There is a clear illustration in Scripture of the contrast between the anointed, praying remnant and the busy religious people of the popular churches. This illustration has to do with two people, Simeon and Anna. The story is told in the Gospel of Luke.

When the days of Mary's purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished, she and Joseph brought the baby Jesus into the Temple in Jerusalem in order to present Him before the Lord.

The Temple of Herod in Jerusalem was a costly structure of great strength and beauty. It was built of marble and gold. The Temple area was filled with people who were busily engaged in the statutes of Moses and in the numerous customs and practices that had grown up around the original statutes.

The most important men of Israel gathered here. The priests, scribes, and Pharisees practiced the politics and discussed the problems of their nation. Money changed hands. Younger men studied under the leading rabbis and made the important contacts that would insure that one day they too would be distinguished as leaders of prominence in Israel.

Such is the way of the Sardis-type assembling.

Into the midst of this bustle of activity came Joseph and Mary of Nazareth holding in their arms the Word of God Incarnate.

Every mouth should have shut. Every action should have stopped. Every eye should have been fastened on Immanuel. Every knee should have bent in worship before the thundering God of Sinai now appearing as a Babe.

There should have arisen from every throat an anthem of exalted praise to the almighty God of Israel who this day had visited His people with salvation, with redemption, with eternal atonement for sin.

Men and women should have recognized that God had appeared in the flesh. All human activity should have ceased in wonder and joy at the Presence of the Divine King of kings and Lord of lords—the Heir of all God Is and possesses.

The "I Am" was now in the midst of His people.

None of them turned. None of them worshiped. The priests, scribes, and Pharisees continued to practice the politics and discuss the problems of the nation. Money continued to change hands. The young men continued their studies.

Why could they not see their Christ? Why would they not stop their religious efforts and worship God who now was among His people?

They neither could see God nor perform His works because they were putting human effort ahead of prayer and reliance on God.

There were a man and woman in Israel, a remnant of the thousands of Israelites, who were people of prayer and of the anointing. These two had "escaped" the spiritual blindness of "Babylon" (man-directed religion).

Simeon was "just and devout." He was a man of prayer who was longing for the coming of Christ.

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. (Luke 2:26)

To be continued.