(John 16:7-8) "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.
Watch out for the new traffic cop in town. The city has recently hired him and he’s pulling people over left and right. In fact, he’s nabbed many on their way to church. How embarrassing to be pulled over in your own church parking lot!
When a person gets pulled over for a citation, many things can go through your mind. After your heart stops pounding you usually rehearse the scenario in your mind as you fumble for your wallet and car registration. Finally it dawns upon you what you did. If you don’t know what you did you will be soon reminded when the officer reaches your car window. Then, after the full realization of the infraction there is often a temptation to justify the violation by rationalizing. You might tell yourself everybody does it but just doesn’t get caught, or you couldn’t help it because you had a lot on you mind, or someone influenced you to do it. Or . . . you say to yourself that this is just a big waste of time with all the drug deals that could be busted up right now if the officer was where he should be! But when the ticket is issued and in your hand, and the officer has sped away, you have proof that you really aren’t perfect.
This whole process kind of sounds like the conviction of the Holy Spirit, doesn’t it? You know the feeling. You’ve fallen short of God’s glory and the Holy Spirit brings a sense of wrong over you. You might fight it, rationalize it, or just push the impression away. But oh, how persistent and persuasive the Holy Spirit is! He is relentless in His pursuit of you because you are loved by the Father and have been cleansed by the blood of His Son. A breach has been made in your communion with the Lord and the Spirit seeks to lead you to confession and cleansing so that your sweet fellowship can resume on that beautiful and intimate path with the lover of your soul.
The Bible teaches us to not despise the chastening of the Lord because the Lord loves those whom He disciplines (Heb 12:5-6). Let’s be open to the Lord the next time we sense that loving nudge of the Spirit. And when the heavenly siren goes off, let’s just remember that the price has been paid for all of our sins, and that the hand upon our shoulder prodding us is a nail-scarred hand that points to the relationship that God is renewing with you through the blessed conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Louie