Ready To Depart

In Luke chapter 2 verses 25-35, we are introduced to a man by the name of Simeon.  Many people paint him as an old man who was feeble and was ready to die.  Yet when we read the passage in it's fulness, Scripture does not paint this picture at all.

To start with there is no mention of his age so to get any idea of the sort is based on human presupposition and not on the Word of God.  There is no mention of physical problems and therefore his wanting to die.  In fact, all that is stated is that he would not see death until he saw the Messiah.  However if we focus on what is said we can learn a lot from this man.

• Simeon was a man who was led by the Spirit of God
• Simeon was a man who taught other's the Word of God
• Simeon was a man who was obedient to the Will of God
• Simeon was a man who came to see the "Salvation of God" in the person of Jesus

The idea is that he was serious about God because he was promised to see salvation in the Lord's Christ.  And only after this he was ready to "depart".  The word for depart in the greek carries with it the idea of being "pardoned" or "let loose".  There are many examples:

• A prisoner being set fee
• A ship being untied from the pier to set sail on the open ocean
• The taking down of a tent when we intend to leave and not return
• But probably the most meaningful to me, is a beast of burden who has been tied to the plow and working tirelessly, finally being unhitched from the load it was carrying and allowed to graze freely in an open field.

Simeon desired to "depart".  I desire it . . . at times more than others . . . and I'm sure many of us feel the same way.  But we can only be ready to "depart" or "set free",  once we have met our salvation, Jesus the Lord's Christ!

One out of every one person dies.  In fact, on average 6,000 people will die today in America alone!  However, the sad fact is that many of them are not "ready"to depart.  Why?  Because the have not met the Lord's Christ.  This is clearly evident because we don't see many people serious about God and His business.  What about you?  Are you ready to depart?  Have you met the Lord's Christ and the salvation that only He can bring?