WALKING IN THE WIND

John 3:8

    “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

                As I left my office for the walk home, it was bright and sunny. I walked to the corner and turned north, heading up the main road. As soon as I turned the corner I was accosted by a stiff wind. I had to hold onto my hat to keep it from blowing off of my head. The wind blew grit and sand into my face. I tucked my head down and leaned into the buffeting wind.

                Later I mentioned the wind to a friend. I told him that I had not gone for a run because of the wind. His remark was telling. In North Dakota, the wind is our hills.  I didn’t catch his meaning right away, and then it became clear. Running into the wind is hard, just like running up hill.

                Several years ago, I wrote an essay titled, “Running into the Wind Makes You Stronger.” As a runner, the wind can be both your ally and your adversary. When the wind is at your back, it assists you. When the wind is in your face, it puts pressure on you.

                In the Bible, the word for wind in both the Old and New Testament can also be translated spirit. Jesus used this play on words to equate the workings of the Holy Spirit with the dynamics of the wind.

                Wind is a constant reality here in North Dakota. Scientifically we can explain the wind. More and more we have discovered how to harness the power of the wind. But we will never be able to control the wind. You could say that the wind has a mind of its own. This reality about the wind is true about the Holy Spirit as well. We can understand the theology behind the Holy Spirit. We can tap into the power of the Holy Spirit. But we cannot control the Holy Spirit.

                In my younger days, I had the chance to experience the thrill of sailing. Sailing is dependent upon the wind. If a sailor desires to move his craft in a particular direction, he must adjust his sails to catch the wind. If he does this correctly, the wind will carry him along at an exhilarating pace. If he does this incorrectly, the wind will stop him dead in the water. In the same way, our spiritual journey is dependent upon cooperating with the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us in Galatians 5:25, Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. When we set the sails of our life correctly the Holy Spirit carries us along in amazing ways. When we set our sails incorrectly, the Holy Spirit works against us.

                As we grow in our faith, the Holy Spirit works like the wind to both assist us and to challenge us. Sometimes the Holy Spirit empowers us to accomplish things far beyond our capacity. Like running with the wind at our back, the Spirit carries us along in an almost effortless fashion. On the other hand, there are times when the Holy Spirit intentionally pushes against us, like running into the wind.

                Sometimes He pushes against us to warn us of potential danger ahead. He puts up a spiritual stop sign to keep us from yielding to temptation. He also makes us aware of sin that has entered our life. (John 16:5-11)

               

                Sometimes the Holy Spirit pushes against us to redirect our course. On one of Paul’s missionary journeys, he was trying to go to a certain place, but the Spirit prohibited him. (Acts 16:6-10) The Spirit will do the same for us, if we pay attention.

                Sometimes the Holy Spirit pushes against us to make us stronger. When I was training for a half marathon, I came to appreciate the wind, because it made me a stronger runner. We grow and mature in our faith more when we face resistance than when all is going smoothly. Paul drew that conclusion when, instead of healing Paul of his thorn in the flesh, God told him that His grace was sufficient to carry the burden. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Although we don’t like it when the Spirit pushes against us, it really is for our benefit.

                God created the wind for a purpose. It helps to shape our world. Without the wind our world would be dead. But the wind is an untamable power. It can refresh us as a gentle breeze, or terrorize us as a tornado. God has sent us Spirit to us for a purpose. It is the Spirit that shapes our lives as believers in Christ. Without the Spirit we would be dead. (Romans 8:9) But we must always remember that the Holy Spirit is untamable. Instead of fighting against the Spirit, we need to learn to yield to Him and allow Him to carry us to the place where God wants us to go.

John 16:13

    But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.