By Joel Osteen
IN the scripture, there’s a man by the name of Simeon. One day an angel appeared to him and told him, “You will not die until you see the birth of Christ.”
Imagine how far out that promise seemed, especially back then. Simeon didn’t tell anyone about it. He kept it to himself. Do you know there are some promises you’re not supposed to tell your friends and all of your family members? They may not be happy for you. They may tell you how it’s not going to happen or that you’re too old or you really can’t do that? That’s why some promises are between you and God. The scripture calls it a “secret petition of your heart.”
Well, years went by and Simeon didn’t see any sign of the Messiah. Five years…ten years…I’m sure the thoughts came saying, “You heard God wrong. It’s been too long. It’s never going to happen.” The enemy has no new tricks. He uses the same type of lies on us today: doubt and discouragement.
I can see Simeon all through the day saying, “God, I know You’re a God of completion. You said I wouldn’t go to my grave without seeing this promise come to pass. So, Lord, I want to thank You that it’s on the way.” I can imagine that he got up every morning believing, expecting and knowing that it would happen. And sure enough, 20 years later, he saw Christ born. The promise came to fulfillment.Today, I believe God is saying what He said to Simeon. You can’t die yet because there are too many promises that have not come to pass in your life. What God started He will finish. People can’t stop it. Bad breaks can’t stop it. Sickness can’t stop it. Death can’t even stop it! You need to get ready because our God is a God of completion, and He will finish what He started in your life!
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Phil 1:6, NLT) From Joel Osteen’s website.
