“WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE?”
John 7:37-39

In the movie “Forrest Gump” the main character is often heard quoting various sayings that his mother told him—the most famous of which probably is, “life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you're going to get.” In other words, those candies may look the same on the outside, but it's what's on the inside that makes all the difference.

Christians are like that—when compared to people who are not Christians. We may look like any other human being but, inside of us there is something profoundly different. We actually have God living inside of us.

Perhaps we've never thought of it that way. More often than not, when thinking of the Christian life we think of it in terms of faith being inside of us. Which is most certainly true. Faith is that belief, that trust, in our hearts which depends wholeheartedly on the fact that Jesus is our Savior. But perhaps we do not give much thought to the fact that God Himself is also inside of us. That's what Jesus assures us of in today's text. He says, “ Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" Now this he said about the Spirit.” What Spirit? The Holy Spirit. The Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son lives and Who lives and abides in of us.

Here are a few other Bible verses that talk about the same thing: 1 Corinthians 3:16 , “Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?” Romans 8:11, “ 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.” And, Galatians 2:20 , “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Christ lives in us, which means Christ's Spirit lives in us. God dwells within you.

But, as was mentioned before, from the outside, it's hard to tell that sometimes. In fact, what often is the case is that, when we don't give much thought to the fact that God lives in us, we also won't give much thought to how we live our lives. With the result that we take in, with our eyes and our ears, things that most certainly would be offensive to God. But at the time, we're not thinking about God living in us. Likewise, the thoughts which we formulate in our minds, and the words which come out of our mouths, along with daily activities and the way we spend our time, often are not done bearing in mind that God is living within us.

It's amazing how, in our everyday social activities, when we are in those situations which call for a good manners, politeness, and etiquette on our parts, we are sure to put our best foot forward—but, in most cases, we conduct ourselves in that appropriate way based upon the company that we are with rather than because of an awareness of Who is in our hearts.

And we must never fool ourselves into thinking that God isn't aware or doesn't care about our behavior. Listen carefully to the following verses: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap,” (Galatians 6:7); “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin,” (James 4:17 ). “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,” (1 Peter 1:15 ).

It's all too easy for us to live our lives for ourselves. It's all too easy for us to blend in with the rest of the world and to live by the world's standards of morals and ethics. After all, from all outward appearances, we do look to be the same.

But inside, we are not. By the grace of God Himself, we are not alike. For out of all the similar looking, similarly sinful people in this world, God has set you apart by giving you His Spirit, by giving you the gift of saving faith, by choosing to dwell within you.

It is a privilege and a blessing which far exceeds any pleasure or acceptance that this world wants us to believe we really need. The Lord has said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few,” (Matthew 7:13 -14).

Those who find it are few. Those in whom God has been pleased to dwell are few. And, sadly, we chosen few, who have God within us, often don't realize just how privileged we are, how good we have it.

In our second Scripture reading for today, we heard the apostle Peter preaching a strong message of conviction to those who were responsible for handing Jesus over to be crucified. He says, “ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." And though our text ends there, the very next verse that is recorded in the Scriptures says , “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” (Acts 2:37 -38).

Through the sacrament of baptism, they would be granted the gift of the Holy Spirit—the same Holy Spirit would live in their hearts, as lives in your own heart.

When we examine our lives and see the manner in which we have betrayed the fact that God is living within us, we too are compelled to repent of our selfishness and ask, “What shall we do?” “What do we do about this life which we have lived with so much pride, with so much self-centeredness, with so much complacency toward spiritual things?” And the answer comes to us, “You have been baptized into the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of all your sins. You have received the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Or, in the words of Jesus from today's text, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" And the living water of which He is speaking, is the presence of His Spirit.

Dearly beloved, in just a few moments, we will join together in singing those ancient words from the book of Psalms, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me.” And God is willing and able to answer that heartfelt prayer with the power of His might.

So, if you yearn for a changed heart and mind concerning this precious gift that God has chosen to give you, that yearning is the very evidence that the Spirit of God is still alive and well within you. For only by the Spirit's indwelling power are we able to express our thirst for His grace.

And your God invites you to drink deeply. Savor His love and His salvation. Let that love flow out of you like a river so that it may be evident before all people that there is, indeed, something different about you. You have the Spirit of God Himself alive within you.

And there is no mystery whatsoever about what life holds in store for you. Far from not knowing what you're going to get, you have God's absolute promise that, “ 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,” (Romans 8:11) —even eternal life through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

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