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Page Two: “The Shadow of Things To Come” 4/14/13
  And the sooner you realize this, the sooner you will begin the process of depending upon Someone you can’t see or feel or touch or smell or taste. And that someone is God.

  He lives in the invisible realm. Yet, all you are and have and need is derived from that realm. All you are and have and need is dependent upon that kingdom.

  Folks, the more you depend upon this visible, tangible world, the more difficult it is to live here.

  God, as you know is invisible. Yet, invisibility is not a problem. The things that you see with your eyes were created from the invisible. Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, …”

  I Timothy 1:17 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
God is the King eternal. He’s always existed. He’s immortal. He cannot not exist. He can’t die. And He’s invisible. You can’t see Him with your eyes.

  And here’s another thing. Hebrews 11:27 “By faith he [Moses] forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

  The kingdom of God stands on its own foundation. The kingdom we see and touch and smell and taste is completely at the mercy of this other kingdom. We who live in this world are utterly dependent creatures.

  And what we are dependent upon is God and His invisible kingdom. And further, folks, all you will ever need is found in that kingdom.

  Yes, you say, you need food and drink and rest and activity and responsibility. But can you name just one thing the invisible king can’t provide for you while you live in this visible realm? You, the creature, are dependent upon the One Who created you. Why even try to live apart from Him? It doesn’t even make sense.

  Now, here’s the problem. The Colossians had a group of teachers who were promoting and advocating 
religious activities over a personal one-on-one relationship with the invisible king.

  Look with me at verse sixteen. Colossians 1:16 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:…”

  Some of the religious leaders of Colosse were saying that you should only eat this food or drink this drink and no other. They taught their followers that certain days are holydays, like the new moon of the month; like the Sabbath day, and so forth. And if you kept these regulations, then, and only then, were you pleasing God.

  And some of the Christians were getting confused. After all, weren’t there OT regulations regarding certain foods and drink and feast days and especially the Sabbath?

  Of course, the Scriptures did cover these topics. But, folks, knowing God and walking with Him was the experience of many people long before Moses received the Law.

  Do you think Adam and Eve only ate certain food or drank certain drink or worshipped only on the new moon day or only on Saturday? Do you think Enoch and Noah and Abraham lived by these regulations?

  You see, what they lived by was “fellowship with the true and living and invisible God.” And they lived in dependence upon God as their Father Who supplied their every need.

  And yes, God did give those commands to the Jews under Moses. But, as you are about to see in this same passage, those things were a shadow of the true kingdom.

  Here’s another word from the Apostle Paul.
Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
(18) For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. (19) Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”