There are two shadows in life, where a person can abide. A person can abide in the shadow of the Most High or a person can abide in the shadow of death. Christians shall say, that they abide in the shadow of the Almighty God. But is that true? It is so easily said, but what does it mean to abide in the shadow of the Most High? When do you abide in the shadow of the Most High and when do you abide in the shadow of death according to the Bible?
What is the shadow of death?
When man was misled by the lie of the devil and rebelled against God and sinned, death entered into man, and the spirit of man died and man came under the authority of the devil and his kingdom and lived in the shadow of death.
Man belonged to the death and every person, who would be born, would be born as a sinner in the kingdom of darkness and live in the shadow of death and after natural death enters hades.
The old man (Lehilahy lavo) is bound to the kingdom of darkness and belongs to death.
As long as a person is not born again and the flesh remains alive, death shall reign as king in the person’s life and the person shall abide in the shadow of death.
When do you abide in the shadow of death?
When a person abides in the shadow of death, the carnal mind of the person shall be darkened and controlled by the kingdom of darkness. Everything the person does originate from the darkened mind and through the influence and control of the kingdom of darkness and its powers.
Therefore a person, who abides in the shadow of death shall do unrighteous works and produce the fruit of death, which is sin.
The person shall live after the flesh and be sense-ruled and do the works of the flesh and persevere in sin, whereby a person doesn’t please God but the devil. Because sin doesn’t please God, but grieves God and causes separation.
Sin pleases the devil and exalts and honors the devil and empowers him (Vakio koa: ‘Ny herin'ny devoly dia herin'ny ota )
The valley of death is the place, where death reigns through sin. And because death reigns, the result will become visible in the natural realm, which is perceivable by the senses of man.
What is the shadow of the Most High?
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined (Isaia 9:2)
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up (has dawned) (Matthew 4:16)
And thou child, dia hatao hoe mpaminanin'ny Avo Indrindra.: fa handeha eo alohan'ny tavan'ny Tompo ianao hamboatra ny lalany; to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission(forgiveness) of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace (Lioka 1:76-79)
Jesus is the only Person, who can redeem man from the power of darkness and the shadow of death.
Therefore the only way to be redeemed from the shadow of death and the power of the kingdom of darkness is by faith in Jesus Christ and Fanavaozana in Him; the death of the flesh and the resurrection of the spirit from the dead.
Through regeneration, your flesh has been crucified in Christ and your spirit is raised from the dead, whereby you no longer abide in the shadow of death and live in the kingdom of darkness, being controlled by the spirits of the kingdom of darkness (the world), but you shall abide in the shadow of the Most High and live in His Kingdom and be controlled by His Holy Spirit.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Kolosiana 1:13-14)
Through regeneration, you have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, where Jesus Christ is King and reigns.
When do you abide in the shadow of the Most High?
For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkenss and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned (despised) the counsel of the Most High: Therefore He brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalm 107:9-15)
You shall no longer rebel against the words of God and abide in the shadow of death and your mind shall no longer be darkened by lies and be controlled by the powers of the kingdom of darkness and bear the fruit of death, which is sin and persevere in sin and be unhappy and dejected and live in depression and fear. But you shall abide in the shadow of the Most High.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (SALAMO 91:1)
You shall abide in the shadow of the Most High and because your mind is enlightened with the Truth of God and He reigns in your life, you shall walk after the Word and the Spirit and produce the fruit of the Spirit and do righteous works and be joyful, satisfied and live in the peace of God.
You will rejoice in Him and you shall obey God and His Word and walk in His will and you shall do all those things, which please the Lord and exalt Him.
You shall no longer trust and rely on yourself and the world and walk in darkness, but you shall put your trust in God and rely on His Word and you shall walk by faith according to His Word in the light.
As long as you obey God and abide in Jesus Christ; the Word and walk after the Spirit, you shall abide in His shadow and walk in His authority and power and reign over your flesh, ota, and death and over the whole army of the enemy, who tries to seduce the people to sin and cause them to rebel against God and live in rebellion against God.
Abiding in the shadow of the Most High in the valley of death
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; they rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4)
Although the world is in decline and evil is present and sin reigns supreme, you shall not be moved and shall not be afraid, because you trust in God and rely on His Word and stand on His Word and don’t deviate from His Word.
You know that the Most High is with you and protects you. His Word and His Holy Spirit abide in you and shall lead you, comfort you, and keep you.
The world abides in the shadow of death
When we look around, we see that the world abides in the shadow of death. Sin is so great, that evil and death reign and cause destruction and make many victims. How did it get this far? It could have gotten this far, because the Church has neglected her task and has gone her own way instead of keeping God’s way and do His will on earth (Vakio koa: ‘Ny Vadin'i Kristy Nafahana').
Many churches are not spiritual anymore, but they are carnal and soulish and instead of being witnesses of Jesus Christ and preach the words of God, they are ashamed of Him and His words and have changed and adjusted His words so that it fits into their carnal lives and the world.
They have changed the gospel and compromised with the world, to avoid persecution and to prevent people, Izay an'izao tontolo izao, from being offended.
They are focused upon their own well-being and prosperity in the world and in their pride, they have gone after their own will, instead of submitting unto God and His Word and do His will and represent, establish and bring His Kingdom to the people, who are seated in darkness.
Because of that sin has rampant and has taken more and more ground, whereby death has increased its power. ENY, death has gained more power, even from Christians, who confess Jesus with their mouth but serve the devil with their hearts and lives and deny Jesus Christ and persevere in sin. Their hearts are not circumcised in Jesus Christ, but their hearts still belong to the devil, whereby they still want to do the lusts of their father (Vakio koa: 'The circumcision in the New Covenant’)
And so the world abides in the shadow of death and death has seduced many believers of the church with his lies and carried them away and caused the lights to become weaker and even extinguished in many places.
Is it possible to change that? Tanteraka, but the question is, whether people are willing to pay the price.
‘Aoka ho fanasin’ny tany’
