<article id="post-<?php the_ID(); ?>" <?php post_class(); ?>>

    <?php
    if (has_post_thumbnail()) {
        echo '<div class="single-post-thumbnail clear">';
        echo '<div class="image-shifter">';
        the_post_thumbnail();
        echo '</div>';
        echo '</div>';
    }
    else  if ( get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'featured-div', true ) )
    {
        echo '<div style="max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden;" class="single-post-thumbnail clear">'; 
        echo '<div class="image-shifter">';
        echo get_post_meta($post->ID, 'featured-div', true);
        echo '</div>';
        echo '</div>';
    }
    else  if ( get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'featured-xpost', true ) )
    {
        // get custom post type xpost by slug, and insert
        // so that shortcodes are processed getting the content
        echo '<div style="max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden;" class="single-post-thumbnail clear">'; 
        echo '<div class="image-shifter">';
        $xpostslug = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'featured-xpost', true);
        $args = array(
          'name'        => $xpostslug,
          'post_type'   => 'xpost',
          'post_status' => 'publish',
          'numberposts' => 1
        );
        $my_posts = get_posts($args);
        if( $my_posts )
        {
          // echo 'ID on the first post found ' . $my_posts[0]->ID;
          // echo $my_posts[0]->post_content; // this wouldn't process the shortcodes
          $xpostID = $my_posts[0]->ID;
          echo do_shortcode(get_post_field('post_content', $xpostID));
        }
        else
        {
          echo 'ERROR: FEATURED XPOST NOT FOUND';
        }
        echo '</div>';
        echo '</div>';
    }
    ?>