SHARON ROCKWELL | CONTRIBUTOR

On our most recent road trip we spent a couple of days at the Grand Canyon. It had been years since we were last there, but we were still amazed at the wonder of God’s creation while viewing the deep canyons and rock formations carved by the Colorado River. Because school was not yet out, we were able to drive through the park at our leisure to take in the beauty of the landscape. At one particular spot, we were in awe at how the wind moved across the canyon. Far in the distance we could hear the winds picking up somewhere to our left. Then a minute or two later, the wind would rustle the trees right in front of us before moving further to our right. For a moment we could feel the wind, and just as fast as it came, it would leave us, only to start again somewhere to the left side of the canyon. My husband commented that this reminded him of the description of the Holy Spirit in John. “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).

This is an interesting verse. “The wind blows where it wishes,” reminds us of the mystery and sovereignty of the Spirit’s work. To be born of the Spirit means we are entirely in His hands regarding our regeneration. If God has elected us to salvation, the Holy Spirit assures that sinners’ hearts are opened to Christ. God will get all the glory because he has the right to choose whom He will save. “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Ex. 33:19).

“And you hear its sound,” is the calling of the Spirit. I have read the accounts of John Bunyan’s and Martin Luther’s conversions. Their spiritual calls were more like tornados, one-time events that left an immediate impression. Others tell of gentle breezes of conversions, maybe from a pulpit sermon, or a praying mother, or from the persistence of another believer.

Hearing the sound implies perceptible effects of the invisible wind. We cannot see the wind, but we can see its effects. There is visual evidence of leaves rustling or dust flying in the air. Just as with the wind, we cannot see the Spirit, but we have the effects of the Spirit’s regeneration. When the Spirit comes to the unbeliever, his destiny is secured forever. In our sanctification, the Spirit comforts us in trouble, helps our unbelief, convicts us of sin, and teaches us to understand the Word.

When Jesus says “but you do not know where it comes from . . .” He is emphasizing a great mystery. We do not control the movement of the Spirit, nor do we know where He comes from. The Spirit is not comprehended by the mind of man. The unregenerate does not even recognize him. The spiritual man can discern His work and feel His influence, but the Spirit still moves in ways we do not understand.

And just as we do not know where the Spirit comes from, we “do not know where He goes.” The Spirit goes where He wills in accordance with divine purpose. One thing is certain to those who have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit: “though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).  There is no need to seek an understanding how the Spirit’s works; instead, we should be content and grateful for the effects it produces.

In those quiet moments at the Grand Canyon, we talked about being thankful that for some mysterious reason, God chose both of us to be regenerated, uniting us to Jesus Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit, so that we might have eternal life. Though our understanding is limited, we know that Jesus promised, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44). And so, while we enjoy the beauty of life on this earth, we wait expectantly for life everlasting in the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Photo by Saad Chaudhry on Unsplash