“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:3-4)
If you forget for a second that you’ve ever heard these two verses before, they should sound a little spooky. You died? Your life is hidden? What’s all that about?
I don’t think we can understand it completely, but here’s the big idea: Christ is your life. He is your new identity. When you became a Christian, you basically said, “I want to accept the gift of trading Jesus’ sinless life for my sinful one, his death on the cross for the death I deserved. I want to take on his identity as my own.”
So when Christ returns, when he appears, your real life will show up, too. Your identity change from the old you to the Christ-like you will be complete. But the transformation has already begun, and we can join in making it happen.
Step one: Set your heart and mind on the above things. Step two tomorrow: Do violence to your sin.
Think: What are the implications of thinking of your real life as being hidden in heaven with Christ? What are the implications of making Christ your identity in this life on earth?
Pray: Thank God that your life is hidden with Christ and that you will appear with him in glory when he appears.
Do: Read Romans 6:1-14 to get ready to think about the next few verses in Colossians.