” For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” – Colossians 3:3
LIGHT FOR NOW: The believer’s true life is no longer defined by the visible, earthly identity of the old creation. Our real life is now hidden in Christ, secured in God, and governed by a heavenly source.
There are realities in Christianity that cannot be understood merely by looking at what is visible. The believer may still have the same face, the same name, the same physical body, the same earthly environment; yet spiritually, everything has changed. Paul says: “For ye are dead”. That sounds strange. How can Paul tell living people that they are dead? Because he is speaking about their identification with Christ. Something about the believer’s former existence has come to an end. The old life in Adam has been judged in Christ. The believer is no longer spiritually identified with the old humanity. This is why Paul could say: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him…” The old man has been crucified, but Paul does not stop there. He says: “And your life is hid with Christ in God”. This is one of the most beautiful descriptions of the believer’s spiritual position. Your life is hidden. What does that mean? It means your true spiritual identity cannot be fully interpreted by what the natural eye sees.
There is something about you that is invisible to the physical senses. There is a life within you that came from God. Your deepest identity is not your earthly circumstances; it is your union with Christ. You may be a student, a worker, a parent, a leader, a minister, a professional; but none of these descriptions is the deepest truth about you. Your deepest identity is: You are in Christ, and your life is hidden in Him. This is important because visible circumstances often attempt to define us. If everything is going well, we may feel valuable. If things go badly, we may feel worthless. If people praise us, we feel important. If people reject us, we feel insignificant. But the believer’s identity is not supposed to rise and fall with circumstances. Your life is hidden in Christ. Your worth is therefore anchored in Him. Your righteousness is in Him. Your acceptance is in Him. Your security is in Him. Your future is in Him. Your eternal destiny is in Him. Nothing external can change what God has established in Christ.
Paul then says something even more powerful: “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear…” Notice those words: “Christ, who is our life”. Not merely Christ who gives us life. Not merely Christ who improves our life. But Christ who is our life. This is the heart of the New Covenant. The Christian does not merely receive something from Christ. He receives Christ Himself. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. Life is not merely a substance that Christ possesses. Life is found in His Person. When we receive Christ, we receive eternal life because we receive the One who is Himself eternal life. This is why John writes: “He that hath the Son hath life”. The Son is the life. Therefore, our spiritual life is not fragile. It is not dependent upon changing circumstances. It is anchored in an unchanging Person. Christ is our life. Your life is hidden in Him.
This also means that the believer should learn to live from the unseen reality rather than being controlled by the visible. The natural world says: “What you see is what you have”. Faith says: “There is a greater reality in Christ”. Your circumstances may say you are weak. Christ says His strength is sufficient. Your past may say you are disqualified. Christ says you are accepted. Fear may say you are alone. Christ says He will never leave you. The world may say your identity is determined by what you possess. Christ says your life is hidden in Him. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: When circumstances attempt to define your identity today, consciously return to this truth: “My life is hidden with Christ in God”. Let your identity come from Christ rather than from your feelings, achievements, failures, or circumstances.
CONFESSION/PRAYER: Father, thank You that my life is hidden with Christ in You. I refuse to define myself by temporary circumstances or by my past. Christ is my life, my identity, my righteousness, and my security. Help me to live from this heavenly reality and to remain conscious of who I am in Christ, in Jesus Name. Amen.
For More Light; get the message, “Understanding Salvation” by Dr. John Linus
QUOTE: The world may see your circumstances, but only God sees the Christ-life hidden within you.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3:1-17; EVENING: ROMANS CHAPTER 6:1-11
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 