God is by our side as we go through life

What if I was never meant to go it alone in life? To deal with everything on my own. To try and figure it out myself. Who can do that successfully?

This is the story the Bible tells about this very thing. God created a perfect world — and was not hidden from its first people. They had every opportunity — including minds with which to reason and choose freely. Then came temptation and deciding they could do life their own way. They did not need to listen to God.

A world God never intended came into being. One created by humankind. One that allowed for every evil thing. One that shut God out.

That’s when death entered into life — because God was not going to let people live forever and continually do harm. And with their destructive choice God became hidden. No longer openly walking with them as in the beginning.

This was a source of deep anguish for the Godhead — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, dwelling in community as one. God desired a close loving relationship with all humankind — the “very good” of all creation. But how could this happen now? When an incorruptible God looked upon an imperfect people — a people who perpetually turned their backs. Who valued their own voice above God’s.

The answer was to send Jesus, the Son, into the world. To show the people the kind of persons they were meant to be — and still could be if only they would listen. It was an excellent plan. Jesus living the perfect life on behalf of all people and sacrificing His life for the forgiveness of their sins. All those hurtful personal choices made from human self-will that leave out God.

Jesus would offer each believer a new start. He would display His power by rising from the dead — shattering death. God no longer hidden. Relationship with humankind restored. The people of God’s creation regaining eternal life!

But the work of Jesus still needed to continue after His return to God’s heavenly domain. These human beings didn’t have it in them to love others and grow into their “very good” on their own. They weren’t going to have Jesus right in front of them showing them how to do life.

So another excellent plan was born. God would send the Holy Spirit — the very spirit indwelling Jesus — to live in each person who trusts in Him. Jesus revealed the Holy Spirit as comforter, advocate, intercessor, counselor, helper — or one “called alongside to help.”

He told His followers to wait in Jerusalem “for what the Father had promised.” They would “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” And that’s just what happened. A dramatic story told in the Bible’s book of Acts, Chapter 2.

This is the day known as Pentecost, celebrated this Sunday — 50 days after Easter. A day for remembering the Spirit of God coming to indwell those who live by faith in the Son of God. Abiding in me so that I would know God in the closest of bonds. No longer having to try and figure out life on my own.

I, for one, welcome a helper. And the joy of the Holy Spirit’s presence and guidance in my life. This year my birthday falls on Pentecost Sunday. I don’t know how it happened this way — but God and I are going to party!