You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God

It’s no wonder unbelievers think we are crazy! Here in this verse from Colossians 3:3 Paul tells us that we are dead, while at the same time saying we are alive! But perhaps the point is that heavenly realities are so “other” than earthly realities, that only by coming at them from different angles can we even begin to understand. But what I want to say first this morning, is that behind all of this is the fact that heavenly realities are so much more real than earthly realities. In particular earthly realities are only temporary, but heavenly realities are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).

The second thing that I want to say, is that there can be no resurrection without a death! And at some point in true conversion, we will need to come to the end of ourselves, to the end of our self life, our selfishness. In particular our self-centredness needs to die. In Romans 8:13 we read “If through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.” Indeed this is the first step in appropriating the power of His resurrection in our lives (Philippians 3:10). We cannot live the Christian life without this!

But what does it mean that all life is hidden in Christ, or that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)? The first part of the verse quoted above from 2 Corinthians 4 says “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” The point is that the abundant life promised in the here and now (John 10:10b), and the rewards in the hereafter, these things depend heavily on our attention, our focus and manner of life being based on the reality of the unseen things of the Spirit.

Father, Peter after declaring that the visible heavens and earth will pass away with fervent heat asks what kind of people we need to be (2 Peter 3:10, 11). Paul tells us that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). So I ask you this morning Father to help me to do my part in putting to death the deeds and the desires of my sinful nature, so that I may truly live both in the here and now, and in the glory of what is to come (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:4). Thank You Father, that You delight to answer such prayers we ask in Jesus Name Amen