Are you ready to depart in peace?

Weekly Devotion

"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." Luke 2:29-32

Are you ready to die and stand before God, your Maker? Are you at peace with God, knowing that full atonement has been made for your sins? Do you have the assurance that God forgives and accepts you for Jesus' sake?

Simeon was an old believer who had been waiting for the coming of God's promised Messiah and Savior. God had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen with his own eyes the Lord's Christ. And directed by the Spirit to come into the temple at Jerusalem precisely when Mary and Joseph came to the temple with the baby Jesus, Simeon took Jesus up in his arms and said: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."

He had now seen the promised Christ Child -- God the Son in human flesh -- and held Him in his arms. And Simeon was now ready to die in peace and face God's judgment because he knew that His God and Savior had come and that, for the sake of the holy life this Child would live in his stead, and for the sake of the innocent sufferings and death this Child would accomplish, atonement would be made for his sins. Simeon was assured that in Christ Jesus, he was forgiven and accepted of God. He was ready to die in peace, for in Christ Jesus he had a Savior from sin and its eternal punishment!

What about you? Are you ready to die and stand before God, your Maker? Are you at peace with God, knowing your sins are paid for and forgiven for Christ's sake?

For such confidence, we look to the pages of Holy Scripture; for there we too see our Savior and the salvation God has provided for us. There we see Christ's holy life for us under God's law, and there we see His bitter sufferings and death for us upon the cross and His glorious resurrection. There we see Jesus, our Savior, the Light of the Gentiles and the Glory of His people Israel. There we learn of God's pardon and forgiveness. There we learn that, through faith in Christ Jesus, we are not condemned but have eternal life!

When we look at Christ through the Scriptures and trust in Him, we too can be ready, as Simeon was, to depart this life in peace!

God grant us such faith in Christ Jesus our Savior!

Lord Jesus Christ, let our eyes behold Thee through the pages of Holy Writ, that we too may trust in Thee and always be ready to depart this life in peace. Revive the weak in faith and strengthen all of us, that we may stand fast in our Savior until He returns to grant unto us and all believers everlasting life. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible]

Editorial on 01/04/2017