The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth; so is everyone that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8
Did you ever hear the expression, ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’? Sometimes, we say of a boy that he is a chip off the old block, meaning he is very much like his father. Genetic experts tell us that we inherit everything that we are from our parents, and live our lives displaying the various characteristics that they gave us. Many of the things we are able to do are a direct result of what we were born with. Our new birth also gives us characteristics and abilities that differ from those around us who don’t have the new birth.
The word translated ‘wind’ in our text is the same word that is translated ‘Spirit’ later in the verse. The text describes some characteristics of the Holy Spirit, and then notes that everyone who is born of the Spirit shares those characteristics. That means if we allow the Holy Spirit to take charge of our lives, we will conduct ourselves in the same way that the Holy Spirit does. What is the chief responsibility of the Holy Spirit? His function is to focus attention on and bring glory to the Lord Jesus. The new birth actually gives us this ability as well, an ability we lacked when we were not saved. As our text declares, every saved person has this ability. So why does every saved person not display this ability?
We all know Christians whose lives are proof that the Holy Spirit dwells there. These people are zealous for God and His Gospel. They spend much time in prayer and in the study of the Word of God. They interact with fellow believers with Christ-like meekness, sweetness, and compassion. They are always rejoicing in their salvation and in God’s daily goodness, and their presence lifts up those around them. It is no trouble to tell that these folks are allowing the Holy Spirit to direct them. How many Christians do you know who are like that? More to the point, how many do you know who are not like that? Are you like that? Why are we not all like that? You and I take on the characteristics of the Holy Spirit only to the extent that we give Him control of our lives. Our lives must be yielded to Him if we are to display the Christ that He seeks to exalt.
Sadly, it is impossible this side of the Glory for us to be everything that the Holy spirit would have us to be. But happily, it is possible for us to be as close to everything that the Holy Spirit would have us to be as we will let Him. -Jim MacIntosh