Coming Back

TITLE: Coming Back
DATE: November 26, 2019

Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.
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TEXT: Luke 2: 25-28 – ESV - Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God

I love the story of old Simeon in the temple.

I can still vividly recall the painting which was reproduced in my “101 Bible Stories book. *I could almost see Simeon’s long white beard move as he pronounced his blessing on the Baby Jesus. I could understand how, having seen his Savior, that old soul was truly ready to “depart in peace.”

Now... let me tell you a secret: nowhere in the Bible does it say Simeon was old.

People just naturally assume he was old... probably because he was ready to die.... and everybody knows it’s only old people who are ready to die... the young aren’t ready to shuffle off this mortal coil because they’ve got too much living to do.

Sound silly? Well, not as silly as you might think.

Now we’ve all heard that the number of people who have been walking away from God is increasing., And so it is. But a recent Gallup poll has concluded, “Predictions of the forthcoming demise of religion as we know it may be premature.”

That’s because even though the percentage of the population which claims no  religious affiliation is growing, this anti-religion perspective is one which is being embraced mainly by the young... and that, as they get older, they will probably change their mind and come back to church.
And that reversal begins to be seen as early as people enter their 30’s.
Here’s the numbers....

1. About 38 percent of adults in their mid-20’s identify themselves as “Nones,” according to 2019 Gallup data,
2. That percentage falls to 24 percent among those in their early 40’s,
3. It drops to around 17 percent among those in their 50’s, and *
4. And it bottoms out at about 7% for folks in t heir early 80’s.

In short, writers at Gallup conclude: “People return to religion as they age,.”

The only problem is... you have to be around to age. This past year I spoke at my class’s 50th Anniversary. I was amazed at how many of them had died. Now I’m reasonably sure that none of them were “Nones”, but that is not true for everyone.

Which is why I encourage you to regularly lift up those in your family and circle of friends who think they don’t need the Savior. Ask that they be brought into the light... and pray they be given the time to see and believe what the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Christ has done for them.

THE PRAYER: Lord,  whether the time before us  be long or short, keep us so we are ready to ”depart in peace” and in the love of the Lord.  In Your holy Name I pray it. Amen.

The devotion for today was inspired by various recent news articles. For further reading you may wish to go to this address: https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/gallup-religion-isn-t-dying-people-return-to-church-as-they-age.html   and the article written by Michael Foust.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html