When I swam in high school, Mark Spitz was every swimmer’s hero! An Olympic champion, he set world records and won gold medals in seven events at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
A stickler for proper form, my coach showed us filmstrips of Mark Spitz swimming, demonstrating proper technique and motivating us.
Afterward, “Coach” surprised us by climbing through the trap door in the deck and into a chamber with an underwater window. From there he video-recorded us swimming one by one. With the “evidence” on film, he then instructed us on how to improve our stroke.
When sitting down with us individually, my coach could choose cruelty or encouragement.
In comparing my freestyle with the Olympian’s, a heartless coach could have angrily barked, “Remember Mark Spitz! You’re not reaching out far enough! That kick is weak! Stop rolling to the side every time you breathe! And WHERE’S YOUR MUSTACHE???”
Fortunately my coach used a gentler style to correct my flaws.
As we swim upstream in life, against the current of this world (Romans 12:2), God gives us a coach. His name is the Holy Spirit. And His handbook is the Bible.
He knows what we’re up against in this race, so He regularly points us back to the perfect example of proper technique. Jesus demonstrated determination, finesse, and strength. And our holy coach not only encourages us to practice those skills but empowers us to imitate our “spiritual hero”.
Unfortunately, religious teaching has led many to believe the Holy Spirit’s primary job is to point out our faults. A common yet dyslexic reading of John 16:8 lies at the root of the problem.
“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…”
Notice whom the Holy Spirit convicts: THE WORLD.
(Hint: That’s not us, folks! We’re in God’s kingdom now, which Jesus clarifies is ‘not of this world’ John 18:36.)
Then Verse 9 goes on to clarify precisely which singular sin the Holy Spirit convicts the world of:
“. . .concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me.”
The Holy Spirit points out the unbelief of the world’s skeptics, scoffers and cynics because they have rejected Jesus.
People delve into every sort of activity or relationship or belief system, trying to fill a void. They hope to meet needs in a way that only a loving Savior can. Those behaviors merely expose the root sin of unbelief. And the Holy Spirit points out that unbelief to the world in an effort to lead people to their only answer in life.
- comforts, teaches, and counsels us;
- imparts knowledge, understanding, and wisdom to us;
- showers us with gifts to share with others, as evidence of God’s love.
*He holds no anger, judgment, or criticism toward us.*
So if and when we feel condemned, know that it’s not coming from the Holy Spirit. He always coaches with the goal of leading us to victory!
Therefore there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
