HOPE OF ALL THE EARTH
My Eyes Have Seen
December 12, 2025
SCRIPTURE
LUKE 2:28-32
Simeon took [the child Jesus] in his arms and praised God, saying:
"Sovereign Lord, 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 nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel."
LUKE 2:28-32
Simeon took [the child Jesus] in his arms and praised God, saying:
"Sovereign Lord, 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 nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel."
People of a certain generation reading this devotional may be unable to remember the Stone Age--when computer games came on something called a "cassette tape." If you wanted to play a game, you had to be prepared for the long haul because loading could take as long as fifteen minutes! Today, we're used to instant gratification. Our food, our entertainment, even our commutes—we expect everything to happen right now. I can't be the only one who marks the point in a neighbouring queue where I would have been if I had only joined it, instead of the one I chose.
But Scripture encourages God's people to take the long view, reminding us that what we see and experience, what we suffer and endure, will not always be this way. Simeon had been waiting a long time. He saw the fulfilment of his hopes and his waiting in the Christ child, and he also knew there was more yet to come.
Things will not always be broken. They will not always be spoiled. We will not always have to live in a place of broken pieces and sharp edges. And we will not always live in a world where peace is rare, brief, and hard-won. There is coming a day when God's peace will flood all creation, when all that is will be saturated with perfect, cosmic peace. It will be peace with ourselves, peace with one another, peace with the created order, and--most wonderful of all—peace with God.
The Saviour who is the Prince of Peace has come into this world. Simeon recognized him in the temple. And there is also coming a day when the peace that Christ achieved through his victory on the cross will drive out and drive away everything that would diminish and destroy. So it's worth holding on. It's worth running our race with perseverance because the peace that Christ will one day usher in is worth it all.
The peace that God's people enjoy now, like Simeon--the peace that is available to all people, everywhere and everywhen—is only a deposit and foretaste of what is to come. Greater, deeper, eternal peace is on its way.
But Scripture encourages God's people to take the long view, reminding us that what we see and experience, what we suffer and endure, will not always be this way. Simeon had been waiting a long time. He saw the fulfilment of his hopes and his waiting in the Christ child, and he also knew there was more yet to come.
Things will not always be broken. They will not always be spoiled. We will not always have to live in a place of broken pieces and sharp edges. And we will not always live in a world where peace is rare, brief, and hard-won. There is coming a day when God's peace will flood all creation, when all that is will be saturated with perfect, cosmic peace. It will be peace with ourselves, peace with one another, peace with the created order, and--most wonderful of all—peace with God.
The Saviour who is the Prince of Peace has come into this world. Simeon recognized him in the temple. And there is also coming a day when the peace that Christ achieved through his victory on the cross will drive out and drive away everything that would diminish and destroy. So it's worth holding on. It's worth running our race with perseverance because the peace that Christ will one day usher in is worth it all.
The peace that God's people enjoy now, like Simeon--the peace that is available to all people, everywhere and everywhen—is only a deposit and foretaste of what is to come. Greater, deeper, eternal peace is on its way.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION OR DISCUSSION
Have you ever gotten something you waited a long time for? How did it feel once you got it?
What does it mean to "take the long view" and accept that the world as it is now is not how things will always be?
Does the idea of taking the long view bring you hope or despair? Does it foster peace within you, or does it bring anxiety?
Have you ever gotten something you waited a long time for? How did it feel once you got it?
What does it mean to "take the long view" and accept that the world as it is now is not how things will always be?
Does the idea of taking the long view bring you hope or despair? Does it foster peace within you, or does it bring anxiety?
PRAYER
Write a prayer explaining to God how you feel about waiting.
Write a prayer explaining to God how you feel about waiting.