woken up at 5am when a German Shepherd dog decided to lick my face in Chesterfield. (Thankfully I wasn’t dreaming anything dodgy at the time.) This dog is obsessed with shadows. It waits for any movement in the room before pouncing on the silhouette in an attempt to claw it out of the floor. I tried to show the dog that it was my hand which brought the shadows to life. I tried to teach the dog that shadows were reactions to movements; secondary results to primary motion. The dog was more interested in the shadows. My teachings are not even appreciated in the canine world. Hard times.

The truth is that Jesus knew the world would find it hard to put its trust in an unseen God after he died and rose again. The scriptures tell us it was because of this issue that he left his Spirit here so that we would know the Truth and it would set us free.

Sometimes I feel like I’m a dog chasing shadows in the floor. I often wish I could see God like my friend sees his new Audi. I wish I didn’t have to keep my eyes fixed on an unseen Saviour who speaks to us through his word. If only I could take my eyes off the word of God and promises of Jesus for a few moments and become like the majority of twenty somethings in this culture looking for salaries, sex and sedatives.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus told Thomas “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” The Spirit Jesus has left us, means that we are now blessed. Though the Lord is unseen, he is not a shadow caused by the motions of men. It is a blessing to keep our eyes fixed on the unseen. When our eyes drift to what is purely seen, consequences have to be paid.

On my way back from Derbyshire, I took my eyes off the road for a few moments whilst driving Stan, my green Fiat Punto. When you turn your head in a car, you naturally turn the steering wheel as well. That is why you should only check your blindside quickly before turning your attention back to the road. Unfortunately, I was too late. I smashed my car into a concrete island in a service station, crushed my steering shaft, front wheel and lost all my pride.

The consequences for my wayward eyes will set my bank balance back a bit. However, when our eyes stray from Jesus, we pay in joy, hope, peace and love. We lose those things which make life worth living.

Fix your eyes on the unseen.

Peace.