By: Steve Boggs

“In Christ alone, my hope is found” – Stewart Towsend, In Christ Alone

It was a quiet ride over to Scipio on this Sunday afternoon.

I was thinking about what I was going to say during my visit with my aunt. You see, my aunt was dying from cancer and everyone knew that her remaining days on the earth were just a few.

Arriving at her house and entering in to take a seat near her, my concerns quickly vanished. Seeing my aunt’s smiling face, I barely had time to say hello before she began to share her testimony of the hope and joy that she had in Jesus.

She shared with me a dream that her room in heaven was being prepared and that my mother was doing the decorating. She just figured that when my mother finished decorating her room, it would be time for her to go on to her heavenly home.

My aunt went to be with Jesus later that week. And my guess is that her room was not only nicely decorated but that Mom had a nice home cooked meal waiting for her.

In Luke 2: 25-32, we read of the same hope and joy from a man named Simeon:

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 on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into 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 may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

    and the glory of your people Israel.”

The same Spirit that brought Simeon hope in life brought him joy in his death. How poor and worthless this world can appear to the one that has accepted Christ as their personal Savior. My aunt and Simeon bid farewell to this world in peace looking forward to their heavenly home.

The same hope and joy that my aunt and Simeon had is still given to us today. This power is made available to us through Jesus Christ.

Those that have accepted Christ, have great reason to thank the Lord. This Lenten season, take the time to draw near to him. Celebrate and be thankful for the hope and joy that is found in him.