Reflections: Vision for the new year

In our ecclesiastical age, vision is cheap.

Most modern pastors, especially the megaphones from megachurches, boast about it in buckets. Such vision in these cases, however, consists mainly of marketing strategies and branding techniques to make their crowds big and their names bigger. I can think now of two of the biggest shots in the biggest churches, both of whom have been in the media spotlight, one to proclaim that Jesus is not the only way to heaven and the other to say that the virgin birth is of no essential consequence. So much for big church vision, when it is divorced from biblical revelation.

Real vision is a revelation from God, from His Spirit through a man's or woman's spirit, spoken sometimes and springing from every written word in the Bible. It can also be called prophecy, and it is actually quite rare. Joan Baez speaks the truth when she sings, "I believe in prophecy, some folks see things not everybody can see. And, once in a while, they pass the secret along to you and me."

Simeon was a man with a common Jewish name and uncommon vision. He could see things not everybody could see, and, in Luke 2, he passed the secrets along to Mary and Joseph, and to you and me.

Simeon saw God. We know this because the Scripture says "this man was righteous and devout." How does one see God? There is only one way, by faith. Faith is, in the eloquent words of the writer of Hebrews, "The assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen," Hebrews 11:1.

Faith is the gift from God, wrought by the Spirit of God, that enables a person to believe in, fully trust, and take hold of the hand of God.

Faith is taking God at His word and staking your life upon it. This is Simeon, and this is how Simeon could see God. When a person, like Simeon, has truly been made righteous by faith, they prove to be faithful or devout. Devout is a derivative of devoted, which Simeon was, to God, God's will, God's word and God's work.

No one who is not righteous and devout will ever see God. Simeon was and Simeon did. As a bonus, God gave him a personal mission and special revelation. Simeon was to remain near the Temple in Jerusalem and be present on the day when the Messiah came in for the first time.

Simeon saw the Son of God. Simeon must have startled Mary and Joseph. But his message confirmed that which they had already heard from angels and God concerning their virgin-born son, whom they had obediently named Jesus. Jesus is the promised Messiah, who would bring about "the consolation of Israel." Jesus' name is synonymous with "salvation," about which Simeon would say a lot more.

Could you have recognized and believed in Jesus then? Can you see Jesus now? Yes, you can, in the gospel.

Simeon saw the Gospel. Simeon saw God, Simeon saw the Son of God, and Simeon saw the gospel of God. He affirmed not only the person of Jesus Christ, but foreshadowed His work as well, a work that not everybody can see. Many Bible teachers then and now profess a prosperity gospel, devoid of cost and suffering. Simeon saw the Messiah pierced with a sword, with Mother Mary as a broken-hearted witness. How could Jesus work it out?

Jesus works it all out with His work, the gospel. He arrived virgin born and lived a sinless life. He offered a messianic ministry of preaching and teaching, signs and wonders, bypassing the crown momentarily for the cross. Willingly, He was captured, beaten, nailed and pierced with a sword on that cross, from whence He died and was buried. On the third day, He rose again.

Somehow, Simeon saw this from 30 years away. It was a lot to see. Have you seen it? It seems that Simeon's sentiments are seen by only a select few, according to Scripture. I pray you are one, or that you'll have your eyes corrected and get gospel vision for the new year.

Chuck DeVane is the pastor of Lake Hamilton Baptist Church in Hot Springs. He is a graduate of Valdosta State University, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has served churches in Arkansas and Georgia, and preached the gospel across the USA and other countries. You can reach him at [email protected].

Religion on 01/21/2017

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