Advent Hope
“Do you like waiting? Waiting in line? Waiting for traffic? Waiting for the kids. Waiting on your spouse? Maybe you’re waiting for that dream job. Or you’re waiting while you dream of getting out of that job.
Perhaps you’re waiting for healing…a touch from the Almighty. Or waiting to hear his voice. Waiting for direction. Or waiting due to His inaction. To change something in your life or the life of someone you know. To change the laws of the land or the culture of the day. You wait for a life changed, a soul to be saved.
What are you waiting for?
Perhaps you’re waiting for healing…a touch from the Almighty. Or waiting to hear his voice. Waiting for direction. Or waiting due to His inaction. To change something in your life or the life of someone you know. To change the laws of the land or the culture of the day. You wait for a life changed, a soul to be saved.
What are you waiting for?
It sure is hard to hope for something and have to endure while you wait. How long Lord? How long until you answer or move? Ever been there? You’re not alone.
Proverbs 13:12
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
The writer in Proverbs seems to agree that waiting a long time for something makes you sick but when it is fulfilled it brings renewal and life.
For over 400 years the Israelites waited. Waited in abject humiliation. Waited as the once mighty and beautiful nation of Israel slowly eroded by other powers stronger and mightier than them. The people were subjected. Jerusalem now a shadow of its former self, the beauty of its faith tarnished and mocked.
They waited for a saviour but they had waited for so long. Will he ever come? Will we ever see it? Does God even see us anymore? Maybe we have it wrong. Maybe we’ll never see it. Their hearts, once filled with such hope, slowly brought into deep hearted sickness. Was there anyone who still hoped?
Proverbs 13:12
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
The writer in Proverbs seems to agree that waiting a long time for something makes you sick but when it is fulfilled it brings renewal and life.
For over 400 years the Israelites waited. Waited in abject humiliation. Waited as the once mighty and beautiful nation of Israel slowly eroded by other powers stronger and mightier than them. The people were subjected. Jerusalem now a shadow of its former self, the beauty of its faith tarnished and mocked.
They waited for a saviour but they had waited for so long. Will he ever come? Will we ever see it? Does God even see us anymore? Maybe we have it wrong. Maybe we’ll never see it. Their hearts, once filled with such hope, slowly brought into deep hearted sickness. Was there anyone who still hoped?
Luke 2:25-32
“There was a man in Jerusalem by the name of Simeon. He was a good man and very religious. He was looking for the time when the Jewish nation would be saved. The Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit made it known to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen God’s Chosen One. He came to the house of God being led by the Holy Spirit. The parents took Jesus to the house of God. They came to do what the Law said must be done. Then Simeon took Jesus in his arms. He gave honour to Him and thanked God, saying, ‘Lord, now let me die in peace, as You have said. My eyes have seen the One Who will save men from the punishment of their sins. You have made Him ready in the sight of all nations. He will be a light to shine on the people who are not Jews. He will be the shining-greatness of Your people the Jews.’”
Simeon had hope. He had a promise. Not only the promise of God through the prophets but a personal promise that He was coming soon. And boy, I think it filled his veins with life! It filled his heart with strength. His mind was focused. It wasn’t long now!
I bet every day he jumped out of bed in the morning, whistled in the shower, whipped on his robe and bound into the temple. Was it today? Was it right now? When will I see him, he must have asked himself. Giddy with joy he picked up every child and shook every hand.
“There goes Simeon again.” They said. “Doesn’t he know Israel is in shambles? Doesn’t he know it’s all over? The smoke of the altar has gotten to him, I think.”
But nope! Simeon had Hope and more than that, he had a longing. And it was about to be fulfilled.
“There was a man in Jerusalem by the name of Simeon. He was a good man and very religious. He was looking for the time when the Jewish nation would be saved. The Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit made it known to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen God’s Chosen One. He came to the house of God being led by the Holy Spirit. The parents took Jesus to the house of God. They came to do what the Law said must be done. Then Simeon took Jesus in his arms. He gave honour to Him and thanked God, saying, ‘Lord, now let me die in peace, as You have said. My eyes have seen the One Who will save men from the punishment of their sins. You have made Him ready in the sight of all nations. He will be a light to shine on the people who are not Jews. He will be the shining-greatness of Your people the Jews.’”
Simeon had hope. He had a promise. Not only the promise of God through the prophets but a personal promise that He was coming soon. And boy, I think it filled his veins with life! It filled his heart with strength. His mind was focused. It wasn’t long now!
I bet every day he jumped out of bed in the morning, whistled in the shower, whipped on his robe and bound into the temple. Was it today? Was it right now? When will I see him, he must have asked himself. Giddy with joy he picked up every child and shook every hand.
“There goes Simeon again.” They said. “Doesn’t he know Israel is in shambles? Doesn’t he know it’s all over? The smoke of the altar has gotten to him, I think.”
But nope! Simeon had Hope and more than that, he had a longing. And it was about to be fulfilled.
The first candle is aptly called the Hope candle. It represents the words of the prophets and the hope of the coming messiah. But as we light it today, let’s remember Simeon. Let’s remember he was given a promise, a renewed hope and so too have we.
A promise that the same Jesus that came in the form of a baby to fulfill prophecies, who lived and died and rose to life, will one day return to take us home in glory. It’s been over 2000 years, over four times what the Jews waited. When it gets tiring and your heart grows sick, remember that it’s not long now. Not only has God given you His written, prophetic word that he will come back, but like Simeon, he has personally revealed it to you when you met him and received him into your life. He keeps the hope alive through his spirit as you eagerly await his return.
So do you like waiting? Probably not. But like Simeon, let’s wait well. Let’s jump out of bed every morning, eagerly awaiting the Lord with great hope until that blessed day when we can say:
“Now Master you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you have promised. For my eyes have seen your salvation.”
A promise that the same Jesus that came in the form of a baby to fulfill prophecies, who lived and died and rose to life, will one day return to take us home in glory. It’s been over 2000 years, over four times what the Jews waited. When it gets tiring and your heart grows sick, remember that it’s not long now. Not only has God given you His written, prophetic word that he will come back, but like Simeon, he has personally revealed it to you when you met him and received him into your life. He keeps the hope alive through his spirit as you eagerly await his return.
So do you like waiting? Probably not. But like Simeon, let’s wait well. Let’s jump out of bed every morning, eagerly awaiting the Lord with great hope until that blessed day when we can say:
“Now Master you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you have promised. For my eyes have seen your salvation.”
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