Waiting For A Promise

I loved my Pop-Pop.
I was thinking about him when I was on my morning walk.
Patient with me, though not with everyone else.

We seemed to understand each other.
Kindred spirits as Anne of Green Gables would say.
He took a keen interest in everything that interested me.

He helped me learn to write my name.
He worked with me to help me learn all of my letters.
He liked to hear me read to him.

Before DVD and DVR, or the days of Netflix, there was network television.
Favorite movies would be shown seasonally.
You had to check the schedule to see when they would air.

A favorite of ours was the Wizard of Oz.
It was our time; sitting on the sofa together, waiting for Dorothy and Auntie Em.
All work and writing and practicing letters were laid aside.

In my young girl’s mind, I knew that my grandfather’s health was failing.
There were milestones he wanted to see.
Many of those milestones pertained to me.

Even between hospital visits, he would say, I’m not going anywhere until Regina…
Fill in the blanks; it didn’t matter.
He wanted to see as much of my young life as he could.

To be loved that much is a gift.
What would I do without you? he would say.
Who would be my movie partner?
He meant it.

God graciously allowed my grandfather to live to see many of the milestones he set.
One of the last photographs I have of him is one of him on our back porch.
He is looking in my direction; watching me with a tender smile on his face.

I’m not going anywhere until Regina_______.

There was another such man.

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise Him, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it was written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons”. Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God saying, “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about Him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce you own soul, too.” (Luke 2:21-32)

Simeon knew that the Messiah was coming into the world.
He held onto the promise that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ.
The Holy Spirit directed Simeon to Mary and Joseph and the child.

Through the Holy Spirit, Simeon knew that this child, Jesus, was the One he waited for.
Simeon was used to listening to God.
Simeon didn’t miss Jesus when He came into the temple.

Imagine waiting your whole life for the promised Messiah.
Imagine believing God without questions.
Imagine knowing you would not die until God’s promise was fulfilled.

Faith in the Old Testament was waiting.
Faith in the New Testament is following.

Simeon had a foot in both worlds.
He waited patiently for God’s promise to be fulfilled.
He followed the Holy Spirit’s leading right to the promised Christ.

Waiting and following.
How good are we at either?

Imagine Simeon’s contentment.
Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
Simeon was now able to put both feet firmly on the ground, standing on the Promise.

Patient faith.
Waiting faith.
Following faith.
True joy in the fulfillment.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!