THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE -- Tomorrow:
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Col 3:1-4)
Devotion 18 of 25
" . . . and your life . . . "
Other versions read, "you have a secret life" (BBE), "the life you have" (NJB), and "your real life" (NLT).
This is "YOUR life," but it has been GIVEN to you. As Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). God has given the Son to "have life in Himself" (John 5:26). That is, He can CONFER life. This is the life of which our text speaks. God the Father gives it (Rom 4:17), but He gives it through Christ Jesus. That is why it is said of the Son of God, "that we might live THROUGH Him" (1 John 4:9).
This is also the life that is "unto God," or toward Him. As it is written, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 6:11). It is also "eternal life," which Jesus Himself gives (John 10:28; 17:2).
"Your life," "life more abundantly," "eternal life" – they are all the same thing. This is the only life that God recognizes. Everything else is death. Of this life Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal 2:20). This is not, therefore, self-life, but Divinely conferred life. Now, what may be said of this life.
IS HID WITH CHRIST
" . . . is hid with Christ . . . " Other versions read, "is hidden with Christ" (NKJV/NASB), "now hidden with Christ" (NIV), and "a secret life with Christ" (BBE).
In Christ we are dead to one order, but alive to another – dead to the temporal realm, and alive to the eternal one. Because these orders are incompatible, newness of life CANNOT be seen or experienced while within the environment from which we Christ delivers us (Gal 1:4; Col 1:13).
"Your life" is NOT apparent to the flesh. It CANNOT be seen with the natural eye, or observed by those who are not of God. Others may see the FRUIT of the life, but they cannot see the life itself, for it is not of the natural order, and consequently does not belong to this world.
In recent years it has become quite fashionable in the United States to speak of "life more abundant" as a life characterized by many earthly possessions, abundant financial resources, and a life free from hardship and disease. The devil is the author of this teaching. Such prosperity is NOT the indication of Divine blessing, even though a few of the godly through the ages have been in such a condition (ex: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, etc.).
ASAPH'S TESTIMONY
Asaph was once envious of the "prosperity of the wicked." They appeared to have no struggles, and their "bodies were healthy and strong." They were "free from the burdens common to man," and were "not plagued by human ills." Such prosperity moved them to wear "pride like a necklace," and "clothe themselves with violence," not fearing to hurt those to whom they were opposed. Their hearts were "calloused," "evil conceits" were in their minds, and they "scoffed" and spoke "with malice." They were "always carefree, and increased "in wealth." By comparison, Asaph appeared to have kept his heart pure and washed his hands from iniquity in vain. He said he was "plagued all day long." The whole matter was "oppressive" to him when he tried to understand it. However, his entire perspective changed when he "went into the sanctuary of God." Then he understood "the final destiny" of the prospering ones he had envied. They were really not living the good life at all. Instead, God had positioned them in "slippery places," setting them up for ultimate destruction (Psa 73:3-19).
According to the doctrine of some theological sophists of our day, the people of whom Asaph was envious had "abundant life." But this was not the case at all. The abundance that characterizes spiritual life does not pertain to this world. It is life of another order, and it does not blend with "this present evil world."
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for delivering me from this world, all that is in it, and the curse that goes with it.