LAST BUT NOT LEAST

By Patti Iverson

Does the Holy Spirit feel sad to always be last? You know, The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Last. I’ve been last lots of times in my life. Six children in my family, and I was last. Beat out by my twin sister by 11 lousy minutes. At least my mom thought it was pretty lousy, waiting and pushing some more! Last one to get married and have a child. Always last one to finish in a race, be it in gym class or in the swimming pool. Last one to finish chomping in the watermelon feed on a sunny summer afternoon. Last one in the “hand me downs” clothing pool. In Matthew 20 and Mark 9 it says, “…the last shall be first and the first last.” Well, okey dokey! Works for me.

The Holy Spirit isn’t last with me. I always feel the spirit in my heart, helping, guiding, leading, exhorting, comforting… The list goes on. He came upon me the minute I asked Jesus to come into my heart when I was 17 years old – gasp! My, that was a few years ago. Ok, I know, “few” is a loosely used word but we’re not going there…

Johnny was riding his bike outside a church. The Priest saw him and told him to come into the church. Johnny said, “But they’ll steal my bike.” The Priest explained how the Holy Spirit would take care of it, so they went inside. The Priest showed the boy how to make the sign of the cross and told the boy to repeat it. “…In the name of the Father, the Son, amen.” The Priest said, “What about the Holy Spirit?” Johnny said, “He’s outside, taking care of my bike!”

God does have a sense of humor. Unless we blaspheme the Holy Spirit. That is unforgivable, according to Jesus in Mark 3:29. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to draw us to Christ and bring us to repentance. Read the entire book of John in the Bible. No one can repent and believe in Christ apart from God working in us. People get so hung up on silly details.

A 4-year old boy was drawing pictures and talking theology to himself. “I have two dads. God the Father & my dad. God the Father is a boy, and God the Son is a boy. My dad is a boy. The Holy Spirit must be a girl.” The Holy Spirit is a spirit. There are grownup theologians hung up like that darling 4 year old. Let us focus on being sorry for our sins and turning away from our old life into our new one, in Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, guiding, leading, comforting, and teaching us.

It’s when we intentionally and willfully blaspheme the Holy Spirit – reject, refuse, deny the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that we will be condemned. Only then.

So, examine your heart, soul, and mind. Do you know what the fruits of the H.S. are? Read Galatians 5:22-23. How about the gifts of the H.S.? 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with these marvelous fruits and gifts. The gift of Himself, Almighty God. All you have to do is ask. Awww. Ahhh. Awe.

Patti Iverson randpi2@charter.net