Here’s a funny question: Would you rather get hit by a boulder or the shadow of a boulder?

It really doesn’t take a master’s degree in physics to figure out which would be easier to survive. I can’t imagine Indiana Jones in his iconic boulder chase scene trying to evade a mere shadow. After all, the one might weigh 5 tons and crush the life out of you, while the other is made of darkness and air and wouldn’t even cause a puff of wind against your skin.

Shadows are funny things. They are a loose interpretation of the things that are casting them but much less substantial, threatening, or able to inflict any kind of damage.

Here’s another question: Would you rather experience death or the shadow of death?

In Psalm 23, King David wrote, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (verse 4 ESV).

Jesus defeated Death once and for all. Death with a capital D. The main event. Because he has done this mighty thing, we only need to walk through the shadow of death. Because death doesn’t get to win. Ever. It doesn’t get the final say because of what our Lord has done. 

Yes, our earthly bodies WILL die, but then … BUT THEN! We enter the perfect life of heaven. The valley of the shadow of death holds no final power over us. It has been reduced to a shadow. Thanks be to God!