“…the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to the saints.” Colossians 1:26
Dear Ones:
On one occasion, when Jesus was speaking to His disciples, He said: “…many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” (Matt. 13:17) Of what was He speaking? The whole of the Old Testament is the written prelude to the physical advent of the Messiah, the Christ. The great, and central theme and message concerns the intervention, provision and revelation of that spotless Lamb of God, who would take away the sin of the world. It is in part, as the Samaritan woman said to the Lord Jesus, “I know that Messias (the Messiah) comes, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things.” Jesus then said to her, “I that speak unto you am He.” (Jn. 4:25, 26) That which makes the coming of Christ into the world so extraordinary is the fact that He laid aside His glory, as He knew it with His Father, to come and dwell with us, in the flesh. His “advent” would be the greatest, and most magnificent manifestation of the nature and character of God to mankind up to that moment. For us on this earth, it would be the most complete and explicit unveiling of His Person, His purpose in creation and redemption, and His path to the realization of His eternal blessing in our lives. And yet, after the resurrection, and Pentecost, Paul would write of another “mystery,” a hidden reality and truth that is specifically revealed to the church, the body of Christ. It is in the revelation of that truth, that the power and life of Christ will be revealed to the world IN and through the church, specifically in the believer. What is it? It is the FACT, the TRUTH, of the believer’s union with Christ, “Christ IN you, the hope of glory.” But, what does this mean to the believer, and to the church? What ramifications in the individual’s life should this knowledge have?
In Paul’s letter to the believers in Colosse, he prefaced the announcement of this “mystery” by first giving them a vision, a perception of the reality, of WHO Christ was, and IS. Why? One’s knowledge of the truth of Christ will determine his or her appropriation of Him in their lives. Paul begins by declaring that the Lord Jesus “…is the image of the invisible God.” (1:15) This “image” is that which physical eyes have see, and the “eyes of our hearts” have perceived of the Divine Son of God. He IS God. This is reaffirmed by Paul when he writes: “By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: ALL THINGS were created by Him, and for Him.” (v.16) Not only is He the Creator, but He is “before all things,” and “by Him all things consist.” Paul is giving to the Colossian believers a true picture of WHO this Christ is, a vision that is necessary for their faith to believe Him for His life to be revealed in theirs…in fullest measure. This method in bringing the Colossians to increasing faith is consistent with Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, where he prays first for them to be given “…the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Christ).” The true vision of Christ in the mind and to the heart, is essential to faith. Peter was able to walk on water, appropriating the power of Christ, because of the vision of Him walking on the water.
The practical application of the vision of Christ begins to become apparent when he or she understands, “For in Him (Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. AND YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power.” (Col. 2:9) What does this mean? It means that, in union with Christ, the Eternal God, by the Spirit, there is absolutely nothing that we lack. David understood this and would write, “The Lord IS my Shepherd. I SHALL NOT WANT.” He would further write in Ps. 34:9, “…there is NO want to them that fear Him.” The point is that there is NO need inward or outward, which He (Christ) is not willing to meet in me (us) today. It was Annie Marston who wrote: “Thou shalt be everything to me, in all things my sufficiency.”
Dear Father, increase our vision of Who and What Thou art, and to grasp something of the reality of the glory, majesty, and power of Thy Son, and His victory. We thank Thee that we belong to Him, and He belongs to us, for every hourly need. Give us grace to ever, an increasingly, appropriate Him for every need, as we live for Thee. We thank and praise Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad