Seeing Everything

When someone sees something that is incredible, amazing, shocking or beyond the pale, so to speak, it is common to hear them say, "Now I've seen everything!"  Of course, they haven't seen everything, their ability to accept what they have seen has simply been stretched to the limits of credulity.

There are some exceptions, however.  God, for instance, has seen everything: "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Heb 4:13).  That would be something that we should keep in mind the next time we're about to do something thinking, "No one will ever know."

Of course, you're not surprised to hear that God has seen everything, that should go without saying that the Creator of all things has seen everything.  But there is another, a regular Joe like you or me, referred to in the Bible as simply, "a man named Simeon."  This nondescript individual, incredible as it may seem, actually saw everything.

And when he did, finally see everything, said what many have said, tongue in cheek, when they have witnessed something really awesome, "Now I can die happy."  He didn't say it in exactly those words and he wasn't overstating his case employing hyperbole.  He did see everything and he could now die happy: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations" (Lk 2:29-31).

Simeon was there when Mary and Joseph presented the baby Jesus at the temple.  His eyes bore witness to what the Spirit had promised him and that for which all of creation had been waiting, the Coming Christ, God incarnate.  Simeon saw the One "Through [whom] all things were made; without [whom] nothing was made that has been made" (Jn 1:3).  Simeon saw everything.

The Bible is very clear that in seeing and accepting Jesus we have everything, while refusing to do so leaves us with nothing for he is "the way, the truth and the life [and] no one comes to the Father without [him]" (Jn 14:6).

Have you seen Jesus?  Have you accepted him?  Jus' Ask'n.