I rushed up the steps to the temple that day. Each step barely noticeable.
I remember saying to myself, “Can it be that this is the day?! Is it truly here?”
The Spirit had promised me that death will not take me until I have seen Messiah. I’ve read the scripture of Daniel that spoke of how much time should pass before He would appear. I had studied and I had prayed. I had sought the Lord’s face on behalf of my nation, Israel. We were oppressed and afflicted by foreign nations. How marvelous it would be to see God’s Comforter finally revealed, to see God’s promise fulfilled.
On that morning, a whisper, “Go to the temple now, and you shall see what you have longed to see.”
After years of silence from God, He chose to speak to me. I can’t express to you how that felt. It’s something that you have to experience to understand. The God of Israel cared enough to speak to me…. to draw me close to Him and reveal wonderful things to me, wonderful plans for my life.
Finally, that day had come. The Holy Spirit said that I should hurry to the temple and I raced there with the speed of a much younger man. I topped the steps of the temple and my eyes fell on the most magnificent child. His mother had Him wrapped tightly in her arms. My heart exploded with joy. Tears flooded my eyes so that I could hardly see as I stepped up to them. Before I even realized what had happened, He was cradled in my arms as close to my heart as I could hold Him. Words of praise to God flooded from my mouth. I proclaimed Messiah to the awaiting crowd. People who had come to the temple that morning had no idea that they would witness God’s plan unfolding.
I knew. The Holy Spirit had drawn me into a relationship with God and had finally drawn me to the Christ, Jesus. God was more than true to His promise to me. Not only did I get to see the Messiah but I held Him in my arms. After that, nothing could compare.
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