A Real Change and a Superb Reality
Jesus did not just bring a new teaching; he brought a heightened spiritual awareness that affects the individual. When we individually accept the guidance of the Spirit of Truth, we change! It is a change from servant to son and from slave to heir:
“What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”
– Galatians 4:1, 6-7
But it has an even greater impact. When we allow the Spirit of Truth to work in our behalf, our spiritual vision expands. We become capable of comprehending matters that never even came into the minds of man before. And with that expanded vision, we become aware of the abundant spiritual activity in our friendly universe.
The veil of fear that prevents man from looking up to the heavens is removed. The Spirit of Truth stimulates a hunger to want to know our Father, our celestial family and our future abode. Through faith, and then through personal experience, we come to know that the celestial world is real. We come to believe these accounts:
- The angel’s appearance to Mary at Jesus’ conception. (Matthew 1:18-23)
- The angel’s support of Jesus at Gethsemane. (Luke 22:39-43)
- The readiness of angels to defend Jesus. (Matthew 26:52-23)
- The joy of angels when we repent. (Luke 15:10)
- The angels who appeared at Jesus’ tomb. (Luke 24:22-23)
- The angels who regularly visit earth. (John 1:51)
- The angel who opened the prison door for the apostles. (Acts 5:17-20)
- The angel who assisted in Philip’s ministry. (Acts 8:26-29)
- The angel who directed Cornelius’ conversion. (Acts 10:1-8)
- The angels who carried messages to the congregations. (Revelation 2:1-3:22)
And we come to understand that there are angels appointed as our individual guides:
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.”
– Matthew 18:10
They are real, brothers, but only for those who accept the guidance of the Spirit of Truth. All others pitifully labor under the delusion that the ‘age of miracles’ is over and that God no longer deals with mankind the way He did in the past. On the contrary! The Spirit of Truth allows an even greater spiritual interaction with man if only we would open our hearts and minds to its reality!
Finally, the Spirit of Truth moves us to contemplate the heavenly career. It is the impetus behind the counsel:
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
– Colossians 3:1-2
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”
– Philippians 3:14-16
If we are to keep our minds on the things above, we must open them to spiritual realities, and not be overly concerned with food and drink:
“And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”
– Luke 12:29-31
For generations, man has looked to other men as leaders to show them the way, but in truth such men are as blind as the ones asking for help unless they open their spiritual eyes of discernment and spiritual insight and take notice of the Master’s sublime leadership through the Spirit of Truth. No one can see for another and if it is not the anointing doing the teaching, then one is truly not learning. He is merely mimicking and parroting someone else’s understanding. Each of us must take responsibility for our own destiny and walk with the divine guide, the helper, the Spirit of Truth. In this way, we will all be united and find the ‘paradise of God’ and reach the fullness of life that we so desire.
Yes, the Spirit of Truth is real. He is here along with the loving and kind celestial family who are rooting for our success during this temporary life in the flesh. May we all take advantage of our privileged generation!
