“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17)

I have a distinct memory from my childhood. Our pastor made a casual comment about a family in the church whose washing machine had broken. The reason, he suggested, was that they were doing laundry on a Sunday. It was a subtle but clear message: God was getting their attention. In that church, Sundays were for morning and evening services, and nothing else. Work was forbidden, and I understood from a young age that this rule was strictly, if unofficially, enforced.

This kind of thinking is not so different from what was happening in the church at Colossae. The believers there were being influenced by a mixture of legalistic traditions and early forms of what would later be known as Gnosticism. This created a hybrid belief system that the Apostle Paul felt compelled to correct.

False teachers were imposing Old Testament dietary laws and pressuring believers to observe special religious days like festivals, New Moon celebrations, and the Sabbath. But Paul's response is a powerful reminder that turns our attention back to the center of it all. He argues that in light of everything Christ has done, He alone is the focus.

Paul writes, "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ" (Colossians 2:16-17).

Living in the Shadow vs. the Reality

Paul uses a brilliant illustration: the law and its regulations are a "shadow," but Christ is the "reality." A shadow is a vague outline of a real object. It can give you a general idea of the shape, but it lacks color, detail, and substance. It can never be the full picture. The book of Hebrews echoes this, saying, "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves" (Hebrews 10:1).

The dietary laws, the festivals, the Sabbath—all these things in the Old Testament were pointing forward to something greater. They were shadows cast by the coming reality of Jesus. They were signs meant to teach and prepare God's people for the substance.

Now that Christ has come, why would we choose to live in the obscurity of the shadow when the reality is present with us? Why would we let someone judge us based on our observance of a shadow when we are standing in the full light of the person it represents? The complete and clear picture is Jesus.

Don't Let Rules Replace Relationship

Because of the complete work of Christ, Paul urges us not to let anyone—or any tradition—sideline Jesus from His rightful place at the center of our worship. This is a profound warning that is just as relevant today. It's easy for traditions, even good ones, to become rigid rules. When that happens, our focus shifts from relationship with Christ to regulation-keeping. We begin to find our spiritual security in what we do or don't do, rather than in who He is and what He has done.

Do not let others pressure you with legalistic practices when Christ has brought you into freedom. Traditions and special celebrations can be wonderful ways to worship, but we must be careful. We must constantly check our hearts to ensure these practices serve to celebrate Jesus, not replace Him. When a tradition becomes a heavy obligation rather than a joyful expression, it has likely become a shadow we are clinging to instead of the reality.

Paul spends the entire chapter building the case for the supremacy of Christ. This is the truth he wants to anchor us in:

• In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3).

• Just as we received Christ by faith, we are to continue living in Him (Col. 2:6).

• In Christ, all the fullness of God lives in bodily form (Col. 2:9).

• We have been brought to fullness in Christ (Col. 2:10).

• Our spiritual circumcision happens in Christ (Col. 2:11).

• We were buried and raised to new life with Christ (Col. 2:12).

• God made us alive with Christ, forgiving all our sins (Col. 2:13).

• He canceled the charge of our debt, nailing it to the cross (Col. 2:14).

• He disarmed and triumphed over all spiritual powers at the cross (Col. 2:15).

After this incredible list of what is true of us in Christ, Paul’s conclusion is simple: "Therefore..." Because all of this is true, don’t let anyone judge you by the shadows.

Finding Your Reality in Him

Today, I pray that you take a moment to evaluate the traditions and practices in your own life. Do they bring you closer to Christ, or do they feel like a weight of obligation? Do they help you celebrate the reality, or do they pull you back into the shadows?

Paul’s encouragement is for freedom. He wants us to find our rest not in rule-keeping, but in our relationship with Jesus. The reality has come. May you find your rest and your peace in walking closely with Him. May your traditions and practices become joyful celebrations that flourish in the light of Christ, never obscuring His central place in your heart.

Personal Reflection Questions

1. Do any traditions feel more like a shadow than a celebration of Jesus in your life?

2. Where have rules or others’ judgments overshadowed your freedom in Christ?

3. How can you keep Jesus—not rules—at the center of your worship?