Luke 2:26
It has been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Messiah.
I don't know about your family traditions but for my family there is nothing more exciting than Christmas Eve family and friends filling homes with love and laughter. The presents that we have lovingly chosen and wrapped will finally be opened. All of our planning and preparation has brought us here, and now we wait that final night with anticipation. Each year on Christmas Eve my family watches The Muppet Christmas Carol and as they sing the song “Only one more sleep till Christmas” I get the goose bumps each year!
Simeon was no stranger to anticipation. The Holy Spirit promised him that he would not die before seeing the Christ. He probably woke up each morning thinking, today could be the day! Every day he continued to draw breath, he waited to see the promised Messiah. That, my friends, is a life filled to the brim with anticipation.
Just as Simeon longed for Jesus’ coming, we now long for him to come again. We see promises of his return all throughout scripture. Revelation tells us that he is currently on his way, bringing justice and a new world (22:12) We live with the knowledge that not only will he come someday, but that he has coming into our life and into our world each and every day. How exciting is that?
For those of us who long for his final appearing, our days are filled with anticipation. A day is no longer just another 24-hour period filled with tasks or errands to run. For us, every night can be like Christmas Eve. Let's greet each new day with great anticipation knowing that Jesus has arrived and could arrive again at any moment.