At the end of the long-running CBS game show entitled “Let’s Make a Deal,” a lone contestant gets to choose from three different curtains. Two of the curtains have lesser prizes, but one of them has a grand prize. The Trinity is defined as the Christian Godhead; one God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Unlike the game show, all three are always present in any one of the three persons. You can’t lose!
Jesus, who was fully God and fully human, made it clear that His mission on Earth was short term. He talked about going away from the outset. His words in John chapter 16, verse seven, made it abundantly clear there was a third person who was to remain with us long term:
“ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”
The arrival of the Holy Spirit is celebrated by Christians across the globe on Pentecost Sunday as the time the Advocate crashed onto the scene. The remembrances include the retelling of Acts chapter two where the Holy Spirit had the appearance of flaming tongues. Since the Holy Spirit does not have a visible form, it is symbolized through water, oil, wind, fire and many other ways. Pentecost Sunday is not the only time the Advocate is celebrated though. Believers celebrate, communicate with, lean on, trust and obey the Holy Spirit in their ongoing struggles against the desires and frailty of the flesh. Through belief in Christ, and repentance of sin, the believer is gifted with the “indwelling” of the Spirit at all times and in all places. That’s powerful!
This awesome presence in our lives is a source of fellowship with God, advocacy, conviction, comfort, companionship and peace beyond understanding. The power of the Holy Spirit can both be at an unmeasurable magnitude and as obvious as a mustard seed.
So, the deal is: We choose once and get all three. Our dependence on intellect, electronics, machines, family and friends is ultimately powered by the Advocate of all advocates.