“Of [the Holy Spirit] nothing appears in visible form. He never steps out from the intangible void. Hovering, undefined, incomprehensible. He remains a mystery. He is as the wind. We can hear its sound, but can not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth. Eyes can not see Him, ear can not hear Him, much less the hand handle Him.”- Abraham Kuyper, Dutch theologian (1837-1920)
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”- John 3:8 (NIV)
Max Lucado concludes Chapter 3 of Help is Here with a description of the Holy Spirit as wholly holy and unlike any being in our world. And that’s good news! Because, Max stresses, we need a source of strength unbuffetted by those things which buffet us. A source untethered to what ties us down.
When Jesus conversed with Nicodemus, He compared the Holy Spirit to the wind. Even if Jesus said no more, He gave Nicodemus plenty to ponder. However, Jesus then stretched his imagination. As a result, Jesus added that we possess the Spirit’s wind, His unseen power, within us. Thus, we host God’s mystery and majesty.
In addition, Pastor Lucado exhorts:
“What we cannot do, he can. Stop and think about something you struggle to do. What uphill climb is taking your breath? Forgiving an enemy? Solving a problem? Breaking a habit? You can’t do it? The Spirit can. You have the force of heaven’s wind within you.”
In conclusion, Jesus invites us to hoist the sail. Rather than spending every drop of energy as we self-propel our way to shore. Row-boat Christianity, Max observes, exhausts and frustrates. But those who allow the Spirit to do the work find fresh power.
Frenzy provides no source of energy. The Christian fixates on the word done. The salvation Christ procured for us on the cross. Above all, God helps those willing to admit they cannot help themselves.
Today’s question”: How do you respond to Kuyper’s statement that, of the Holy Spirit, nothing appears in visible form? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The chosen tongue of despair”
