1-26-11

“Shadow World!”

Socrates describes life as a group of people who have lived chained to the wall of a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall. The people watch shadows projected on the wall by things passing in front of a fire behind them, and begin to ascribe forms to these shadows. According to Socrates, the shadows are as close as the prisoners get to viewing reality. He then explains how the philosopher is like a prisoner who is freed from the cave and comes to understand that the shadows on the wall do not represent reality at all, as he can perceive the true form of reality rather than the mere shadows seen by the prisoners.

I have come to understand this deep philsophical description from different perspective. I submit that many in todays society are ‘chained’ to this life by a miriad of worldly pleasures and endeavors. They feel that the ‘shadows’ of this earthly life to be reality and they strive to obtain ALLthe worldy material goods they can possibly aquire. From their ‘veiled’ perspective what counts is the amount of fun one can have in this life and the number of material items aquired on this journey through life to enhance one’s pleasure on this earth. Reality is VERY different and the only One capable of releasing these folks so they can view reality ---and not those things that merely pass by the ‘fire of life’ ---casting shadows on the walls of their lives that aren’t reality is God’s Son –Jesus Christ! In the book of John, chapter 5 and verses 39 through 40, Jesus is speaking to the Jews of His day---but His words echo down through time. Sooner or later everyone is subjected to the Scriptures and it is our choice to believe what they say ---(On every page, they testify that Jesus Christ came to earth as God in human flesh, lived a sinless life for 33 years and was crucified, buried and rose again the thrid day!) –about Jesus being the only way to eternal life with the Father in heaven. Jesus died to set those prisioners chained to the ‘cavewall’ of this world free! Our lives on this earth ARE like shadows---only temporary! Every material thing we amass on this earth will someday belong to someone else or turn to dust! The only reality that matters for eternity is John 3:16—“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life”

Pastor Tim