The joy of kept promises

By Rob Hurtgen

Children's excitement for Christmas is hard to contain. They go to bed on Christmas Eve nearly bursting at the seams, waiting for the next morning. They can hardly wait to open presents, be with their family and receive the benefits from the stealthy and ever-elusive man in the red suit.

How does he get to all those houses in one night?

Waiting, while never pleasant, is as much a part of our 21st-century Christmas celebrations as it was for the very first Christmas.

There was one man in the New Testament, of whom very little is written, who knew what it was to wait for a promise that was made to be fulfilled.

That man's name is Simeon.

We read about Simeon from 10 short verses in Luke 2:25-35. He simply is described by the gospel writer as "righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel's consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him" (Luke 2:25).

What is attractive about Simeon is not these observed virtues, but how he waited on a promise given to him. The Lord promised Simeon he would see the Messiah before his days were over -- a promise he received and waited to be completed.

We do not know how long Simeon waited for this promise to be completed. Days, months, years, even decades could have passed between when the promise was made and when the promise was seen.

The relief Simeon expresses upon seeing the Messiah clues us in that however long chronologically his waiting was, emotionally and spiritually, it was a very long time.

The wonderful thing about promises is not in their making but in their keeping.

I have a friend who is a third-generation jeweler. According to him, this will be a very special Christmas for many couples, and I will be a very busy pastor in June.

Engagements are special, but they are only the prelude to the promised lifelong marriage.

The joys of promises made are in the completion of those promises.

Simeon was promised he would see the Messiah before he departed. This promise was fulfilled. He rejoiced greatly.

God has made many promises in his word to those who will receive them.

That is the heart of the Christmas message. A promise made, a promise kept, and now, will the promised one be received.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year.