The Defining Moment

Luke 2:21-40

We're less than a day away from the New Year. Do you feel the anticipation--or dread, depending on your point of view—growing inside of your soul?

I heard one guy say he already dreads the new year. He said, "The holidays aren't quite over and already I'm about 90 days ahead on my calories and 90 days behind on my bills." Some of you can identify with him.

We all know that the calendar did not come down from above. It was established by human minds. In fact, around 40 calendars are still in use today, but the main calendars used around the world are the Gregorian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Chinese, Julian, and Persian calendars. When we lived in Malaysia people celebrated New Year's Days in the Gregorian (the most used calendar), the Islamic, Hindu, and Chinese New Year. It was a retailer’s dream. There is no real reason why one day on the calendar, for that matter what calendar is used, should bear more significance than any other day of the year. Yet still we invest the changing of the year with a great deal of meaning. It is a time of hope, of planning, of vision-casting, to use a business buzzword. And, of course, it is a time for resolutions. Ready or not, it is time to set yourself on a course of self-improvement.

I like a list of resolutions prepared by the Rev. Walter Schoedel. He calls them 7-UPS FOR THE NEW YEAR. No, this has nothing to do with the soft drink 7-Up. These 7-UPS fall under the heading of attitudes and actions.

1.    The first is WAKE UP--Begin the day with the Lord. It is His day. Rejoice in it.

2.    The second is DRESS-UP--Put on a smile. It improves your looks. It says something about your attitude.

3.    The third is SHUT-UP--Watch your tongue. Don't gossip. Say nice things. Learn to listen.

4.    The fourth is STAND-UP--Take a stand for what you believe. Resist evil. Do good.

5.    Five, LOOK-UP--Open your eyes to the Lord. After all, He is your only Savior.

6.    Six, REACH-UP--Spend time in prayer with your adorations, confessions, thanksgivings and supplications to the Lord.

7.    And finally, LIFT-UP--Be available to help those in need--serving, supporting, and sharing. [1]

If you're going to make New Year's resolutions this year, let me suggest Rev. Schoedel's list.

The question is why do people feel compelled to make New Year's resolutions in the first place? And why do we feel we need to on January 1 set new goals? It may be because resolutions can help us to identify our priorities. Perhaps resolutions answer the question: “How do I want to invest my time, energy, money, and talents in this new year?” As I age each new year reminds me that time is passing. It is up to each of us to realize the potential of every moment. Psalm 90:12 (NRSV): “So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.”

Someone wrote some thought-provoking words on the meaning of time: To realize the value of "one month" ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of "one week" ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of "one hour," ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of "one minute," ask the person who missed the train. To realize the value of "one second," ask the person who just avoided being hit by a car. To realize the value of "one millisecond," ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics. [2]

The coming of the new year forces us to determine what will be our priorities this year. This is something both individuals need to do and something organizations like our church need to do. I referred to an email in my Christmas Eve message that all pastors would like to receive. It said: “Pastor, my last few years have been empty and held no hope. Then I discovered this church, where I am loved, lifted, and given the word of God. Here I can relax, learn, and receive the fellowship of others. Thank you." It was signed “A lost sheep now found." My desire for First Presbyterian Church of London is for us to be a church where people are loved, lifted, and given the word of God. Where people can relax, learn, and receive the fellowship of others. I want this to be a place, to borrow the words of Cheers, “where everybody knows my name.”  If we create a place where people can satisfy the hunger in their human hearts for an experience with God, we won’t have room for everyone. I would like to cast a vision for our church in 2024 that I believe will determine what should be our priorities in 2024 and beyond.

Simeon, the central figure in today's Bible passage, didn't have to ask what are going to be his priorities himself this new year. His New Year's resolution was the same every year: to wait for the Messiah.

Years ago, author J. C. Ryle wrote these words: "A zealous man or woman in religion," writes Ryle, "is pre-eminently a person of one thing . . .They only see one thing, they care for one thing, they live for one thing, they are swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. Whether they live, or whether they die--whether they have health or whether they have sickness--whether they are rich or whether they are poor . . . for all this the zealous person cares nothing at all. [3]

"They live for one thing, and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God's glory. If they are consumed in the very burning, they care not for it--they are content. They feel that, like a lamp, they are made to burn; and if consumed in burning, they have but done the work for which God appointed them." [4]

Simeon lived for one thing. This was his passion--to greet the coming Messiah.

In the Hollywood movie, THE TIN CUP, golf pro Roy McAvoy calls it "the defining moment." McAvoy, played by actor Kevin Costner is a happy-go-lucky, underachieving golf pro who finds himself miraculously playing in the U.S. Open. Tied for the lead on the final day of the tournament, he faces a critical decision on a very difficult shot on the last hole: take a big risk, go for the green, and win, or play it safe, make par, and force a playoff. Risk it all or play it safe?

This is a defining event for Roy. In fact, Roy uses his favorite expression to sum up his situation: "Define the moment or the moment defines you."

Roy is a risk-taker. He always has been, and probably he always will be. Sometimes he has won; sometimes he has lost--sometimes badly. But he spurns the idea of playing it safe. And this time is no exception--he goes for the green. This is who he is. He can do no other and be true to himself.[5]

Simeon was zealous for only one thing. Only one purpose in life. His only focus in prayer was “When will I see God?” It was his first thought upon rising and his last thought upon lying down.

In the book of Jeremiah, chapter 29, the Lord tells His people, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29: 13) And many centuries later Jesus would echo this sentiment when he said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matthew 5: 6 and 8)

Our Bible passage tells us that Simeon was “righteous and devout. He is Spirit Filled. He had been blessed with a special assurance from the Holy Spirit: that he would not die before he had seen the coming Messiah. Luke 2:25 …and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.”

Many of us aged 65 and above face the future with anxiety. We may fear failing health, shrinking resources, and social isolation. Some of us have reached our senior years only to face the question – now what do I do? Their personal goals have been met. Our socially ascribed roles are no longer suitable. Our life dwindles to a period of uncertainty and waiting. Only we are not sure what we are waiting for, perhaps death?

This was not the case with Simeon. Because of the Holy Spirit's promise to him, he could face the future with hope and joy. For Simeon retirement wasn’t even an option.

Composer Oscar Hammerstein once claimed, "I just can't write anything without hope in it."[6] Remember these lyrics from the musical Oklahoma: "Oh, what a beautiful morning, Oh, what a beautiful day! I've got a glorious feeling. Everything's going my way."

In his show South Pacific, one of the songs contains these words: "I'm stuck like a dope/ With a thing called hope, And I can't get it out of my heart."

I think that was Simeon's theme song: "I'm stuck like a dope with a thing called hope, and I can't get it out of my heart." Hope for what? Hope that he would see God in the flesh! He wanted to see the Lord's power glory and mercy in person. He hoped he would see God's ultimate plan for His chosen people. He is Waiting for the consolation of Israel. This phrase describes the heart-felt attitude that faithful Israelites had toward the Messiah. He would bring COMFORT to his people.   “Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” Isaiah 40:1-2 (NRSV)

 “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on his suffering ones.” (Isa 49:13)

Simeon was waiting FAITHFULLY. He Came to the Temple every day. Child after child would come to be presented. Simeon was WATCHING for the Messiah. He was WAITING for the Messiah. Can you put yourself in Simeon’s place? God told him that he would see the Messiah before he died, but now he is getting old and God’s promise has not yet been fulfilled. At what point does your faith begin to fail? You grow tired of waiting. Simeon’s faith remained strong and the Lord fulfilled his word. He waited with great patience.

And thus, the stage is set for Simeon's defining moment. He is in the courtyard of the Temple, and he sees a humble young couple. Nothing was distinguishing about this couple--except for the squirming baby in their arms. There is nothing about the baby that we know of that distinguishes it from other babies, but somehow old Simeon knows this is the one he has been awaiting. He walks up to the poor couple, takes their squirming baby boy from their arms, and announces that he has finally seen Christ.

Listen to Simeon's declaration: " 29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31  which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. Luke 2:29–32."

Simeon sings a song that praises God and addresses Simeon’s long wait, and the blessing that would come to Israel and the Gentiles through the Messiah’s birth. He asks the Lord to “Let your servant depart in peace.” This is a military term used to describe the dismissal of a soldier after his duty is finished. Simeon’s wait was over. The Messiah was born so now Simeon can die in peace. Now he could be dismissed.

" Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace. . ." Have you ever thought about what Simeon's life was like after he saw Jesus? The Bible doesn't give us any details. For all we know, Simeon may have died a happy man that very afternoon. Or he may have lived for a few more years. What was his life like after that? He had seen the Lord's promise of salvation. He had found perfect peace. There was certainly no more anxiety in Simeon's future. He had seen Jesus.

As John Donne so perfectly put it: "I shall not live till I see God. And when I have seen Him, I shall never die."[7]

Simeon would not live to see this baby grow up. He would not see him be baptized, or teach the Sermon on the Mount, heal the sick, or raise the dead. He would not meet his disciples or personally witness his death and resurrection. But Simeon knew that God’s plan was being fulfilled.

There is a Hebrew word for the emotion Simeon felt on that day. According to Pastor Lloyd John Ogilvie, the Hebrew word SHALOM carries both the meaning of peace and of salvation. [8]

In a tiny baby, Jesus, Simeon found shalom. His life was complete. An encounter with Jesus will do that. And here's the Good News: you and I can have the shalom that changed Simeon's life 2,000 years ago. You and I can also find peace and salvation.

Pastor Tom Rakow was making his way home from the hospital. He was driving over snowy, slippery roads when he came across a car stalled in a snowbank. Spotting a man in the passenger's seat, Pastor Tom pulled over to help.

The man's name was John, and he was suffering from cancer in his chest. Tom noted that John was listening to a religious program on the radio, and he felt compelled to ask him if he knew Jesus as his Savior.

John turned to look at Tom and said, "I've been trying to find God--but I don't know how." And so Tom explained how Christ came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost. And he invited John to allow Christ to take residence in his heart. And John did. Afterward, he remarked to Tom, "I've been waiting for you--for a long time!"

A month later, Tom was invited to John's funeral. There he learned that John had lost his voice soon after their encounter on a snowy road. Although many of his family had been praying that he would come to know Jesus, John had been unable to tell them of his experience. And so Pastor Tom Rakow was able to tell John's family that their prayers had been answered--before his death, John had come to know the Master.[9]

"Sovereign Lord," prayed Simeon, "as you have promised, you may 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 glory to your people Israel . . ."Do you want to face the New Year with Shalom--peace and salvation? Before we leave the Christmas season behind, you are invited to look into the face of the Christ Child one last time and to see there your hope for this year and every year. May this be your defining moment?