The Shadow of the Cross

Have you ever heard someone say "I'm living in the shadow of..." and then they fill in the blank with whatever or whoever is seemingly bigger, better, or more popular than they are.  What they mean is that no matter what they do or how hard they try they will always be second best in comparison to whatever has cast its shadow upon them.  It's like they're hidden from the rest of the world because of it.


Now normally people will say this in a negative way.
 When they utter these words it's usually in the form of a complaint.  However I don't think that living in the shadow of another is always so bad.  When things go wrong, its not us but the shadow caster that takes the fall.  When we're not up front we don't have all the pressure put upon our lone shoulders.  Without the shadow caster their would be no comfort of the shade.  I could say more but what I really want to get at today is that sometimes we need to stop focusing on ourselves.  Forget about being number one and appreciate the role God has given us, whether it be on center stage or backstage.  Yes, being a leader is good and we need them in this world but without followers, leaders would amount to nothing.

I think that this line of thinking will not only help us be content in our earthly everyday lives but will also help us along our spiritual journey.  "How's that?" you ask. Well, when we stop thinking about "Me, Myself, and I" and stop asking what is it that Jesus can do for us, maybe will start truly being transformed into the image of Christ.  Once we stop trying to earn our own salvation, perhaps we'll begin to understand the power of the Cross.  Once we stop trying to be as wise as God, as Adam and Eve tried to be, maybe then we'll stop arguing over biblical matters because we think something should be a certain way and just take Him at His word.  Once we start hiding ourselves in the Shadow of the Cross, maybe, just maybe we'll start to look a little more like Jesus.

Galatians 3:27 says that we have "put on [or clothed ourselves with] Christ." It's like we've dressed ourselves up to be more than we are but get this, it's for HIS glory.  We've not just put on his garbs but we're wearing a Jesus mask, if you will, as well.  Therefore every good thing we do, everything we accomplish is ultimately done not by us but by Him.  If you aren't comfortable living in the shadow the cross then this might be a little bit irksome but remember without wearing Jesus we also take personal responsibility for every bad thing we do as well.  Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."  Living in the Shadow of the Cross means being crucified to our selves and living as Christ.