Good Morning Friends,
“But I tell you the truth: It is for your
good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to
you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the
world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to
sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am
going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment,
because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” (John 16:7-11)
Jesus did not leave the earth and return to
heaven for His own benefit. In fact, there is nothing about the actions of
Jesus that falls into the self-benefit category. He came for our benefit – to teach,
to guide, to give an example, and to make a sacrifice, all for us. He left the
world for us, too. I can’t explain everything about how God works, but Jesus
knows, and this is what He said, “Unless I go away, the Counselor will not
come.”
The Holy Spirit would not come unless Jesus
left. So, for our good, so that the Holy Spirit might come for our benefit,
Jesus returned to heaven.
We often take the Holy Spirit for granted. Yet,
without His influence, none of us would be walking with the Lord. It is His
influence which convinces us of our sin. It is His influence which points to
God’s righteousness and His offer to make it ours. It is His influence which reminds
us that there is a judgment to come.
Imagine what it would be like without the
influence of the Holy Spirit, and thank God for Him!
His, by Grace,
Steve
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