"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." (Luke 2: 26)
We don't know when Simeon first had the revelation of our text, but we know that ever since he received it he had been looking forward to the appearing of, "the Coming One." There is no doubt, moreover, that along with, "....had been revealed to him," He knew Biblical prophecies, because the previous verse tells us that he, "was just and devout." Can we say that Simeon had received the Logos and the Rhema?
I wonder what his days were like. I'm sure there were days of routine, his work, family, regular times in synagogue/Temple gatherings, yet in it all there was the looking, wondering, "Is this the One?" One thing for sure: He did not quit on his looking for and longing for, "the Coming One."
Now the question comes to you and me. Are we still in a "looking" and "longing" mode? Or, have we given up," looking for this blessed hope"? The last Word of Jesus' Olivet Discourse is, "Watch!" In this One Word is a warning and the encouragement of expectation, the warning given in the three parables of Matthew 25, and the expectation of the great culmination Event of this present age, our Lord Jesus' Second Appearing.
Go about your daily "stuff" the rest of this day------- the rest of your life. But I so encourage you to join me in participating, as did Simeon, in the daily, "Watch!" The One Who appeared to Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, Simeon and Anna is the One Who will appear the second time; only it will be a different appearing. No, "feeding trough," this time, no, "How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given." This Second Appearing of the Babe of Bethlehem will be, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray in the Holy Spirit that You keep me and my friend as Simeon who ever was on, "Watch!" Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
