A Shadow Of Things To Come With Christ

In 2 Chronicles 8 we learn about something very important that went on in the house of the Lord. It was the need to do animal sacrifices during the different sabbath days, the new moons, on the solemn feats, and many other times as well. This is all documented in this chapter for the people of that generation, until the coming Messiah, to understand. It reads, ¹“then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the Lord on the altar of the Lord, which he had built before the porch, even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.” (2 Chronicles 8:12,13) It was also said that the people ¹“departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures. Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord, and until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was perfected.” (2 Chronicles 8:15,16) All of this was in preparation for the ultimate sacrifice that was to be made for all mankind on the cross. They may not have realized that their coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, would put an end to all these offerings in the form of His own sacrifice, but He did this because of His great love and compassion for all mankind. The mercy of the Lord, Jesus, has no bounds. If you are blessed for Him coming to earth and then offering His life for your sins, thank the Lord right now in prayer. Give Him glory and praise for His mercy and grace.

If you want to know exactly what Jesus did for us on the cross, know that it is spelled out for us all throughout the Bible, even in the Old and New testaments. Praise the Lord for this, even for the prophesies given before the birth of Christ. In one such place, we will come to know what Jesus did for us on the cross in Colossians 2. It reads, ²“and you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 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: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” (Colossians 2:13-17) My friends, Jesus did die for our sins on the cross. He took upon Himself our trespasses, that we may be forgiven. It was even nailed upon the cross, “paid in full”, so that we could find mercy that never ends. Wow, what a great God that we serve. One important thing to know is that these sacrificial offerings in the house of the Lord were fulfilled with Christ, as was spoken in these passages. Even what the Jews ate, drank, celebrated on different holy days, new moons, and the sabbath days were fulfilled with Christ’s coming, and sacrifice on the cross. Those things were a shadow of things to come with Christ. So having ²“received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.” (2 Chronicles 8:6) Please remember this!

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, my God, I come to You, this day, in honor and praise. I glorify You Lord, and exalt You above all things heaven and earth. You are worthy! Thank You, Jesus, for all that You have done for me, and for all mankind. Because You came down to this earth as the promised Messiah, this whole world is different now. All the sacrificial offerings have stopped because You became the last sacrifice for sin on the cross. Things that led up to this day were prophesied of and fulfilled with Your birth, Your ministry, Your death on the cross, and Your resurrection. Everything was set in motion, even in perfect harmony, through Your will and mighty power. I pray that people will come to know and never forget what You did for us on the cross. If people would just remember You and then walk in Your ways, would they know that there is power in Your Name. People would find out that You are waiting for them to simply humble themselves before You, then would You open their eyes to the unseen world. Even in prayer, would You direct their paths. Even seeking You would bring them great joy in this life. Lord, we don’t have to struggle in our sins, for if people would submit themselves to You, then You would help break those chains that have them bound. Even all our addictions would be a thing of the past, as people begin to follow You with their whole hearts. I am so grateful to not be in bondage of sin any longer. I am set free because of Your great love and mercy for my life. Therefore, all I want to do now is declare the Name of Jesus to everyone around me. You are the reason why I live my life, and I want everyone to know that if I can change, they can also. Repentance is not a burden but delivers us so much peace and comfort in the end. Thank You for forgiving me and for setting me on the path of righteousness. I love You, God. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

2 Chronicles 8

¹2 Chronicles 8 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the Lord, and his own house,
2 That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.
3 And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it.
4 And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.
5 Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;
6 And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.
7 As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,
8 But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day.
9 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen.
10 And these were the chief of king Solomon’s officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.
11 And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the Lord hath come.
12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the Lord on the altar of the Lord, which he had built before the porch,
13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.
14 And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.
15 And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.
16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord, and until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was perfected.
17 Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.
18 And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.

Colossians 2

²Colossians 2 (KJV)
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
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:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.