What an evocative picture this is! On the brightest of sunny days we can walk through a valley and be in shadow. We see the sun and the blue skies above, but we are in deep shadow and it grows chill.
Death casts such a shadow. While others seem to us to be in the warmth of sunlight, we feel the sombre chill of ultimate reality. Or, if it is our friends who have the sentence of death upon them, we walk in that shadow while we keep fellowship with them as sickness progresses. But we feel the chill most when it is ourselves who are terminally ill.
It can cast a foreboding fear. We are not quite sure what we are afraid of, but there is an awareness that we are in the presence of issues beyond our control. We know about death, but we have never been through it. We know how the world treats death, but we have not yet been the subject of it. And now it is our turn, how will we fare? Will the things that we must let go of, our affairs and our families, be in good hands?
It can cause a panic reaction. We may freeze. We may want to run away as fast as our minds will take us. But life's journey has to continue and only one thing can make it bearable: the presence of our Saviour!
Then our shadow will be transformed into the warmest sunlight. As a child holding hands with his father, we will go with Him oblivious of the things which have engaged us before; unaware, even, that we are passing by pitfalls which have frightened others beyond measure.
The presence of our Saviour is mighty to take control of us and ours. There is no better way of handing over our affairs than to hand them over to Him. They cannot be our concern much longer; those whom God appoints will be faithful to accomplish well the work we must lay down.
Our Saviour's rod will ward off spiritual dangers and His staff smite our spiritual foes. All power is given to the Saviour in heaven and in earth. His control is mighty on our behalf to restrain the Evil One from mounting final assaults which would overwhelm us. Satan may represent to us that we are sinners and should not be allowed into heaven, and we will quail at the thought! But the Saviour pleads His blood on behalf of the believer before the throne of the Father, and how feeble the Devil seems when dismissed by these great truths! We too shall have the victory because it is written, 'The accuser of the brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death' (Revelation 12:11).