“…. Which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.”

The Old Testament ceremonial law, the feasts and the feast days, were the semblances of those that were to come in the eternal kingdom when Christ would come and the gospel message would be openly preached. They are only as it were, symbols of the coming days of glory for the Christian believer. They are shadows of the coming glory in the gospel age and were meant to lift the heart and mind to God in celebration and enjoyment of what God has provided in the reality of the coming Saviour.

They are mere shadows of the reality of the manifestation of Christ and since Christ is now come and made plain to us, there is no more need of them. We do not cling to a phantom when the real person is with us. The Lord has provided good things for us, in our souls and we rejoice in that provision.

“Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10

We enter into the enjoyment in Christ and the provision for our souls in the gospel. The Lord provided for His people abundantly and was not stingy nor did He hold them back from the enjoyment of the fruits of their labours. The Old Testament feasts were celebrations of the mercy and provision of the Lord, both in this world and the coming kingdom. They were all images of the coming kingdom, where all is prepared for the people of God. God provides for our souls in the person of Jesus and in the inner working of the Holy Spirit in our souls. He blesses us with all spiritual blessings in Christ.

God loves His people and will lavish all good things on them, of the good of their spiritual life. God’s people are more important to Him than any other consideration in this world. Christ loves the body, the whole group of Christians that have been given to Him as His own inheritance, and He will bring each one safely to the heavenly home. We are His handiwork and are beyond price, for the price paid for us was beyond compare. He will not let His children be torn apart by petty cultural differences that divide and separate. The body of Christ is one unit and is held together by the work of the Holy Spirit in each person as individuals. We will be presented as glorious beings before the throne of God and be with Christ, our head for ever.

All things are given for our enjoyment and good pleasure. Even in the suffering of this present world we are blessed to know that all is working for the good of each one of us. Every Christian can testify to the faithfulness of the Father in the middle of deep troubles. He spreads a table to joy in the life of every one of His children and no one can take the joy of the Christian away from them.

Jesus the Bridegroom will protect His bride, the people of God, and bring her safely into the heavenly kingdom for that great marriage supper. We will there enjoy all good things prepared for us and rejoice to be a part of the feast, for all those around the table will be redeemed people, and all judgment will be over. The reality of the shadows will have come to full fruition and the full light of heaven’s day will shine.

“My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies. Before the day breaks and shadows flee…”

Song of Songs 2:16-17

The shadows have now gone and the full light of gospel revelation is shining. Christ is the embodiment of all these ceremonies and is the manifestation of all the grace and love of God. The light is now shining for all those who will believe. Christ is the fulfilment of these pictures from the Old Testament and is the revelation of them to us. The Apostle is adamant that the old shadows will not linger when the light of day now shines.

Beloved, we rejoice in the Lord Jesus and enter into the reality of knowing Him and experiencing the provision He has made for our souls.