There are a few instances in the scriptures in which the phrase "the earnest of the Spirit" is used. That specific phrase is found in 2 Corinthians 1:22 and 2 Corinthians 5:5, and the blessing the phrase is describing is referred to, though not in the same words, in other scriptures.
So, what is an earnest? In the Bible Dictionary found in the LDS edition of the King James Version of the Bible, it is described this way: "Earnest. A pledge or security. The word thus translated is a commercial term denoting the deposit paid by a buyer on entering into an agreement for the purchase of anything. As used by Paul (2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:14) it means that the Lord gives us his Holy Spirit in this life as a foretaste of the joy of eternal life. The Spirit is also the Lord’s surety that he will fulfill his promise to give eternal life to the faithful."
What an incredible blessing, to think that the Lord gives us a foretaste of the joy of living with Him for all eternity! When we feel the Spirit in this life, that is exactly what it is - a foretaste, a small nibble, of the feast of blessings and glory prepared for us as we follow Christ. "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).
When things get hard, as they often do along our mortal journey, we need to keep in mind the earnest of the Spirit that we have received. As we continue faithful, that witness from the Spirit is God's personal assurance to us that we will receive eternal life.
I was reminded of this concept of the earnest of the Spirit as I was just reading in The Magician's Nephew, the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia. The characters are there as Narnia is coming into existence and they hear the song of Aslan, who is C.S. Lewis' symbol for Christ throughout the series of books. As the stars appear and join in glorious song with Aslan, one of the characters, a Cabby, exclaims "Glory be! I'd ha' been a better man all my life if I'd known there were things like this." What a poignant statement. If any of us could remember seeing the creation of the world, the majesty and beauty of that process would certainly motivate us to live better lives. If we knew everything about the blessings God desires to give us, we would certainly realize that the things that we often place above God are really of no lasting worth.
My invitation is as the Savior's: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33). For surely, as we receive the earnest of the Spirit, we understand a small piece of what it will be like to live with God. Knowing that what I have felt is only a foretaste of eternal joy, I want to give my heart, might, mind, and strength to the Lord so that, in the Judgment Day, I will receive the entire feast He has prepared. And oh, what a glorious feast it will be!
