This past Tuesday was Groundhog Day. It is the day when a simple animal in Pennsylvania captivates a nation with one question: "Did he see his shadow." Tradition says that if the groundhog sees his shadow (and he did), there will be 6 more weeks of inclement weather. If the groundhog fails to see his shadow, however, people can expect an early spring. The future of the weather is determined by the eyes of a burrowing rodent.
Although many people take stock in these types of 'predictions,' we do know about a shadow that occurred which predicted the future of all mankind. When Jesus Christ was crucified, we read "It was about noon, and the whole land became dark until three o'clock in the afternoon, because the sun did not shine" (Luke 23:44-45a CEV).
The sacrifice of Christ for our sins cast such a shadow over the earth that the world became dark as evidence to the seriousness of the moment. Because of that sacrifice, the shadow of sin can be lifted from our lives when we turn to Jesus. Today, remember that it is always better to live in the light of Jesus rather than be cast in the shadows of sin.
