Several years ago, a pastor made an appointment to see me.  He said he had heard of my ministry, and he needed to talk with me.  He had struggled for 22 years in his Christian experience, going through one trial after another.  During his devotions one day, he head Colossians 3:3, and he wanted to know how his life could be hidden in Christ.

I ask him to read the passage out loud and very slowly, which he did.  Again he asked me, "That's what I wanted to talk to you about.  I think that is the secret.  How do I do that?"  I asked him to read it again, even slower.  "For ... you ... died ... and ... your ... life ... is ... now ... hidden ... with ... Christ ... in ... God."  Suddenly the light dawned and he realized he had already died.  For 22 years, this dear person had been desperately trying to become something he already is.