The Hidden Life Revealed

A seed buried in the soil holds a secret. Though hidden from view, it contains the promise of life, waiting to break forth. So it is with our lives in Christ. Paul writes, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1). Here, the apostle calls us to shift our focus from the visible to the invisible, from the temporal to the eternal.

The word seek here is translated from the Greek zēteō ^G2212, which means to desire or endeavor. It is not a passive waiting but an active pursuit. We are to set our hearts on the things above, where Christ reigns in glory. This is not merely about longing for heaven; it is about aligning our desires with the reality of Christ's lordship.

Paul continues, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). The Greek word phroneō ^G5426 here implies a mindset or disposition. Our thoughts, affections, and priorities are to be centered on the heavenly realm. This echoes Jesus' teaching: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). When our hearts are tethered to the eternal, we find our true north.

You may be reading this with a tired heart, weary from the relentless demands of daily life. The bills pile up, the dishes need washing, and the world seems to spin faster each day. In such moments, Paul's words remind us that our true life is "hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). This hidden life is not a denial of our earthly existence but a deeper reality that transcends it.

"For ye are dead," Paul states, "and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). The paradox of our faith is that in dying with Christ, we find life. This death is not a loss but a liberation from the bondage of sin. As Paul writes elsewhere, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20). Our identity is no longer anchored in earthly achievements or failures but in Christ's finished work.

One day, this hidden life will be revealed. "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:4). This is the hope that sustains us. The Greek word phaneroō ^G5319, meaning to make manifest, assures us that what is hidden now will one day be gloriously unveiled. We will see Him as He is, and in that moment, our true selves will be fully known.

Consider the simple act of waiting in a grocery line. It feels mundane, yet it is a moment to practice setting our affections above. As we wait, we can choose to fix our thoughts on Christ, to pray, or to reflect on His promises. These small, everyday choices shape our hearts and align us with the heavenly.

You, who doubt at the back of the room, hear this: the invitation to fix your eyes on Jesus is not an escape from reality but an anchoring in the truest reality. Christ is "the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2), and in Him, we find our rest.

The journey of faith is not without its struggles. We stumble, we doubt, and we grow weary. Yet, in these very struggles, the grace of God meets us. He lifts our gaze from the dust of the earth to the heavens, where our Savior reigns.

Imagine a child, eyes wide with wonder, gazing at the night sky. The stars, countless and bright, remind us of promises yet fulfilled. So, too, our lives are hidden with Christ, waiting to be revealed in glory. In this hope, we find strength for today and courage for tomorrow.