The Hidden Life

The Hidden Life

Every plant has a hidden life in the soil; deprive it of this and it will cease to exist. Palm trees can grow, flower and bear fruit in the middle of the desert because they have a hidden life deep down in the earth. The deepest roots and recesses of the heart are connected to a source. Our outward life is nothing more than the result of our hidden life. For many their God is hidden and absent because they do not have a hidden life with God. Moses was more used to dealing with God than with people. He stood in the place of saints, as he himself says in his last words: “. . . His saints are in Your hand; they sit down at Your feet; everyone receives Your words.” Deut. 33:3. There they receive the hidden wisdom. He allows us to see the marvelous things of His law, and pattern of Hs word as no man has yet seen, as David says in Ps. 33:7: “He gathers the waters of the sea together and lays them in the hidden depths.” (German translation.)

The Lamb can only feed and lead those who rest at His feet. He can give them to eat of the hidden manna, those whose life is hidden with Him. Only the Lamb can lead us to the source of the water of life. Only He knows them. He waters His vine every moment. Is. 27:3. A river flows out from His throne. We thrive bearing fruit every month, (Ezek. 47:12) for our river flows from the sanctuary.

There is a life in the “outer court” where the sacrifice is made and where the blood flows; and there is a life in the “Sanctuary” where the priests serve, and a service in the “Holy of Holies,” where only God is, and where it is quiet and dark. God dwells in the thick darkness. 1 Kings 8:12. To live with God in the “Holy of Holies,” means to cling on to God, not for the sake of comfort or benefit, not in order to be fruitful, not in order to be holy, but entirely for His own sake. The soul has entered the Sabbath rest.

They have a hidden life, covering and hiding their good deeds; they do not want their reward here, but they wait for the day when God reveals it in glory. To reveal one’s deeds now is like laying out the seed in the light of the midday sun instead of going down in the deep dark earth, for there alone it can grow and bear fruit thirty, sixty or a hundred-fold. Your good deeds are a good seed; when you bring it out into the light, instead of keeping it in the darkness (of the earth), it remains alone and does not produce more grain. Above all, Jesus lived a hidden life. He hid not only His deeds but hid Himself in the form of a servant. (Phil. 2). Let’s learn from Him. One proof that we are dead is that we desire to be set aside—not only by an alien world, but also by our friends. Jesus was crucified by His enemies and buried by His friends. Are you willing to be buried by your friends?