Hidden With Christ In God

Colossians 3:3: "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

I like the way the Message Bible states the first 6 verses of that chapter:

“So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. ²Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. ³Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. ⁴When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ. ⁵And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. ⁶It’s because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger.

We are to consider our lives as dead unto the Lord. This dying daily is not a chain to drag around but it's a crown to wear with honor. It isn't something abhorrent but something beautiful. Many Christians stay in the outer court because entering into the inner court is too great a price. It costs us something- our lives, our wills, our wants and desires. We must die out to self. In the inner court is where we find real communion with God. There is where we find ourselves hidden with Christ in God.

The word "hidden" in verse 3 in the original means: "to cover, conceal, keep secret". The word "krupto" sounds a lot like crypt- and what's in a crypt? A dead body.

Exodus 33:12-33 recounts the incident where Moses wanted to see God's glory. But God told him that there was a "place" by Him and God put Moses in the cleft of the rock and covered him with His hand while He passed by. The word "cover" here means to "entwine" or "join together". When we are hidden with Christ-- we are joined together with God. He is our hiding place, our safe refuge. In the New Testament this place has been revealed as Jesus Christ.

There is protection, provision and rest when we hide in Christ. But what I think is the most awesome thing is that we are so close to God that we can hear and feel His heartbeat. Think of the baby ducklings and how the mother covers them under her wings. We can not see them. They are hidden- they are safe and warm and feel mom's heartbeat for sure! Also the unborn baby is hidden with its mom for nine months. Psalm 139:13 says: "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb." The word "covered" is the same as in Ex. 33:22. We were woven, joined together with God when we were created in our mother's womb. How marvelous is this!

When we have died with Christ we are hidden with Him and have become a part of Him. We aren't just hidden, but we become a part of Who is hiding us! How awesome is that! To be one with our Creator. It costs us something though to be hidden with Christ. It costs us our reputation, our desires, our will. We must lay all these down and submit our lives to Him. We will never be sorry for doing so. When times get really dark and chaotic- even more than are today- we need to be hidden with Christ. We need to hear and feel His heartbeat- know how He feels about things, receiving wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3 tells us that in Christ "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." It makes sense then that if we are hidden with Christ where all these treasures are hidden, that we will have access to them. We will receive revelation knowledge that is going to be very necessary in the end times. We need to be hidden so that we can draw others to the same hiding place.

Hidden with Christ in God. What a life changing revelation to our spirits when we fully understand this fact. It's the place where we hear the heart beat of God. It's the place we feel His breathing. It's the place where we have access to the hidden treasures of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. It isn't just knowledge- knowing things- but it's knowing Him! That's what it's all about. It isn't about who knows your name, how many followers you have, how many people are in your church if you're a pastor or how many in your Sunday School or Bible Class if you're a teacher. It isn't about fame or name or numbers; it isn't about how much you know---- it's about knowing Jesus Christ! It's about being changed into His likeness. That's the high calling of God in Christ Jesus- knowing Him and being changed into His image.

Dear Lord,

Help me to daily continue to lay down all my desires, wants and will and submit myself to Your will. As I am hidden with Christ in God, I will grow in the knowledge- revelation knowledge, of Who You really are and what causes You grief and what brings You joy.

Amen

(All word meanings come from the "Abingdon's Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible" 1980)