Next week, I am going to receive a dental implant. It not being my first such implant, I think the word “receive” is a bit mild and misleading. I will not just walk up to the receptionist at the oral surgeon’s office and pick up the implant, thank the receptionist, and walk out with the implant. No, it’s more like this: first, the assistant will x-ray my jaw to make sure the powdered cow bone they packed into the empty tooth socket four months ago has formed a strong bone structure. Since I have been craving grass lately, I am sure it has taken hold properly. Second, the surgeon will numb my gum/jaw, my first clue that something traumatic is about to occur. Third, the surgeon will pull out his mechanic’s toolbox and select an electric drill. He will rev up the device, and with a grin on his face, he will proceed to drill a hole deep into my jaw. Next, he will place the implant into the top of the hole. Is he done now? Oh, no. Now he grabs a new tool: a socket wrench, and begins to ratchet the implant down into the bone. Finally, I have “received” the implant, and I crawl out of the office with gauze pads packed in my mouth to stop the bleeding, drool coming from my unfeeling lips, and a prescription in my hand for a Schedule II federally- controlled narcotic pain medication.*
The other kind of implant I have is known as an intraocular lens. After being diagnosed with cataracts, I underwent removal of my original lenses and replacement with these artificial, soft plastic lenses. They really are remarkable; years ago a person had to wear what were called “coke-bottle” eyeglasses in order to see after such surgery. Now, the implanted lenses, formed to give a person their desired acuity close up or far away, allow that person to see clearly without glasses. The fact that I was awake during both of my cataract replacements and could see what they are doing, did nothing to diminish my joy at having improved eyesight.
Yes, implants can be a wonderful thing. I’m waiting for them to invent kidney implants so I can give up dialysis, but for now, I will just enjoy the benefits of the implants I do have.
But there is one more implant I have not yet mentioned, and that is one that I received without medical intervention. It is truly the greatest implant of all, the one that changed my life forever. And it was given to me apart from anything I have done or deserved. I am speaking of the Holy Spirit, planted in my heart by the Word of God at my baptism.
The Bible is clear that Christians carry the implanted Holy Spirit.
- At the Last Supper, Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit to take his place in the world, to comfort his followers, to empower them, and to lead them in all truth: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him” (John 14:16). But note that he promised them the Spirit in a new way, beyond how the Spirit had been with the disciples already. Jesus said, “You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). Note the change from “with you” to “in you.” The Holy Spirit is not something we put on and take off as it suits us, but a person who takes up residence within us.
2. Paul picks up this teaching and includes it in his epistles. Romans 8:9 says, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.” 1 Corinthians 3:16 reminds us, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”confirmed in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” Again, Paul writes to Timothy, saying, “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:16).
3. The Apostle Peter also speaks of the Holy Spirit indwelling the prophets: “ Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories” (1 Peter 1:10-11).
4. And finally, James tells us how the Spirit comes to us: by God’s Word. He says, “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).
My physical implants confer certain benefits: better chewing and better vision. Likewise, our spiritual implant, the Holy Spirit, confers all kinds of benefits to those who have received him.
- He teaches us and brings to remembrance all that Christ has taught us (John 14:26). This requires that we read God’s Word first, so the Spirit can remind us of what we read.
- He pours God’s love into our hearts (Romans 5:5).
- Romans 8:11 says, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” The Spirit gives life, now and eternally.
- The Spirit gives us gifts according to his will. Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 give us lists of such gifts, including faith and love, prophecy and tongues. He also grows spiritual fruit in us, such as peace and patience (see Galatians 5:22-23).
- The Holy Spirit is our direct connection to God. He helps us to pray. Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Not bad, having a divine advocate speaking on our behalf!
- The Holy Spirit is God’s seal, his guarantee, that we are his and will be his forever (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
So, where does this leave us? It means we are not alone in the world; we have God’s own Spirit within us to strengthen, guide, comfort, and at times rebuke us, to convict us of our sins, and keep us in step with the righteous-ness which Christ has bestowed on us. It is our calling as Christians to walk in the Spirit, believe in the Savior to whom he points, and follow the Holy Scriptures which he inspired – all of which he enables and empowers.
Not bad for a painless implant!
Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
Read: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Galatians 5:16-25.
* Actually, my oral surgeon is excellent, and I have not had to take more than a Tylenol or two following the surgery.