THE FIRST AND SECOND WAITINGS

      
       " And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel . . . And to wait for His Son from heaven . . . (Luke 2:35; 1 Thess 1:10)

The posture of people of faith has always been one of "waiting" – waiting for the promise of God to be fulfilled; waiting for the consummate blessing. Simeon, a man of great age, is described as "waiting for the Consolation of Israel." The same attitude was found among others who are said to have been "looking for redemption in Jerusalem" (Lk 2:25). They knew God had promised to send One who would neutralize the effects of sin, destroy the enemy, and pave the way for unimaginable blessing. How long had men been waiting for this "Consolation" and "redemption?" This waiting had been in place for 4,000 years! Since Adam and Eve heard God tell the serpent of the coming triumph of the Seed of the woman, those with faith had been waiting. They were waiting in faith, not waiting in inactivity. Men like Abel and Enoch waited before the flood. Men like Job, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph waited after the flood and before the Law. Men like Moses, David, and the holy prophets waited after the Law. None of them doubted the coming of the "Consolation of Israel," or "redemption in Jerusalem." Even though they died without seeing what they were waiting for, they waited on in faith. For them, faith stood the test of time. They did not sit around speculating about if the Consolation was going to come, and how He would come. They "waited" patiently for the promise.
Those in Christ are also waiting - waiting for God's Son to return from heaven. They have only been waiting half as long as those who waiting for the initial appearance of the Savior – a trifling 2,000 years. How would anyone explain to Simeon the diminishment of hope over 2,000 years when he lived in a time when hope had flourished for 4,000 years? Simeon remained alert in his old age, was just and devout, and continued to patiently wait for the One who would console, comfort, and revive the people of God. It certainly would be good to have him speak in some of our churches – if they would give ear to him. He would not lecture to them about the conditions of society, or the trends, and fads in Jerusalem during the first century. He would tell us about "waiting for the consolation of Israel," assuring our hearts that our waiting is not in vain either. Anna could join in with a testimony of people who continued "looking for redemption in Jerusalem" during the reign of Herod. Ah, child of God, you have good reason to lift up your head and live in expectancy. Jesus is coming again. He said He was going to come. God has declared He is going to show Him in all His glory. Wait for Him!