Derek Prince - One Day The Whole Universe Will See Who We Are
This is an excerpt from: Why Should We Be Longing for Jesus' Appearing?
Colossians chapter 3 and 4. Paul says to the believers: For you died – that’s important. I think the Old King James says you are dead, if I’m not mistaken. But really, that’s the right translation. It’s the simple past tense. And it brings out that we’re talking about a historical fact. When did we die? When Jesus died on the cross. Our old man was crucified in Him, see? That’s a historical fact, it’s true whether you believe it or not. But believing it is going to make a lot of difference in your life. So Paul says, you died. Then he says, Well where is your life? And he goes on: And your life is hidden with Christ in God. That should give you a sense of security. If your life is hidden with Christ in God there is no power of evil that can touch that life. It’s absolutely outside the range of all the forces of evil. Your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears – Let me give you just a simple thought.
If you’re struggling with weakness or sickness, some of the simplest statements of Scripture are the most profound. It says Christ is our life. What more can you need than that, see? That life is greater than every problem, every pressure, every infirmity. Let’s say it together: Christ is our life. Let’s say it once more: Christ is our life. Let’s say it a third time: Christ is our life. We have to say praise the Lord, what else could we say after that? Praise the Lord. When Christ, who is our life, appears. That’s His appearing, you understand, which is what we’re talking about. Then you will also appear with Him in glory. That’s when the world is really going to see who we are. At the moment the world doesn’t realize who we are, we're King's kids already. But they don’t recognize it. But one day the whole universe is going to see who we really are. When Jesus appears in glory, we will appear with Him in glory.
So, be content to be hidden for the time being, it’s a safe place. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. There’s no safer place than to be hidden in Christ. Don’t always aim to be conspicuous. Sometimes it falls to our lot to be conspicuous, but believe me, it’s much harder. Be content to be hidden with Christ in God. There’s a day coming when you won’t be hidden any longer. And then one other passage in this connection in John 6, where Jesus speaks about what results from believing in Him. And four times in John 6, He says the end of faith in me, is resurrection. Not going to eternity, but being resurrected. Listen, John 6:39: This is the will of the Father who sent me, that of all He has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day – raise it up, resurrected, understand? Don’t stop in the middle of that verse, get to the end.
The next verse: And this is the will of Him who sent me, that every one who sees the Son and believes in Him, may have everlasting life. Praise God for that, but it’s not the end of the sentence. What’s the end of the sentence? And I will raise him up at the last day. Never fail to look to the end, you understand? I think so many Christians really are not in any way, very much interested with the resurrection. That’s a mistake. The resurrection is the climax. It’s the climax of our personal experience. It’s the climax of human history. And believe me, God is not the author of an anticlimax. When that climax comes it’s going to be a climax. Going on in John 6:44: No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up at the last day. Verse 54: Whoever eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jesus obviously intended us to know that. He said it four times in about 15 verses. But many of us testify, you know. I have eternal life, I believe in Jesus. That’s wonderful! But why stop your testimony there? God is going to raise me up at the last day. Believe me, that will attract a lot of attention from people who are not impressed by just having eternal life. We have, in a sense, been truncating the message. We’ve left off the climax. It’s like having a book without the last chapter. See, the last chapter of our book is the one everybody wants to read. It’s Ruth’s chapter. How we met and all that happened after that which, believe me, was very exciting. But if we publish the book without the chapter, people would complain. They’d say, You don’t tell us the end of the story. So, when you testify to people, remember: include the last chapter of the book.