Permanent Relationship

“He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.” John 14:16b

When the Holy Spirit comes into the life of a believer, He takes up permanent residence. In the Old Testament, the Spirit would come and go. But in the New Covenant, the Spirit comes and stays. When Jesus came to earth He came to live, die, and leave. He could only be with the disciples for a little while; but the Holy Spirit comes forever. You cannot lose the Holy Spirit. Your body is not a hotel, but a temple where the Spirit of God dwells every moment of every day if you have surrendered your life to Christ.

As a Christian, the Holy Spirit gives you two things: He gives you spiritual life for the world that you are in; and He gives you eternal life for the world that is to come. He is with you today, tomorrow, and forever. Why is this truth so important? Have you ever felt far from God? If so, remember where God is. Through the Holy Spirit, God lives in you and He lives in you permanently. You need to practice His presence in your life, every moment of every second of every minute of every day.

How many times have we all prayed, “God, please be with me as I go here, or there, or do this?” Think about that. Why would you pray for someone to be with you who is already with you on a permanent basis? Why would you ask someone to come into your house that never leaves and never will?

Once the Holy Spirit moves in, He never moves out. He is not a renter, but an owner. That means the presence of God will never, ever leave you. Wherever you go, whatever you go through, He is there with you.

Dear God, thank you for the promise that you will never leave me or forsake. Help me to remember the truth of that promise whenever I'm feeling lonely or abandoned. I'm grateful I can always count on you. Amen.