25 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. (Luke 2:25-26 CSB)
I love me a short cut. When I am in a hurry there is nothing better than finding a way to my end faster than finding some way to get around traffic, through busy streets, cuts off miles, you name it.
In many other ways we look for short cuts in life. But when it comes to God there are not a lot of short cuts. You see, God works in His own time and often we wait so that we might grow.
In Simeon’s case he had been told that he would not die before seeing the Christ. What anticipation he must have felt waiting for this day. And what inexpressible joy he must have experienced upon seeing the child savior. Yes, his life may have been near its end at that point but the fulfillment of God’s promise and the knowledge that the Christ had finally come into the world were his reward.
We live in a society where instant gratification is the key to how we wish to live. The idea of waiting even a few days is difficult for us. Think of so many in the Bible who waited years and even decades to see God’s promises fulfilled.
There may be few short cuts with God, but His fulfilled promises are worth the wait.
