How Long Are You Willing to Wait?
Well the long, anticipated day has come and gone for 2019 – Christmas is over! The glossy paper wrappings are in the garbage and sadly some of the gifts are on their way there, as some of them have already been broken. Others will be played with for a time and then discarded. The great preparation for the Christmas dinner is over – the food that wasn’t eaten will no doubt stay in the refrigerator for a time and then to the garbage. Does this sound a bit jaded? I don’t mean it to be – it’s a sad rendition of what happens in too many households the day after Christmas. Each year we work ourselves into a frenzy to try to get the right gifts, set the right decorations out, and so on and so forth. While it may make for a good day, what happens after? For if no thought was given to the Christ of Christmas, we are left with more than a little regret.
How long. are you willing to wait for. the things you can really afford? How long are you willing to wait until the miracle that you need really happens and it is not forced through by your own manipulation? This is a question all of us need to ask. As I pondered this question myself, the. thought of those who actually ‘waited’ for the promise came to mind. One such man was Simeon:
25 As they came to the temple to fulfill this requirement, an elderly man was there waiting—a resident of Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. He was a very good man, a lover of God who kept himself pure, and the Spirit of holiness rested upon him. Simeon believed in the imminent appearing of the one called "The Refreshing of Israel."26 For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he saw the Messiah, the Anointed One of God. 27 For this reason the Holy Spirit had moved him to be in the temple court at the very moment Jesus’ parents entered to fulfill the requirement of the sacrifice.
28 Simeon cradled the baby in his arms and praised God and prophesied, saying:
29–31 "Lord and Master, I am your loving servant,
and now I can die content,
for your promise to me has been fulfilled.
With my own eyes I have seen your Word,
the Savior you sent into the world.
32 He will be glory for your people Israel,
and the Revelation Light for all people everywhere!"
Mary and Joseph came to the temple to offer their male child to the Lord, as was prescribed by the law. Upon their arrival, there was a man who had long awaited this child. Although scripture does not tell us how long he waited, there is indication that he was an elderly man, much like Anna who has also waited for the Christ Child was an elderly woman. They had both waited – and. waited – and waited…
Yet, before they left their earthly sojourn, both of them saw and held the Christ Child, just as God had promised them. They had not asked God for millions of dollars, or other earthly fame. – God spoke to them of a promise that would be not just for them, but for all of mankind, the promise of a Savior, who would be born into time as a baby. No doubt they did not live to see one of His miracles performed, yet they saw HIM – and believed God for the rest. We have a lesson to learn from Simeon, and Anna, some of our prayers will come as a birthing, we may not see the finished growth. Nonetheless our hearts should rejoice, for even a glimpse of glory is worth seeing in our lifetime!
Maria