FORGOTTEN GOD

"Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you." - John 14:16

Mark Cuban is a billionaire, entrepreneur, owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, and co-star of the hit TV show "Shark Tank." I remember a few years back Cuban told a fascinating story during an interview that caught my attention. As a young bachelor raking in the dough Cuban spoke about owning his first mansion. Cuban was laughing as he pointed out that the only furniture it contained was 1 couch! Cuban said he just wasn't that interested in what was actually inside the house. He was proud to call the empty mansion his ultimate bachelor pad. What a "ginormous" waste of space! Now married and a father, I'm sure Mark's home (or, homes!) has more than just 1 couch inside!

In John 14:16 we read the very Words of Jesus as He promises the Holy Spirit to His disciples. At the time, they hardly understood what He meant (just like most Christ-followers today, including myself, who struggle to understand the amazing fact that the very Spirit of the Living God lives inside of us).

Just stop and let this sink in for a second, Christ-follower. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ His actual Spirit lives in you as you read this! Like Cuban's initial mansion however, is your house seemingly empty and void? I have wasted a lot of time in my Christian walk by ignoring the Holy Spirit. Additionally, I have had the audacity to sit there and still wonder why I am not experiencing Him closely, personally, and intimately!

After we both get home from work, my wife and I typically greet each other with a hug and kiss and proceed to talk about our day. Now, imagine if I came in the door and just breezed past her and decided not to acknowledge her presence. Let's go a step further. Imagine if I did this day after day. My marriage would be in terrible shape to say the least, wouldn't it? However, don't most Christ-followers do this same type of thing to the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is a Person. He lives inside of us and desires an intimate relationship like none other. We must talk to Him and involve Him in our lives daily, all day, everyday. If our lives as Christians are empty, void, and powerless, perhaps it's time to re-evaluate our relationship with the Holy Spirit. We can't settle. There's too much at stake in our own relationship with Him, and this in turn effects our ability to share His Good News with others.