Colossians Series: Your Life is Hidden With Christ

Seek the Things Above

It’s so easy to seek the things and comforts of this world. We want to buy a house, plant a garden, and relax on Sundays watching football on our 60″ plasma. Hey, who doesn’t want that? But we are also told not to worry when we’re in need.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Two things I request of You
(Deprive me not before I die):
Remove falsehood and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches—
Feed me with the food allotted to me;
Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God. Proverbs 30:7-9

Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near. Isaiah 55:6

Set Your Mind on Things Above

Instead of thinking about this earth, think about the “things above.” What’s “above?” That’s Christ. He’s the one in the Heaven. Thinking about the things of this world can get you down. We are encouraged and taught to control what our mind thinks about.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5

Your Life is Hidden With Christ

When we accept the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, we know Jesus did it all in our place. That acceptance changes everything. That is, in God’s perspective and accounting, we now have the righteousness of Christ. The reconciliation has been done and the debits (sins) and credits (atonement of Christ) leave us with a balanced account. Since we have His righteousness, we are hidden with Him, in God. That is, when God looks at us, He sees Christ.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Galatians 3:6

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 1 Corinthians 1:30

You Will Appear With Him in Glory

All of the seeking of Christ and setting our minds upon Christ is about training us to have the right perspective. We are no longer citizens of this world, we’ve been transferred to the Kingdom of the Son of His love. This is how we cope: the eternal hope. We know that this life isn’t the end. There is an eternity that awaits us. It’s that perspective, that hope, that allows us to endure tremendous hardship this world throws at us left and right. In fact, Christ in us is the Hope of Glory.

so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. 1 Thessalonians 3:13

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen. Jude 1:24-25

Questions for Further Thought:

What is your impression of this passage?

Do you ever consider your life hid in Christ?

Further Study: I encourage you to look up the following verses from which the text is based.