A Longing Heart

What does a longing heart look like? Sometimes it is someone who has spent their whole life longing for real friendship but never finding it. They go through several marriages and multiple relationships looking for the satisfaction they long for, but it always seems to elude them. Others long for recognition but don’t receive it. Still others long to feel safe and secure, but their longing is never fulfilled. Some long to be someone different because they are unhappy with themselves. No matter what the longing, every human heart longs for something.

I would like to introduce you to a man named Simeon who had a longing heart. This same man found his longing fulfilled. Luke records: “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required” (Luke 2:25-27).

Simeon had been waiting a long time to see the Messiah. He never gave up hope, and then one day it happened. Joseph and Mary went to the temple to dedicate their newborn son to God. As they made their way to the appropriate place, at the very same moment in the hustle and bustle of the crowd, there was an old man moving toward them. They had no idea what was about to happen, but God had ordained that they should have a divine encounter. Suddenly, they met for the first time. They had never met before, and yet it was as if they had known each other all their lives.

God had chosen Simeon for this very important encounter. This old priest learned from God that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. Many would have doubted, but not Simeon. He held on to this conviction and hope all his life. This had been the longing of his heart. Most would have expected a Messiah to come riding atop a black stallion, but Simeon expected otherwise.

Simeon approached the young couple with a sense of excitement, all the while putting them at ease. They felt as if he had been waiting for them—believe me, he had. They felt his excitement as he reached out to Mary for the child, and she handed her baby to him. He took the child and suddenly broke into song and prophecy.

Luke 2:29-32 

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you now dismiss your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel."

As he held the baby Jesus, he began to praise God in song, and his song laid down for Mary and Joseph the purpose of the Christ Child. Simeon experi­enced a profound peace of soul as he held the Messiah in his arms. He was ready to go home to be with his God forever. This child in the arms of Simeon represents his longing heart fulfilled. You and I are not unlike Simeon; we, too, can embrace the Christ and experience a longing fulfilled. In fact, it is the only way it will ever happen.