The Holy Spirit as Comforter
By Russell McKinney
Mitchell County
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38, N.K.J.V.)
R.A. Torrey was one of the most famous preachers who ever lived. His resume would impress anyone. He graduated from Yale University and Yale Divinity School. He was a prominent pastor. He worked extensively with the great evangelist D.L. Moody in evangelistic work. He preached around the world. He was the Superintendent of the school that is now known as Moody Bible Institute. He founded Biola University in Los Angeles and served as its dean. He authored dozens of books.
Torrey and his wife had five children, four of them girls, but a tragic accident claimed the life of their twelve-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. The funeral was conducted on a rainy day, and the weather seemed to fit the mood of the family perfectly. As Torrey and his wife, Clara, stood over the gravesite, Clara said, “I’m so glad Elizabeth is not in that box.”
The next morning R.A. got up and went for a walk. As he walked, he began to think about how he wouldn’t get to hear Elizabeth laugh again or see her grow into a young woman. Even though he knew her soul was in heaven, the loss of future earthly memories with her was more than he could take. His grief became overwhelming.
Barely able to stand, and desperate for God’s comforting presence, Torrey leaned up against a light pole and began to pray. As for what happened next, I’ll let the man himself explain. He said:
And just then the fountain, the Holy Spirit, whom I had in my heart, broke forth with such power as I think I had never experienced before. And it was the most joyful moment I had ever known in my life! It is an unspeakably glorious thing to have within you a fountain ever springing up, springing up, springing up, ever springing up 365 days every year, springing up under all circumstances.
Christian, there are two things that I want you to learn from Torrey’s experience, an experience that calls to mind Christ’s words from our text passage (John 7:37-38). First, you should learn that being a Christian doesn’t make you immune from life’s hardships and tragedies. If a great Christian like R.A. Torrey could have a young daughter die in an accident, none of us is safe from calamity.
Second, you should learn that one of the indwelling Holy Spirit’s most important roles in your life is that of Comforter. In John 14:26, the Greek word that is used about the Holy Spirit is parakletos, from which comes the Greek proper noun Paraclete. Because the word parakletos literally means “called to one’s side,” various translations of the Bible translate the word as “Helper,” “Counselor,” “Advocate,” “Companion,” or “Friend.” None of these translations, however, is as heartwarming as the classic King James translation’s familiar “Comforter.”
Christian, the point is that when you need comforting, the indwelling Holy Spirit wells up inside you and does that comforting. This comforting is something that R.A. Torrey once experienced while leaning against a light pole the day after he had buried his daughter, and it’s something that you can experience as well. Obviously, you’d rather not experience any loss or tragedy, but unfortunately, life makes that an impossibility. So, when those difficult times come, what you should do is pray to God and ask Him to have the indwelling Holy Spirit minister His sweet comfort to you. And then don’t be surprised when the Holy Spirit does just that.
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Russell Mckinney lives in the English Woods area of Spruce Pine and serves as the pastor of Roan Mountain Baptist Church in Bakersville.
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