Bucket List

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” Luke 2: 25-26.

A few years back, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman starred in “The Bucket List”.  The movie followed the 2 men,  one of whom was terminally ill, as they ticked off everything they wanted to do, before they “kicked the bucket”.  They traveled the world, ate in the finest restaurants, attended sporting events and hobnobbed with high society, doing whatever they had ever dreamed of doing.  Today we look at the old man Simeon’s bucket list.  It was short, all he wanted was to see the Lord’s Christ, and God came through for him.  On the day that Mary and Joseph had brought Jesus to the temple, in Jerusalem, Simeon was moved by the Holy Spirit to enter the temple courts.  “When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now may dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:27-32.

When I look at my own bucket list, filled with hedonistic desires, I’m ashamed.  Nothing can compare with seeing God’s anointed one with our own eyes, it’s the only thing that is truly worth being on the list . There’s nothing wrong with wanting to travel, or dine elegantly, but all of those activities pale in comparison to meeting Jesus face-to-face.

Make sure that coming to know the King of Kings is top on your list. “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” Luke 2: 25-26.

A few years back, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman starred in “The Bucket List”.  The movie followed the 2 men,  one of whom was terminally ill, as they ticked off everything they wanted to do, before they “kicked the bucket”.  They traveled the world, ate in the finest restaurants, attended sporting events and hobnobbed with high society, doing whatever they had ever dreamed of doing.  Today we look at, the old man, Simeon’s bucket list.  It was short, all he wanted was to see the Lord’s Christ, and God came through for him.  On the day that Mary and Joseph had brought Jesus to the temple, in Jerusalem, Simeon was moved by the Holy Spirit to enter the temple courts.  “When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now may dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:27-32.

When I look at my own bucket list, filled with hedonistic desires, I’m ashamed.  Nothing can compare with seeing God’s anointed one with our own eyes, it’s the only thing that is truly worth being on the list . There’s nothing wrong with wanting to travel, or dine elegantly, but all of those activities pale in comparison to meeting Jesus face-to-face. Make sure that coming to know the King of Kings is at the top of your bucket list. "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ."  Phillipians 3:8