24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. (Col 1:24–29)
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul speaks of a mystery which God had kept "hidden from ages and from generations" until Paul's time. But in Paul's time, God chose to "reveal" that mystery "to His saints". God wanted those people to know more than just the mystery. He wanted them to know "the riches of the glory of the mystery".
What is that mystery? And what is the rich glory of the mystery? The mystery that had been kept hidden and is now revealed is that Christ Jesus has taken up residence in the hearts of mankind. The unfathomable richness of this mystery's glory is in the identity of the person who lives in our hearts. He is the one who "delivered us from the power of darkness" (Col 1:13). He is the one who transferred us into the kingdom of God (Col 1:13). He is the one in whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins (Col 1:14). He is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:14). He is the creator of everything that was created and He created everything for Himself (Col 1:16). "He is before all things, and in Him all things consist" (Col 1:17). He is the body's head (i.e., He is the leader of the church) (Col 1:18). He has preemenence over everything (Col 1:18). All the fullness of God dwells in Him (Col 1:19). He Himself alone, with no help from anyone, reconciled "all things to Himself... havingng made peace through the blood of His cross" (Col 1:20). This Person has literally come to live inside our hearts.
Why bring this up in this thread? Because we are in an age now that many many Christians/churches/denominations have forgotten the mystery and the rich glories of Jesus living in our hearts. We are rarely taught and rarely attain to "all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God" (Col 2:2). And even though "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" are hidden in Him (Col 2:3), We are rarely advised how we must cling to the God who lives in our hearts. One of the strangest things I've ever heard is some churches teach that He does not personally interract with us any more. How then should we cling to Him. We are in danger of being deceived "with persuasive words" (Col 2:4), and we should heed Paul's warnings...
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Col 2:8–10)
It doen't matter so much how we got here. We need to focus on where we are, from where we have fallen, and how to get back. To figure it out, we need to go to the leader/commander/Lord who lives in our hearts.