HIDDEN

Colossians 3:3 – For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is HIDDEN with Christ in God.

The other morning I was out with my dog for a run and the fog was so dense it was almost frightening, in a mysterious sort of way. As I jogged past a soccer field that has been there as long as I have lived in the neighborhood, it had seemingly vanished in the fog. I knew just as sure as I’m sitting here that that soccer field was there, but I absolutely could not see it. If I had been a stranger to the area you probably couldn’t have convinced me that a large, spacious field were before me – that’s how thick the fog was.

God has promised us in His infallible word that if you have been raised to a new life through Christ, that Christ in fact is now within you. To better phrase it, your new real life is hidden with Christ in God. You may not be able to see it during adverse weather conditions of the heart, or circumstances and tragedies that produce a thick heavy gloom like a cloak. But He’s there nonetheless, whether you see Him, feel Him, or hear Him.

What if my husband presented me a beautifully wrapped gift, the kind of small jewelry shaped box that us girls love to receive, but I refused his present stating that because I couldn’t see what was inside that it must certainly be empty. “Oh no,” my husband pleads. “Trust me, there is definitely a spectacular treasure within, a token of my love for you.” Would I doubt his words and toss the lovely box in the trash? Would I continue to argue with him that I don’t trust his words; that maybe in fact there was even a bug inside or a lump of coal? I feel like a nut just writing those words. But isn’t that how we sometimes treat God’s precious gift of Christ, His Son?

We doubt, argue, fear, and even reject. And even more baffling is our response once we have accepted Christ. We know the field is there, we believe there is a gift inside, yet we continue to live our days blinded by a fog of doubt and despair, discouragement and depression.

Lord, I pray that Your word and Your promises would be enough for us. That we would believe without seeing, and open and enjoy the precious gifts and blessings you have hidden within us.