Let me read you part of the Christmas story - a part that people seldom read -- It's the part that comes after the shepherds and the angels - after the manger scene - after that amazing few days is over.
When the baby Jesus was 8 days old..as was Jewish tradition..they took their first born boy to be circumcised and dedicated at the Temple..
Luke 2:25-35 - "Now there was a man named Simeon who lived in Jerusalem. He was a righteous man and very devout. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he eagerly expected the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 'Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!'
Joseph and Mary were amazed at what was being said about Jesus. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, 'This child will be rejected by many in Israel, and it will be their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy to many others. Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.'"
Now, this story is important on a number of fronts..It's one of the first prophecies being fulfilled in the young life of Jesus. It was a strong encouragement and clarification to Joseph and Mary that all that the angel had said was true..And it again shows that Jesus' parents were clearly gonna raise Jesus in Jewish tradition..But beyond all the obvious - what do you see when you hear about Simeon?
V. 25-28: - "Now there was a man named Simeon who lived in Jerusalem. He was a righteous man and very devout. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he eagerly expected the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple.
So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God."
Old man - very devout Jew - an elder in the church -- Another translation says "He spent his life waiting in prayerful expectancy for the Messiah to come." It also said he was led in his life by the Holy Spirit - He was so connected to God day to day that he would recognize the inner voice as God spoke to him.
So we have an old man whose complete aim spiritually was to follow God close enough for his whole life so that he might see the Messiah - the Christ - the Savior of his people -- before he died. In his mind seeing Jesus was the ultimate because he knew what it meant. That God would no longer be far away - But God had come near...
See, Simeon knew that not only he had been waiting his whole life for Jesus, but his people Israel had been waiting for centuries..Listen to these words form the Jewish prophet Isaiah written hundreds of years before..
Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7 - "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light -a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow.For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this!"
Simeon and his family had been waiting for centuries for the Messiah..and then the gift was in front of him. Listen to his response to God..
Luke 2:28-32 - "He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 'Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!'"
God..you can take me home - I trust that you are faithful to your promises - I trust that you are faithful in leading my life - I trust that you are faithful in providing an eternal light and love to this world, to all people through Jesus.
Here's the key - Simeon was waiting his whole life..to receive a gift that would last. A gift that would change the world. A gift that would provide salvation and grace to all people. And when he caught a glimpse of Jesus -- Simeon recognized the significance of what God was doing when He sent Jesus..A whole life spent..living by faith - waiting to see eternity..Waiting for a gift that would last forever..Jesus.
So that's a nice Christmas story - Dean..Where are you going with it? (Stick with me.)
I heard another story this week about things that last..
Rocks - water
So - how do we, this Christmas, start thinking thoughts and doing actions and living lives that will last? 'Cause here's the deal - I want to live my life in such a way that it will last - it will make an impact - it will make a difference. And I'm sure all of you do too..We all want life to be fulfilling and meaningful. We all want to live with a sense of destiny and calling and to know that when we take our last breath..somehow we have not lived in vain. George Bernard Shaw poem.
Well folks..let me tell you what I've been thinking about when it comes to things that last and this Christmas season and living a life that matters..
1. Tie/connect your life to eternity.
When I re-read the Christmas story over and over again this week..the simplicity of it really got to me. Every one of the people in the story were either looking for the Messiah or just walking with God closely enough to hear Him when He called..Doesn't seem all that complex..Just walking through life humbly connected to God..
nothing else stands out about them. Yet those are the people God used to usher His Son into the world.
A teenage girl - humble, poor and faithful.
A carpenter.
A few star-dazed shepherds.
A searching wise man or 3 - looking for a sign.
Simeon - an old man - who heard God's promise and believed.
Every one of the people in this story..had one thing in common. They were humbly walking with God - doing what they were supposed to - living their lives..And God chose them to make a difference..
So here's what I'm thinking. If you want your life to last - to have eternal elements to it - I don't think it matters who you are, where you came from, what you do for a living, what state your bank account is in, how well you think you're doing in life or in your marriage or in your parenting or in your career. I don't think it matters what family you came from or whether you feel good about that history or not..I also don't think it matters how dark or messy or seedy or sad your past is..What matters is this - Are you walking with God today? Is your heart tuned into Him? Are you listening for His voice? Are you living in such a way so your soul is quiet and still enough to hear Him? What matters is - the direction/motivation of your heart. And is it centered on following Jesus Christ?
A friend of mine and I were talking the other day about money and business and life and stuff..
And I asked this - Do you ever think about dying? I mean what you'll do with your money when you die. And my point was not to do estate planning..My point was we - (he and I and all of us) - should be living our lives with one eye on eternity..and should be asking the question - Is how I'm living and what I'm doing with my time and money and energy and motivation for life..making an eternal impact. Is my life devoted to Jesus Christ? Is my life lived in step with His plan every day?
And my thought was for each of us this Christmas..If you want your life to make sense and have direction and if you want to rise above the things that you're doing or living for that are gonna fade, then get connected. Before you go to bed tonight, pray for God's hand in your life - tell Him you're more open now than you ever have been -- Then before your feet hit the floor tomorrow morning, tell Him that again. Say "God lead me - direct me - change me - build me - make me into the person you want me to be."
People - hear this. If you want your life to make a difference and to last, then get connected with eternity.
Your relationship with Jesus Christ is the only thing that will outlast you. Nothing lasts forever except for you and Jesus.
2. Connect your family to eternity.
Just a couple thoughts here..
Establish traditions - Last week we talked about memories..and some of you told your memories of Christmas - ice skating and family moments and food and carol singing..Well, since I was a child something very sad has happened to families. We don't have time to make memories. The world we live in is speeding up faster and faster and there isn't enough time, it seems, to get everything done - let alone grow memories into our kids. This Christmas, slow something down long enough to establish a great tradition - because great traditions turn into great memories. Here's a few suggestions..
i) Get creative.
ii) Make it simple.
iii) Shut off the noise.
iv) Grow faith.
3. Connect others to eternity.
1 Corinthians 13:7-8 - "Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
If you want to life your life in a lasting, difference-making, destiny-chasing kinda way, then I would suggest this..Find a way to put love into action this Christmas. And it isn't just doing something nice for someone. Here's how it works..When you are connected to Jesus Christ and living in step with Him every day..When you are in a daily walking relationship with Jesus -- His love and light will fill you up - there's no question of that. And it's from that overflow of love and life and light and eternity given to us that we in turn pass it along to other people he brings across our path. That's how the whole thing works. The Apostle Paul put it like this -- "Christ's love compels me."
Here are a couple ideas:
i) Find someone close.
ii) Find someone in need. |
