What's on your bucket list? (An Advent thought and prayer)

While you may not have an actual list, most of us have a few dreams of places to travel, and activities to experience, while we are mobile. My bucket list has never been long, but certainly, I have a few places in mind that I would love to visit. Last year, my husband and I travelled to Israel, the top destination on our list. We hope to plan a few other trips in the next several years. What a blessing it will be to check off some of our bucket desires. 

The things of this world, however, though enjoyable, are not lasting. Conversely, isn’t that which is of God, eternal? Therefore, shouldn’t we have a spiritual bucket list? Last week, my sweet friend Karen posed this question to me and several of my friends. She was inspired by the story of Simeon, as recorded in Luke 2. Since Simeon’s story is part of the birth story of Jesus, it seems appropriate for us to consider his life this week. 

Karen brought to our attention that Simeon had a bucket list. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would see the Lord Jesus before his own death. We don’t know if God revealed this to Simeon because he was a chosen prophet, or simply because Simeon had a desire and belief in the promises of God regarding the coming of a Messiah, but clearly—to see Christ—was important to him. After Jesus’ circumcision (eight days after birth), Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to the Temple to present Him to the Lord according to the Law of Moses. (The Law not only required Jesus to be circumcised (Leviticus 12:3), but also to present their firstborn to God (Exodus 13:2, 12) 33 days later and to bring an offering for Mary’s purification after childbirth (Leviticus 12:1–8)). Simeon, inspired by the Holy Spirit, was present. When Mary and Joseph brought in the child Jesus, Simeon “took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 

 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:28-32) 

Simeon had seen the salvation of the world—Jesus Christ—the Promised Messiah. He had come into his presence.  Simeon could mark that off his bucket list. Check. 

 As I have pondered Karen’s question, I realized we can all have this same item checked off our spiritual bucket lists. All can “see” Jesus and His Salvation. The good news of the gospel is that we don’t have to pay anything or do anything to check this off our list. God has offered us grace as a free gift (Ephesians 2:8). When we believe in faith that He is the Messiah who came to give us salvation from our sins, we are given spiritual sight. As Jesus revealed to Paul upon his salvation, “I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18).  But salvation requires a desire to know Him. This Christmas, I am praying that those who don’t yet know Jesus as their Savior, will put the desire to “see Him” on their spiritual bucket list, just as Simeon did. 

 This will enable them to realize another glorious promise—eternal life in the presence of God. God offers that assurance to us. Check.

 As one who already believes, do I continue to have a spiritual bucket list? Yes. I desire to continue to “see Him” more clearly. This means looking at Him through His Word, praying to Him through His Spirit, and positioning myself to see by looking at the righteous things of Him, rather than the things of this world. And when Jesus returns, He will check off something else from my list. It is another glorious promise:

 “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared, but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3). 

What is on your spiritual bucket list?