The One Thing That Makes Life Complete

I’ve had the privilege of serving at a church in Florida for over eleven years now. One thing about Florida, like my home state of Texas, is that they take their football seriously. I recall driving back from Texas to Florida one summer. It was right around the time of “Tebow Mania” for the Florida Gators. It was probably early June and I called up a church member to ask them a question.

I said, “Hey, what’s going on?”

My friend responded, “Oh, not much. I’m just waiting around for Gator Football Season to begin.”

Well, I understand enthusiasm for sports, but I thought that sounded a little bit odd seeing that the kickoff was a good two months away. But most of us know what it’s like to be so excited about something that we feel like all we are doing is waiting around for it to happen.

It’s easy in life to get focused and fixated on things that we enjoy. We often live a distracted spiritual life because of our conflicting desires. Wouldn’t it be great to say with the psalmist in Psalm 73:25, with an honest heart, “Earth has nothing I desire besides you.”? How do we live that sort of focused Christian life?

That’s why I’m refreshed by the post-Christmas story of Simeon in the latter part of Luke 2. He’s a guy we wished we knew more about. The Scripture doesn’t mention his age, but it’s assumed that he was an older man because the Bible says in Luke 2:26, “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.”

Simeon’s waiting for the Messiah makes waiting around for a football game, a wedding date, an exciting vacation, or for retirement seem rather lame. When Simeon’s dream finally came true, he was in the temple and he saw Mary and Joseph. Joyful Simeon blessed the baby and he said in Luke 2:29, “Now Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace.” His life was complete because he saw Jesus. This was all that was on his mind—and finally, it had come to fulfillment.

What will it take to make your life complete today? Usually, it’s a pretty long list of things, but for Simeon, his life was made full once he beheld the glory of God in Christ. If we know Christ personally, you and I have the privilege of beholding Jesus every day. Let’s make sure we do that this day and every day! And let’s enjoy the completeness we have in life because of Christ.

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