Don't Die Till You See Jesus Series

DON’T DIE TILL YOU’VE SEEN JESUS

"It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ" (Luke 2: 26).

Simeon was his name. A man with a very common Jewish male name. A man that was not necessarily a young man, however he is not neccessarily to be considered an old man either. A man that did not belong to any leading religious sect or party of the day. He was not a priest. All that Scripture says of him is that he was righteous and devout. In other words he was a good man who lived a prayerful and thoughtful life. It seems that he lived in close communion with God through private and public worship, and as a result the Holy Spirit was upon him. He was just a very special kind of person whose spirituality is acknowledged by God.

Because of his spirituality and sensitivity he received special revelations from God and what a revelation to be given, that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. What a revelation! What a promise! Simeon would not die until he saw the Saviour of the world. As Matthew records for us, Simeon not only saw the baby Jesus, but held him in his arms. Prompted to go to the temple court at that time, Simeon ran into Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus. You can well imagine the delight on his face as he saw the child. The indication in Scripture is that Simeon had been patiently waiting for some time for this to take place. He knew what the prophetic word said and he knew what God had personally said to him. Now it was happening! He was a blessed man indeed.

At the first coming Simeon was given a promise that he would not die until he had seen Jesus. The truth is that God does not want any man to die before he has beheld the Saviour of the world. Peter the disciple states that Jesus’ second coming is delayed, because God does not want anyone to perish - to die without knowing Jesus Christ as Saviour (2 Peter 3: 9). The personal promise given to Simeon has been magnified into the personal desire of God for every person, that they will not die without coming to repentance.

Simeon is the first of many who have the privilege of dying with the knowledge of Christ as Saviour. Every person can die like Simeon in peace. And like Simeon the simple reason is that our eyes have seen your salvation (v. 30). We do not know how long Simeon lived after he saw the baby Jesus. He possibly lived for many years. It is wrong to assume that he died too soon. Like Simeon we do not know how long we have to live, but one thing needs to be certain, "Are you going to die a saved person, knowing Jesus as your Saviour?"

Simeon waited for God. However, God waits for us! He mercifully waits that we might respond to him before it is too late. Don’t die till you have seen Jesus!!!

The gospel song says:

You never can tell when

the Lord will call you,

You never can tell when

your end will be;

Cast your poor soul in the

sin-cleansing fountain,

Come and get saved, and happy be.

Simeon acted on the opportunity that was given to him in the temple court long ago. The opportunity is now for you to act as Simeon did. Allow the Holy Spirit to move you to response.