The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:3,
When Paul says "you died", he is speaking of what we once were before we embraced the Lord in faith, before we became children of God. It is a reference to what we were, alienated from God, dominated by our "earthy nature", verse 5, and facing his certain judgment. Now that we know God and are known by him as his children, we are renewed, changed, different. Before we were objects of God's wrath awaiting his judgment, now we are forgiven our sins, filled with God's Holy Spirit. Now we have an eternity in heaven to look forward to. That old person we once were is now dead and what we are now is "hidden with Christ in God."
What does it mean to be hidden with Christ in God?
The Scriptures tell us that all will have to give an account of themselves before God, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13. In Paul's admonition to not be judgmental, he says, "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." 1 Corinthians 4:5. We are told that our lives are being evaluated and that there will come a time when the Judge comes and we have to give an account of all the things we think, do, and say. Feelings, what captures our imagination, even those "secret thoughts" are exposed to the Lord and he will demand an accounting. The purpose is to demonstrate that he is entirely just and fair when he casts all sinners into that fiery lake of burning sulfur, Revelation 21:8.
To be hidden with Christ in God brings to mind that Jesus Christ died to take our punishment on himself. It reminds me that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2. All but those who are "hidden with Christ in God" will have to stand, all alone, without any of those things they attempt to justify themselves in this life (because God really knows the truth, the whole truth) before the Judge, without any defense, and facing certain judgment, give an account of themselves.
Not so believers. Even when believers sin they have an advocate, "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." Our lives are hidden with Christ in God. "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." 1 Corinthians 5:7. Because of this, God's judgment will "pass over" us. Our lives are hidden with Christ in God.
To me, having our lives hidden with Christ in God speaks of the secure place we have in Jesus Christ. We are secure from sin and its ultimate consequences. We are secure from God's just judgment. We are secure from the evil one and his intentions of destroying those who are God's. We are secure in our future, with our wonderful hope ahead of us, the redemption of our bodies for an eternity in heaven. We are secure as heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ, Romans 8:17. We are secure in God's love, we are secure in God's acceptance, we are secure in God's forgiveness.
Surely a wonderful place to be: our lives hidden with Christ in God.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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Trevor Fisk
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