I was singing a song at church this morning, "The sun cannot compare to the glory of Your love. There is no shadow in your presence." The words made me stop and wonder. Why would there be no shadow in the presence of God?

What causes shadows? According to Wikipedia, "A shadow is an area where direct light from a light source cannot reach due to obstruction by an object." So seeing a shadow has to do with your position and your perception. In the presence of God, there would be no obstruction. God reigns supreme over all. No one or no thing has power to come between God and His children.  Another way shadows occur is when I am positioned so the direct source of the light faces away from me. As a child of God, I can say for sure that God's face will always be focused directly on me. He never sleeps, He will never look away. I don't know how He can do this with all His chiildren at once, but God's children are never out of His sight. "2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."

The glory of God, shekina glory, His radiance, is brighter than the sun. So bright and so enormous that shadows cannot coexist with it. There can be no darkness, no sin, no sorrow or fear of the unknown. Nothing lurks in shadows, because nothing is hidden from God. 

Is this chorus Biblical then? Rev. 21:23-25  Describing God's presence in the New Jerusalem, "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there." 1 John 1: 5 "God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all." Psalm 139:12 "Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you." Isaiah 60: 20 "The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory."

These are pretty awesome things to ponder and difficult to understand. But when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I know I do not need to fear evil in the shadows. In my Lord's presence, where He is the light of the world, there is no shadow.