This Child is appointed and destined to...

Luke 2:34 shows us a very old man who has been waiting for quite some time for God's promise to manifest.  He was promised that he would not die until he saw the Messiah.  Jesus is brought to the temple for the ceremonial circumcision and dedication of the first born child to the Lord.  His words to Joseph and Mary are something we all should look at very closely.

Look at them again, "This Child is appointed and destined to..."   Why?  Because, this is not a statement that was only for Jesus.  This statement applies to every person ever born.  Simeon's appointment and destiny was to proclaim Jesus' appointment and destiny over Him.

Here are a couple of others, step through the Bible with me:

Noah - He was appointed and destined to, by faith, believe a great flood was coming that was going to destroy every living thing because God told him so.  He was appointed and destined to build an ark in spite of the laughter and humiliating mockery of the people of the time.  According to Genesis 6, God was fed up with mankind.  Man as a people, were degenerate, debased, and vicious.  They had corrupted their way on earth and lost their true direction. (Verse 12)  God, however, saw that Noah was a just and righteous man, blameless in his [evil] generation.  He walked [in habitual fellowship] with God.  (Verse 9)  What caused him to seek after God, when all around him was the opposite?  He was appointed and destined to build the ark and bring a remnant out of the flood.  That is what it was.  The flood happened suddenly.  In fact, once Noah was done with the Ark, he only had a week to get it stocked up and ready to go.  Seven days after God told him to take the animals two by two, and save his family the flood came.  There was no forewarning to the inhabitants of the earth that this disaster was coming, other than Noah building a very large vessel in the middle of dry land.  Why?   Because he had been appointed and destined to do so from birth.

Joseph - He was appointed and destined from birth to save his family, his people, and the Egyptians from a horrible famine.  He didn't know he was supposed to do this when he started having dreams.   His family did not believe in his destiny.  His brothers resented him because he had the audacity to speak out what he believed God had created him to be.  A leader of many, to the point that even his own family would be "beneath" him.  So, his brothers sold him into slavery.  That didn't stop Joseph from believing in himself.  He went to Egypt and became the best slave he could be.  He was doing his work as Paul put it, "Rendering service readily with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men,  Knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive his reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free."  Thus, he was promoted to the head of the slaves in Potiphar's home.  Know that Satan will come against you when you are working at your appointment and fulfilling your destiny, hence the accusation from Potiphar's wife which landed Joseph in prison.  Did he get a bad attitude?  No, he held fast to his appointment and became the finest prisoner in the prison, soon Joseph (because of God's grace) was given charge over all the prisoners in the prison.  Even in prison whatever he touched prospered.  Why?  Because he was appointed and destined to bring things to prosperity when he was born.  The rest of the story takes him to Pharaoh's rescue, being appointed second in command of all of Egypt, and subsequently not only rescuing his family from the famine but reconciling with them as well.

Judas - Now let me throw you a curve ball here.   You're probably saying, "Seriously, Judas?  What did he do?"  He was a very notorious character in the history of Christianity.  He has the dubious honor of being the most infamous person of the New Testament and the betrayer of the Savior.  He too was appointed and destined to do just that.  He was no Saint, which is my point exactly.  The rest of Jesus' entourage were Saints, flaws and all.   In fact, it is probably why Judas was "weeded" out.  He stole from the coffers, lied and cheated.  What was he doing following Jesus?   Judas' heart was never really sold out for the Lord, he was merely a front runner.  Probably a guy who liked to go against the grain, especially if he thought he could make a buck doing it.  What he hadn't counted on was the conviction of the Holy Spirit on his heart after the deed was done.  However, from being to end, betrayal was his birthright.

Paul - Started out wrong, he thought he was doing the right thing, and after a wonderful encounter with the Lord ended up on the correct road.  Wrote 2/3rd's of the New Testament, in the end suffered and died for the sake of Jesus.  The very Way he had been persecuting he died for.  Why?  I think you get it by now, he was appointed and destined to do so.

So, what were you appointed and destined to do?  If you are sold out for the Lord, than there is a wonderful future ahead of you.  If you haven't met Him yet, doesn't mean there isn't the same for you.  See, your appointment is waiting for you.  Your destiny is calling.  It doesn't matter what the rest of the world thinks, what matters is what you were created to do.  If you don't fulfill that, it will drive you insane...literally.  Psychologist offices are filled with people trying to "find" themselves.  People get divorces and remarry, try alternative lifestyles, drink excessively, abuse drugs, or food.  They become addicted to pornography, working out, or just plain working consistently all in a futile search for "who they are."

The answer to that question is only in the pages of the Holy Bible.  When you read and communion with God, He reveals to you who you are and why He sent you here.  Who better to know what your purpose is, than the One who created you?  Honestly, if you create something don't you know why you created it?  Would you ask your spouse, your parents, your siblings, the guy next door, or even your pastor why you created a picture, piece of poetry, or scrapbook, etc...  You see, He is the only One that actually knows so He gives you direction and purpose so that you can fulfill your original appointment and live up to your destiny.  Just like Jesus did.  Maybe, Simeon or someone like him, wasn't there when you were an infant to say, "This child is appointed and destined to...," but he didn't need to be.  God was, He said it and He meant it.

Daddy,
We thank You for creating us.  Thank You that we are not just here arbitrarily, but that we are here for a purpose.  We praise You for our divine appointment and embrace the destiny that You have assigned us.  Let us go at it as Joseph did with everything that is within us, because we are doing it for You, not for man.  We know that You will prosper our every effort when we are seeking Your favor and pleasure in our accomplishments.  Thank You for Your Word which leads us to Your perfect will, and the ability to pray, which keeps us in Your way and will.


In Jesus' name,
Amen