On Waiting for Consolation

 

     The rest of the world had just gone through the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, but not this one couple.  He lay in his hospital bed, with his wife just quietly sitting at his side.  Sensing her looking at him, he said in a feeble voice, "What are you doing?"  She simply replied, "Just loving you."  As we come out of the busyness of this Christmas season, no matter our circumstances, and God asks what we are doing, let our answer be, "Just loving You."  We stand on the brink of a brand new year, not knowing precisely what is in store.  Many have, and indeed, will, experience heartache, suffering, and disappointment.  Many yearn for that proverbial "pat on the back" and the consoling words of "all will be fine."  Many are looking to be consoled in the midst of their sin and rebellion.  But what is true consolation, if it is not just loving Him, no matter what? 

     I am reminded of this every time I walk down our hallway and see the picture of an old man holding a little tiny baby.  It is a framed jigsaw puzzle depicting him looking up and shouting praises to the Lord.  Who is he?  His name is Simeon, meaning "one who truly hears."  He had spent his life at the temple in Jerusalem, and Luke tells us, "and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ." (2:25,26) Hmmm!  He was waiting for consolation.  Would it be the message that is so popular today—that of universal salvation, suggesting all are fine just because Jesus came?  Would it be the so-called "good news" of God condoning and winking at sin?  Absolutely not!  This wimpy understanding of "consolation" is not even Biblical.  The Greek word here is "paraklesis," referring to the act of exhortation, admonition, and encouragement.  It carries with it the sense of an invitation.  In fact, in John 14, it is the word that is used to describe the Holy Spirit, as the counselor and comforter.  But be very careful—many today have twisted this "comforting" and turned Christianity into a virtual "group hug" that ignores sin and tolerates every heretical doctrine that comes down the pike.  They believe that all must be comforted, and that usually means that sin will not be confronted.  Is this really "just loving Him?" 

     Simeon lived in a time of greatly deplorable spiritual conditions.  People were making up their own understandings of God and what it is to love and serve Him.  Sound familiar?  Many today are abandoning the New Testament apostolic faith, in favor of soft pews and an even softer message.  They want the hype, but not the holiness.  They want to say they believe, but, at the same time, believe that it is not necessary to obey Him.  And yet, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the devoted pastor who was truly waiting for consolation in Nazi Germany, wrote, "Today, the sinner has drugged himself with cheap and easy grace.  He persists in disobedience, and seeks consolation by absolving himself.  This only serves to deaden his ears to the Word of God.  The fact is, only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.  It is quite unbiblical to hold the first proposition without the second."  No, this is not legalism or even salvation by works—it is God's grace that empowers the recipient to live wholly for Him.  Be very wary of any religious system that draws you into anything else.

     Simeon knew this—he had waited many years for true consolation, and he was now about to meet Him.  Knowing he would not die before this time, his eyes and ears were wide open.  It was then that Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus into the temple to be dedicated to the Lord.  In this, He would be circumcised and receive His official name—both would reveal what true consolation is.  In the Greek, circumcision literally means to cut off—that is, the flesh would be removed.  Figuratively, it makes reference to putting away impurity.  We see it in His name, too.  Jesus, or "Iesous", in the Greek, means that He is the one who truly saves—not through holding onto perceptions and opinions, but rather, by changing the repentant heart and taking away the impure flesh.  Praise God—Simeon then took Him up into his arms, just as my picture shows, blessing God and saying, "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)  This Jesus—this salvation—didn't just plop into his lap.  He had waited his entire life to see this consolation.  It wouldn't just pat him on the back or make him feel self-sufficient in any way.  God had prepared this invitation, and it was open to one and all—Jews as well as Gentiles.  Both are called into His eternal Kingdom right now, and it will never end.  Both are exhorted to come under His authority, allowing Him to order their lives.  Both will never be comforted in sin, but called out of it into the purity of His heart and a loving of only Him.  God prepared it and it will be His way.  Any other way is imaginary, and if that is what you demand, you can expect nothing but an imaginary consolation.

     Simeon did not boost Mary's self-esteem and promise an easy way when he told her, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (vss. 34,35)  Yes, if you are ever going to expect to rise, first expect to fall—recognize your own sin, hate it, turn from it, and love only Him.  Of course, the world, including many of your own family and friends, will not like it, but that was true of Jesus Himself.  He even clearly stated that His true followers would be hated, for He Himself was hated. (John 15: 18,19)  Whenever the world and it's philosophies have no problem with you, it says more about you than it does about them.  When the unsaved are confronted with true salvation they are most certainly not consoled in the way they desire to be.  Instead, they are pierced with conviction, because the thoughts of their hearts are revealed.

     Praise God—at this precise moment, Anna came in.    Most of her life had been spent right there in the temple, praying and fasting day and night.  She praised the Lord and gave Him all thanks for she and Simeon both had now seen the One who would free and deliver any who would surrender to His Lordship.  Yes, it is true—you can be released from your own desire to be consoled—as you understand it.  In Luke's version of the Sermon on the Mount, we hear Jesus say, "Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.  But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation." (Luke 6: 23,24)  He is not just speaking of the financially wealthy only, but of those who are full of themselves and their own understandings—this is their own "consolation."  In Revelation, He told Laodicea, the lukewarm church, "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." (3: 17-19)  Never, ever, run from His counsel—you will never find any better!

     This, my friends, is true consolation—an invitation to take His counsel.  Jesus continues by saying that He stands at the door of His own church and knocks.  Pitiful picture, isn't it? —Needing to be invited into His own church so He can give His invitation!  Talk about a puzzle!  And yet, He stands—ready, willing, and able to grant this consolation to all who desire to overcome the world and its ways.  What will be the result of this overcoming devotion?  Paul said it clearly: "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:  that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15: 5,6)  Yes, this is the salvation prepared for all people—a body of believers conformed to His image, forever invited deeper and deeper into His heart.  Will this be your whole desire in this new year of 2001?  Aren't you sick and tired yet of the consolations given by the world and the dead churches—sick and tired of how they always come up short?  Will you wait for His true consolation, which will never come up short?   You will?  Then love Him!  That's right—just love Him, His way!