Hide and Seek—God's Version
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” —Colossians 3:2, 3
A “hidden” life?
You wouldn’t think “hidden” would be a hard word to understand, but I looked it up anyway. The obvious meaning came to the fore: concealed from view. But I liked this definition the best: “[ intrans. ] ( hide behind) use (someone or something) to protect oneself from criticism or punishment…” because it fits in the context of these verses from Colossians.
Because the old me “died” when I accepted Christ as my Saviour, when God looks at me, He sees His Son. He doesn’t see all the sins I’ve committed, He sees His Son’s sacrifice to remove every one of them—past, present, and yes, even future.
Written in my study Bible is a note reminding me that what Paul says earlier in Chapter Two is connected to these beginning verses of Chapter Three. The gist? Rules can’t control my desires, but because Christ is now my life, I’m not so much looking at the rules as I am looking in the direction of the Ruler. Rules give me parameters, but only He can control in me all that is displeasing to Him and give me a totally new, heavenly, perspective.
There were several Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes that featured “The Borg,” a race that assimilated every living thing in its path, making those beings part of what was called “The Collective,” the whole. I confess that it’s not the best illustration, but it’s kind of what happens when I am hidden in Christ. He takes me into Himself, absorbs me, integrates me, uses me for His purposes in the mission of His Kingdom. I become part of His “collective,” His body. Unlike the fictional Borg, God doesn’t destroy who I am in the process, but delights in the “me” that He created, and uses all that He made me for His glory.
Because of His abundant store of love, He hides me in Him. Out of my meager store of love, I gladly seek to please Him in all things.
A “hidden” life?
You wouldn’t think “hidden” would be a hard word to understand, but I looked it up anyway. The obvious meaning came to the fore: concealed from view. But I liked this definition the best: “[ intrans. ] ( hide behind) use (someone or something) to protect oneself from criticism or punishment…” because it fits in the context of these verses from Colossians.
Because the old me “died” when I accepted Christ as my Saviour, when God looks at me, He sees His Son. He doesn’t see all the sins I’ve committed, He sees His Son’s sacrifice to remove every one of them—past, present, and yes, even future.
Written in my study Bible is a note reminding me that what Paul says earlier in Chapter Two is connected to these beginning verses of Chapter Three. The gist? Rules can’t control my desires, but because Christ is now my life, I’m not so much looking at the rules as I am looking in the direction of the Ruler. Rules give me parameters, but only He can control in me all that is displeasing to Him and give me a totally new, heavenly, perspective.
There were several Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes that featured “The Borg,” a race that assimilated every living thing in its path, making those beings part of what was called “The Collective,” the whole. I confess that it’s not the best illustration, but it’s kind of what happens when I am hidden in Christ. He takes me into Himself, absorbs me, integrates me, uses me for His purposes in the mission of His Kingdom. I become part of His “collective,” His body. Unlike the fictional Borg, God doesn’t destroy who I am in the process, but delights in the “me” that He created, and uses all that He made me for His glory.
Because of His abundant store of love, He hides me in Him. Out of my meager store of love, I gladly seek to please Him in all things.
That is one creative analogy, Lynda! If only "resistance was futile!" But God knows best in giving us free will. Thanks for contributing!
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