For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3
A friend recently asked me what I thought it meant to be “hidden” in Christ. I had just been contemplating not hiding my light for Jesus, not being ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. As the world gets darker and darker we might be tempted to go into hiding. Jesus prayed to the Father on our behalf, knowing we would have the tension of being in the world but it not being our home. Jesus knew the time had not come for the world to disappear, but He also knew we would need protection and help. In a small way, as a mom of young adults, I understand the prayer Jesus prayed.
Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name … I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
John 14:11b,14-15
A little bit further in this passage, Jesus prays for all who would believe as a result of the Gospel being proclaimed.
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
John 14:20-21
When we choose to follow Jesus it’s an all in kind of follow. We either live for Him or for ourselves. We put sin to death by continually choosing our new identity in Christ rather than our old way of living. Sometimes this comes naturally, but often it’s in denial of self and endurance in suffering. Jesus paved the way for us to gain resurrection life. When we take off the old life of SELF and put on the new life IN CHRIST – we become clothed, covered, and hidden with Christ in God.
Picture a set of Russian nesting dolls. As a child of God, we are now part of the family of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are much too small to conceal or hide God, instead He covers us, nestling us within His presence. We are invited into the oneness: the Father is in the Son, the Son is in the Father and the Spirit is within us. As our old identity is laid down, His identity can then encompass us.
This picture of hiddenness is not because of shame or fear but for security, protection, shelter and refuge. Consider the hiddenness of:
- A bride before her father walks her down the aisle
- A child in the womb
- Baby moses floating in a basket amongst the reeds in the Nile
- Jesus “hidden” for the first 30 years of his life on earth
- Jesus in the tomb three days until His resurrection
- Esther in the palace until the proper time to reveal her true identity
- Joseph in prison until his time to be elevated
- Joash hidden as baby before old enough to be king
Throughout the four gospels we see how Jesus withdrew to the lonely places. He knew His strength came in hiddenness with the Father. As believers, our real life is in Christ who is seated in heavenly places. When we tuck into His presence, we receive strength and encouragement for what lies ahead. We may not be exempt from difficulty, but the world needs to see true peace that only comes when we dwell in Christ.
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7
When we mess up or drift away, often our first reaction is to hide from the Lord rather than hide in the Lord. No matter where you are or what you’ve done – good or bad – allow the Lord to be your shelter from the troubles of the day.
