In the beginning, darkness covered the earth, and God declared, “Let there be light”,—and light appeared. We understand that darkness and light can not be there together. As John wrote, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). We witnessed this truth fulfilled in Jesus, the Light of the world, who bore the darkness of the whole world’s sin, yet was not overcome by it.
There is a unique truth in this redemptive act: although light and darkness cannot coexist, God allowed the Light to dwell in the midst of darkness until the darkness was overcome. This reveals a deeper insight—that within every darkness, a hidden light endures. It waits patiently for the right moment to shine fully and bring transformation.
The Entry And The Role Of The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is gentle and never forces Himself upon us. The Holy Spirit enters only when we willingly invite Him, usually when we first begin to grasp the depth of God’s love for us. When we are moved by the love of God—who gave His Son for us—the Holy Spirit enters our hearts. He brings with Him the very love of God that touched us, and fills our hearts with that same Godly love (Romans 5:5). From that moment, our love begins to shed its selfish nature and embarks on a new journey of selflessness.
At this point, the Holy Spirit also ignites our faith in what Jesus accomplished on the cross (Hebrews 12:2). While it may be difficult for us to believe in an event that took place two thousand years ago, for the Spirit of God, it is not a matter of blind or distant faith—it is a vivid and living memory of a real historical moment. That is why Paul declared:
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
We can grasp this more deeply through the words of Jesus Himself, who said that the Holy Spirit would remind us of everything He had spoken (John 14:26). While it may be challenging for us to recall Christ’s words in their original context, the Holy Spirit makes it easy to understand and internalize what Jesus taught during His time on earth.
Where Is the Holy Spirit When We Sin?
We are often careful not to do anything wrong in the presence of our parents or elders, so how is it that we dare to sin in the very presence of the Holy Spirit? Could it be that, although we declare with our lips that He dwells within us, deep down we struggle to truly believe it? When we fall into sin, it can become difficult to recognise His presence within us. The pattern of seeking forgiveness every Sunday in church reveals something deeper: many believe God resides in the church building, rather than in their own hearts.
Many believers struggle with the idea that both the Holy Spirit and evil could exist in our hearts simultaneously. However, Scripture clearly teaches that when we invite the Spirit of God into our lives, darkness must flee, because God is light. But what happens when we sin even while the Holy Spirit dwells within us? Does He depart from us in that moment? No, the Holy Spirit does not abandon us when we sin. Instead, He remains within us, continuing to convict us and lead us toward repentance.
As long as we feel sorrow or conviction over our sin, it is a good sign that the Holy Spirit is still within us, gently guiding us back to God (2 Corinthians 7:10). But if we repeatedly ignore those convictions and continue in sin without turning back to Him, there is a risk that the Holy Spirit may withdraw. Still, God is patient and He does not withdraw His Spirit immediately —He gives us time to repent and make room for the Spirit to dwell in us freely and fully once again.
If the Holy Spirit Continues to Stay …
The risen Christ lives in our hearts and chooses to stay with us, even when we fall into sin. Though the Holy Spirit is present within us, the enemy can still work through our lives—if we give him room. Judas Iscariot is a solemn example: driven by his greed, he opened his heart to the devil. Yet Jesus did not immediately distance Himself. Instead, He gave Judas time to turn back, offering him the chance to choose between the path of darkness and the presence of the Saviour. Remarkably, Jesus continued to love Judas, fully aware of his weakness, and never stopped loving him, even as betrayal approached.
The Spirit of God enters our hearts to begin our faith when we hear and believe the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Saul of Tarsus, for example, was taught the Scriptures by Gamaliel, a well-known Pharisee and expert in the Jewish law. Through his knowledge of the Scriptures, Saul came to know about God and His commandments. In that sense, the light of God’s Word was already within him. However, Saul misunderstood the true purpose of that light and ended up persecuting God’s people. He believed the light within him was leading him to oppose the followers of Jesus. This was in line with what Jesus had foretold—that a time would come when people would kill His followers, thinking they were offering service to God (John 16:2).
Even as Saul persecuted the Church, the Light of the World was present—both within Saul and in those he tormented—sharing in their suffering. In the darkest chapter of Saul’s life, the Spirit of God did not forsake him, but instead remained close, revealing the deeper purpose of His presence. This became evident when Jesus confronted Saul directly:
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. — Acts 9:5 (NIV)
This is more than poetic language—it is a practical reality. God does not merely observe our struggles from a distance; He lives within His people. When we sin, He is grieved and burdened, yet He remains with us—He does not leave. Like Saul, we too can misuse the Word that dwells in us—using it to defend religious traditions rather than allowing it to guide us as the true way to the Father in Heaven.
Jesus warned about the incompatibility of sewing new cloth onto old garments or pouring new wine into old wineskins—both actions would lead to ruin (Matthew 9:14–17). This illustrates a deeper truth: when the author of the New Covenant—Jesus—comes to dwell in a person still clinging to old sinful patterns, He too endures grief. While we may not physically crucify Christ again, our continual rebellion can deeply trouble His Spirit. To cease grieving the Spirit who lives within us, we must be transformed into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The irony is that while we are grieving the Holy Spirit, we often feel as though it is God who is allowing others to hurt us through their words and actions. When people ignore us or treat us poorly, we feel rejected and humiliated. Yet we rarely consider that we may be doing the same to the Holy Spirit within us—ignoring Him, wounding Him with our indifference and disobedience.
When David sinned, he felt utterly broken and drained. But more importantly, he recognised that his sin had wounded the Spirit of God who had remained with him, even in his failure. That’s why he prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). David wasn’t just seeking forgiveness—he was crying out to stop hurting the God who had never left him, even in his lowest moments.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. – Psalm 51:11-12 (NIV)
The Checklist
- Are we truly attentive to the voice of God gently reminding us, or are we only tuned in to the threatening whispers of the devil?
- Do we genuinely desire the presence of the Holy Spirit, or are we secretly waiting for Him to leave, perceiving Him as an obstacle in our lives?
- Do we feel pressured and cornered by others, while failing to realise that it is we who have confined and grieved the Holy Spirit within us in every way?
- Are we committed to safeguarding our salvation, or are we willing to exchange it for temporary worldly pleasures and the filth of sin?
- Have we truly grasped the painful truth that we are suffocating the Holy Spirit who dwells within us?
- Do we feel a deep, urgent need to cleanse our hearts with the precious blood of Jesus, so that the Holy Spirit may dwell in us with comfort and joy?
Perhaps it’s time to ask the Holy Spirit what things have been grieving Him until now. Despite our ignorance or resistance, the light still shines, and no amount of darkness can ever extinguish it (John 1:5). Don’t be deceived by the devil’s lie that the Light of the World within us can be quenched. Instead, let that light shine brightly from within as we earnestly rid our hearts of all spiritual clutter.
Many people believe they will arise and shine only after they leave this world, and so the below verse is often read at funerals. But here’s the real question: if we could not shine while carrying the Light of the World within us now, what assurance do we have that we will enter the place illuminated solely by the glory of God?
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. — Isaiah 60:1-2 (NIV)
The Jordan Valley 
Reply