What Are You Waiting For?

Introduction

 

With all that has gone on in the world and that is going on, do you ever feel like you’re just holding still for it? Waiting for the next bad thing to happen, knowing that things are only going to get worse? Bracing yourself for it?

Now what?!

I know sometimes it feels like we’re just waiting for it to all be over.

Following through to its logical end one could have feelings of despair at times. Like, what’s the point?

The past few years have shown us how those things we’ve read in God’s word about the time of the end could actually take place, and within our lifetime. How does that make you feel? Scared? Anxious? Not ready? Excited?

Do we see things falling apart? Or do we see the pieces of God’s plan falling into place? Are we focused on the trials and tribulations that await us? Or are we earnestly, expectantly waiting for the return of Jesus Christ and the glory that awaits us in the Kingdom of God?

It comes down to –

“What Are You Waiting For?”

 

Are we looking out over the horizon for the evil that is mounting? Or are we looking out over the horizon for the rising of the bright and Morning Star? (Rev 22:16)

Where is your focus? What are you waiting for? The next onslaught of the wicked one or the return of Jesus Christ, the hope of glory?

Are your eyes fixed on the top of the mountain or wallowing in the muck and the mire of the climb?

Waiting For the Messiah

 

There are many references to the coming of the Messiah and the glorious Kingdom of God in the Bible

.

One was made by Jacob.

Gen 49:10 KJV  The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

 

Shiloh - He whose right it is or to Whom it belongs and a title anciently understood to speak of the Messiah.

All the rest of the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews chapter eleven looked toward that day –

Heb 11:13-16 KJV

(13)  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

(14)  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

(15)  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

(16)  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

 

They all waited for the Kingdom of God and Christ to appear. And even though having not seen them, they remained faithful to the end.

Are we putting all our hopes and dreams on a better country or trying to hold onto this one?

One who was such was Joseph of Arimathaea –

Mar 15:43 KJV  Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

 

“Waited” carries with it by implication to wait (with confidence or patience and endurance) and his confident assurance allowed him to go boldly unto Pilate.

 

The Story of Simeon

 

Another was a man named Simeon –

Luk 2:22-35 KJV

(22)  And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

(23)  (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) [Num 18:15]

(24)  And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. [Leviticus chapter 12]

(25)  And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

(26)  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

(27)  And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, [Num 18:15-16 five shekels]

 

(28)  Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God,

 

Simeon was a devout man, so he would have gone to the Temple regularly anyway. But on this day, this day would be different. The Spirit of God had revealed to him that on this day, he would finally see the Messiah!

 

Imagine! When he took the baby in his arms just imagine the joy in his heart and on his face as he held the Messiah, the One long awaited, and looked into his little face.

 

and said,

(29)  Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

(30)  For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, [I can now die in peace]

(31)  Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

(32)  A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. [Simeon knew even then that Christ came not just to the Jew but also to the Gentile. How did he know that?]

(33)  And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

(34)  And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; [a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense Isa 8:14]

(35)  (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

[It doesn’t say he was a prophet but, he prophesied]

 

I wonder how that made Mary feel? It says she marveled but this last verse must also have given her a sense of dread as well.

What do we know about Simeon? As he waited for that day, how did he act? What kind of man was he? Did he lie around moping about the state of affairs his country was in? Did he get distraught about the Roman soldiers trampling over their rights and all that was held sacred? Did he wallow about in the oppression just holding still, waiting for the next infringement on their freedoms?

What do we know about Simeon? What kind of man was he?

 

Simeon was a just man

 

He lived in Jerusalem. Jewish tradition tells us he was most likely an older man. And he was a just man. What is a just man? We can find out by looking at what it says about another just man.

Noah was a just man, one of only two men that the Old Testament tells us explicitly that he walked with God. (Enoch was the other)

Gen 6:9 KJV  These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Gen 7:1 KJV  And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

 

Same Hebrew word is used in both places, just and righteous, meaning he was righteous in his character, his cause, and his conduct. Simeon was lawful and righteous in how he governed his affairs. And he walked with God.

 

Simeon was a devout man

 

What is a devout man?

He was careful, and meticulous in his reverence for God, circumspect, pious, devout.

There were devout Jews that took part in Pentecost. (Acts 2:5)

There were devout men that carried Stephen to his grave and buried him after he was stoned to death. (Acts 8:2)

Cornelius the centurion, a Gentile, was described as a devout man.

Act 10:1-4 KJV

(1)  There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

(2)  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

(3)  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

(4)  And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

 

Simeon, like Cornelius, was a devout man. He revered God. He was a generous man. He prayed to God. God heard his prayers. He didn’t have an angel appear to him because he had God’s Spirit upon him to reveal God’s message. And God made a pact with him that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah. He was a devout man, devoted to God.

What else does it say about Simeon?

 

Simeon Waited For the Consolation

 

And what did Simeon spend a great deal of time in his devotions doing?

It says he was waiting for the consolation of Israel.

“the consolation of Israel”

“the consolation” – the paraklēsis (par-ak'-lay-sis)

The nation of Israel had been conquered and the people were under the tyrannical government of Rome. They were no longer a free people to come and go as they pleased. They were subjects of the Emperor, subject to his whims and his edicts.

Under those conditions, they were longing, yearning to breathe freely. They were a learned people, though it was mostly by oral tradition. Most were not a studied people, meaning they had limited access to the written law of Torah. But they knew the Messiah was to come. They had heard the seventy weeks prophecy of Daniel.

And they had an expectant anticipation of the Messiah’s arrival. One who would console them and comfort them and give them solace.

“Consolation” is just such a word. They waited for the consolation of Israel.

If they were to be consoled, if they were to be brought consolation and comfort, it was the Messiah who was to be the Bringer. It was Jesus who was to send the Comforter from the Father to the nation of Israel, the Israel of God.

 

Joh 14:15-18 KJV

(15)  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

(16)  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, [the paraklētos] that he may abide with you for ever;

(17)  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

(18)  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

 

You don’t have to go there but in 1Cor 2:14, it tells us –  

The world around us cannot receive this comfort, this Comforter, because they just don’t see it. It is foolishness to them because it is spiritually discerned.

 

The consolation that Israel longed for, the comfort they yearned for was to be brought by the Comforter. The paraklēsis was to be brought by the paraklētos.

 

Simeon, a devout man, understood this. He anticipated it with eager excitement. He understood that this little baby was to be the consolation of Israel, but not by overthrow of the oppressive Roman government by a conquering Messiah (at least not yet). But Simeon knew he was set for a fall first.

What else did we learn about Simeon?

 

Simeon had the Holy Spirit upon him

 

He had the Holy Spirit upon him, such that things were revealed to him by the Spirit, and he was led by the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit was upon him. Not only had he read the prophecies of the long-awaited Messiah but the Holy Spirit of God revealed to him that he would not die until he had personally seen the Messiah face to face!

The Holy Spirit led him to the temple on that day that Jesus was brought there by his parents, Joseph and Mary.

Of course, he would have visited the temple regularly but on this particular day, he was led by the Spirit to be there. This day was different. Imagine! He knew this was the day he would see the Messiah he had longed for. I can imagine on that day, he hurried to the Temple a little faster, maybe even ran. I can see him running up to everyone and asking them if they had seen a young woman with a baby, searching for the One he had been told by God would come.

So, the Holy Spirit was upon him and he believed and heeded what it revealed to him and led him to do.

Just imagine! He was told that he would not die until the Consolation of Israel, the Messiah, had arrived. We don’t know how old he was when it was revealed to him. We don’t know how old he was when he went to the temple on that day. Be we do know that as he waited he earnestly anticipated the event. He longingly, groaningly waited for that day.

 

Simeon waited

 

He waited for the consolation of Israel with patience.

The word “wait” is an interesting word.

We wait for a lot of things. We wait in line at the bank or at the grocery store. We wait for time to leave for church. We wait for a child to be born.

When we eat out at a restaurant, we are served by a waiter. So, the word “wait” can mean more than just idly standing by, but also serving.

One could ask, Are you a waiter? Simeon was.

In this context, it carries with it too the element of a certain attitude or a state of mind. Simeon was not just idly biding his time. This was the Messiah he waited for. This was no small incidental occurrence. He waited for the appearance of the One who would save Israel! And it was certain to happen. It was revealed to him by God Himself through His Holy Spirit. It wasn’t something that maybe it would happen, maybe not. The Great God of the Universe, the Living God, had revealed it to him personally! It was a sure thing!

And while he waited, he served the LORD. He was just. He was devout. He heard and heeded the leanings of God’s Holy Spirit. He had a blessed hope, a certainty grounded in God’s word, the revelation that he would live to see the Messiah, the consolation of Israel.

Remember where Simeon lived at the time, in Jerusalem. Jerusalem and all Judea was occupied territory. It was ruled by the Roman Army under the control of the Emperor in Rome. They were a captured people.

And yet, despite his circumstance, he was just and devout and eagerly anticipated the appearance of the Messiah. A lesson for us today.

So, we could say that Simeon was upright in all his ways, with reverence for God, praying to God. He had a relationship with God. And he was actively serving his LORD.

 

Simeon provides for us a model of how one should wait. How does one wait for the King of the Universe? What lessons can we learn from Simeon who waited for the Messiah as we do the same and wait for His return?

As this world continues its plummet into darkness and we view the coming oppression just over the horizon, what should be our attitude, our mindset, while we wait for Jesus’ return?

When we find ourselves in “occupied territory”, can we cultivate the mindset of Simeon? Can we be like Simeon? We too have a hope grounded in the certainty of the word of God! He is coming! His return is a sure thing!

We too will see the Messiah!

 

Be Like Simeon

 

They waited for the Messiah then. We wait for the Messiah now.

If you’re feeling a sense of despair, like you’re just holding still for it and bracing for the wrath that God will send on this nation and the earth, I challenge you to change your thoughts from despair to hope:

Be like Simeon –

Just and Devout

 

Be just in all your conversation, your conduct.

Be diligent to make your calling and election sure. (2 Pet 1:10)

Be disciplined as a “disciple” of Christ should be.

Be devoted to God, seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness. (Mat 6:33)

 

Waiting with great and earnest anticipation

 

Picture –

-       Children waiting for their birthday to come, anticipating presents and cake, we anticipate our reward, a crown of righteousness. (2 Tim 4:8; Rev 22:12)

-       Waiting for a baby to be born and the joy of  holding that long-awaited son or daughter. To be held ourselves by Christ like a little child.

-       We say things like, “I can’t wait” for such and such to happen we’re so excited knowing full well we have no other choice. But knowing it’s a certainty.

-       Waiting to see your sweetheart after departing on a long trip. With tears in our eyes, joy in our heart, and a big smile on our face when you’re reunited.

We also wait for things without a fixed end in sight, of an unknown timeframe – the healing of a disease, escape from a difficult situation. We hope for the relief that will come when it’s over. And like the return of Christ, the consolation.

 

Rom 8:18-25 KJV

(18)  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

(19)  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

(20)  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

(21)  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

(22)  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

(23)  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

(24)  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

(25)  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

 

Very simply stated, what this means is that, where we have a confident expectation of something, that hope or confidence gives us the patience to wait for it.

On the other hand, even as patience is associated with hope, by implication the loss of hope means impatience. When we have no hope, both waiting and tribulations become meaningless to us, and we cannot then patiently endure them. We see this behavior all around us today.

But we who are the firstfruits have an earnest expectation, even groaning, waiting for the redemption, the consolation.

For the Christian, hope is a confirmation of the belief in the sovereign plan for the future by our all-powerful God. And by that, we have the faith and strength to carry on through trials and tribulations waiting patiently.

 

Patience of the Saints

 

Rom 5:1-5 KJV

(1)  Therefore being justified G1344 by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

The word “justified” here means rendered or regarded as “just” like we read Simeon was a just G1342 man.

 

(2)  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

(3)  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;G5281 (hupomonē)

The Greek word used here for patience is G5281 (hupomonē) and means a cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: patient continuance (waiting).

 

(4)  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

(5)  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

 

Justification means we have peace with God, a clear conscience before God, and gives us a firm and fixed hope. It teaches us to glory in tribulations, not in the tribulations themselves, but in their effects.

Tribulation worketh patience, indicating patience is formed by a habit of endurance, a cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: patient continuance (waiting). It’s not just holding still for it but a cheerful and hopeful constancy.

It is a cheerful, hopeful waiting for the consolation, the paraklēsis from God.

 

2Co 1:3-7 KJV

(3)  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; (paraklēsis)

(4)  Who comforteth (parakaleō) us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

(5)  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

(6)  And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation (paraklēsis) and salvation, which is effectual in the enduringG5281 (hupomonē) of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

(7)  And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

 

Though we may endure hardship, even oppression, we shall be partakers also of the consolation. Enduring does not mean just holding still for it.

Look at –

Rom 2:6-7 KJV

(6)  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

(7)  To them who by patient continuance G5281 (hupomonē) in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

 

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Gal 6:9)

 

And this patient continuance in well doing during tribulation results in experience, meaning as we carry on, and our faith is tested we develop experience. Through this experience we develop a progressively stronger hope, a greater confidence in moving into the future under God.

 

So, we wait patiently, cheerfully with hope in our hearts, enduring the tribulations that build our faith and trust in God and be not weary in well doing and we will be partakers in the consolation at the second coming of Christ.

In terms of Romans 8:28, we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

Do you believe that you were called according to His purpose? We all were. And if so, doesn’t that imply you’re meant to be here now, for such a time as this? (Est 4:14) Then why despair? We’re not here by accident.

Very explicitly, we are told that those who have this kind of patience, this cheerful and hopeful endurance, are those who “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

 

Rev 14:12 KJV  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

 

This patience means that we believe God’s Law and His promises and rest in His assurance.

Col 2:2 KJV  That their hearts might be comforted, G3870parakaleō being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; (“mystery” - see also Col 1:17)

 

 

Waiting For His Second Coming

 

How should we live in this present age? (2 Pet 3:11)

 

Tit 2:11-15 KJV

(11)  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

(12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

(13)  Looking for [same word as waiting] that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

(14)  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

(15)  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

 

Hope of Glory

 

Every culture represents a hope, or a loss of hope. Man in society organizes himself in terms of an expectation concerning life and the future, and, as long as hope survives, the culture is alive and growing.

Civilizations crumble when men lose hope.

The apostle Paul spoke of this aspect of the life of unbelievers –

(Eph 2:12 KJV) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

 

To be without God is finally to be without a valid hope and to be aliens and strangers from God’s promises. We see evidence of this in our culture today.

Civilizations crumble when men lose hope.

But we have a lively hope! (1 Pet 1:3) Our patience is not blind submission to a meaningless universe marked by hopelessness and a despair of life, just holding still for it. Biblical patience is radically different.

Biblical patience is inseparable from hope; it means waiting with a confident expectation, that the future holds a great reward and an assured fulfilment.

Our hope is as solid as the rock upon which that hope is based. And that Rock is Christ, Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col 1:27)

Christ is the rock on which our hope is based. Our hope is as sure as that Rock. We have no reason to despair, no reason for a stoic endurance, just holding still for it, bracing for the next wave. We have reason for a joyous hope, a favorable and confident expectation.

 

Rom 15:4-7 KJV

(4)  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

(5)  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

(6)  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(7)  Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

 

Those who were written of aforetime –

 

Jacob

Joseph of Arimathaea

The heroes of Hebrews chapter 11

And Simeon.

Be like Simeon. Like Simeon, but waiting for Christ to hold us in His arms instead of the other way around.

 

 

Luk 21:25-28 KJV

(25)  And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

(26)  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

(27)  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

(28)  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads [with glorious hope and expectation, waiting]; for your redemption draweth nigh.

 

 

 

“They also serve who only stand and wait.” ~John Milton

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