Wait For The Promise
By G. Craig Lauterbach
What are you waiting for today? What is it that your heart longs for? I remember celebrating Christmas when my daughters were young. Once summer had come to an end and school was back in session, there was one question our children would ask my wife Cindy and I at least once a week. “Mommy and daddy, how many more days is it until Christmas?” Our four little girls could not wait for December 25th. On Christmas Eve it was all we could do to get them in bed and asleep. When their anticipated day finally arrived, at the crack of dawn we would hear the sound of tiny feet running into the living room and shouting, “Wake up, wake up, it’s Christmas! Get out of bed so we can open the presents.” This was the day they had waited and longed for. Nothing was going to keep them away from unwrapping the gifts placed under the Christmas tree. I will never forget those years. They are precious memories I will carry with me into eternity.
Life is about waiting. We’re all waiting for something. For some it may be their wedding day, or possibly the return of a loved one from the military. For others it’s a financial provision, a new job, or the purchase of that first home. Others are hoping for the birth of their first child? Some of you are waiting for a physical healing, while others are believing for the salvation of a loved one. Have you ever been unjustly represented? Some of you may be waiting for your day of vindication. The list could go on and on. Like I said, we’re all waiting for something.
Take a moment to look at the following scripture verses with me. In Luke 2:25-35 we read, “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ‘Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.’ And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’”
The Consolation
In our text Joseph and Mary had brought the child Jesus to the temple for consecration. This was the practice of any devout Jewish family. They were fulfilling the custom of the law. In our modern day churches we would call it a baby dedication. While they were entering the temple, Mary and Joseph were met by a man whose name was Simeon. Years before this day had come, God promised Simeon he would not see death until he first saw the Messiah. This was the longing of his heart. Year after year, month after month, week after week, and day after day, he had come to the temple to pray and worship. During this time I’m sure he had seen hundreds of families bring their children to the temple for consecration, so what was it that caused Jesus to stand out from the other children? Simply put, it was Simeon’s faith in God. His faith enabled him to hold on to the promise and recognize the promise as well.
Abraham manifested this same kind of faith. God promised him that through his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. The only problem was, Abraham didn’t have a son. How would his seed continue without a son to carry on his namesake? God knew this. That’s why He told Abraham this son would come through his wife Sarah. The only problem was, Sarah was old. I mean senior citizen old. That meant waiting was involved prior to the fulfillment of this promise, but nonetheless, God honored His Word. At the age of 100, Sarah gave birth to a son named Isaac. WOW! Now that’s a miracle.
What about Joseph? He was the great grandson of Abraham. At the age of 17, God revealed to him in a dream that he would one day be a prince. Soon after this revelation, Joseph found himself betrayed by his brothers and then sold into slavery. For 13-years he lived in a foreign land as a servant. Yet during this time God never forgot His promise to Joseph. In God’s timing, events transpired elevating him to the office of Prince of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. Again, there was waiting involved before the promise was fulfilled.
If time allowed I would share of David, Hannah, and Nehemiah. All of these individuals received the promise of God, but then had to wait for its fulfillment. Just like these great men and women of faith had to wait, so did Simeon.
Our text says Simeon was waiting for the CONSOLATION of Israel. What does this word consolation mean? The Biblical definition is, “consolation, exhortation, comfort, encouragement, or refreshment.” Israel was waiting for a king that would lead them out of bondage, a king who would establish the throne of David again. How they desired to return to the glory they experienced under King David’s rule. Messiah would provide this, but in a way they weren’t expecting. This consolation would be a spiritual provision, not political. Because Simeon was a praying man, he was able to recognize the Christ.
The Christ
History records that many false prophets had come proclaiming to be the promised Messiah or Christ. I’m sure the Jewish people were skeptical of anyone making this claim. I’m equally sure Simeon had seen his share of imposters as well. What was it then that caused him to take notice of Jesus? Our text says it was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he first saw the Christ. What does this tell us about Simeon? Waiting on God brought spiritual revelation to this man. Have you ever asked yourself, “How did brother or sister so in so know that?” I remember counseling a young couple regarding some struggles they were facing. While the husband was speaking, the Holy Spirit revealed to me exactly what the problem was in the home. When I shared my thoughts with them, the wife responded, “How did you know that?” She was amazed by what happened. What she didn’t realize was, this same sensitivity was available to her and for that matter, any Christian who is willing to set aside time to wait on God. You see, when we get alone with the Lord, the Holy Spirit will reveal mysteries to us. This is what Paul the Apostle refers to as the gifts of the Spirit, such as Word of Knowledge and or Word of Wisdom. He allows us to see, hear, and understand things the way He does. When this happens, it will change the way we think, the way we speak, and even the way we see things. Simeon was this kind of man. He was a man who was familiar with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and it was this same anointing that revealed God’s anointed, the Christ. No one had to convince Simeon. Mary and Joseph didn’t share about her immaculate conception. Nothing was said about her angelic visitation, or Joseph’s dreams and obviously Jesus didn’t say anything. He was only a child. When Simeon saw Jesus, he knew.
The Consecration
This same sensitivity that Simeon exemplified is available to you and I. Hearing God’s voice is not reserved for a select few. It’s a privilege God has made accessible to anyone who is willing to make the sacrifice. By sacrifice I mean laying down personal agendas and spending quality time with the Lord in worship, prayer, and the reading of His Word. This is what Simeon did. Our text refers to him as JUST, a man in right standing with God. It also calls him DEVOUT, a man devoted to God. It was this kind of spiritual dedication that allowed God the opportunity to consecrate Simeon’s life. What do I mean by consecrate? This word is also translated, “To set apart as sacred. To cleanse or to make holy. To transform.” Simply put, Simeon was transformed into a sacred, holy man because he chose to wait on God.
What is it that you need changed in your life? Let me encourage you to be like Simeon. Make a conscious choice and effort to seek after the Lord. If you do, you will experience what the Apostle Paul is speaking of in Galatians 5:16. “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” A consecrated life knows how to walk in the Spirit. They recognize and understand God’s voice. They’ve learned how to move from the realm of the soul where our emotions dwell and ascend to the secret place where the Spirit of God abides. When this happens, our mind set becomes just like His. We are no longer ruled by time. We see things from God’s perspective, the maker of time. This is why Simeon was able to endure the test of time. It wasn’t about IF. It was about WHEN. Do you understand what I’m saying? Faith doesn’t see the promise of God’s as IF. Faith sees the promise of God as WHEN.
Two Thousand years ago, God’s promise to send a Savior came to pass in a humble stable in Bethlehem. A short time later, God’s promise to Simeon came to pass at the temple in Jerusalem. What are you waiting for? Let me encourage you with the words I heard from an old preacher many years ago. “Not now doesn’t mean not never.” You have no idea how close your blessing is. If not today, it may be tomorrow! Don’t let go. Learn from the life of Simeon. Wait for the promise.
