There's an old adage that says, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." But what that famous adage didn't reveal was the why? Fortunately, this wise saying was literally lived out by three men documented in Scripture. Matthew 2 tells the epic journey of three wise men, and their journey of thousands of miles propelled by faith, and inspired by love for the promised Messiah.
Scripture says the three wise men hailed from the far east, and it is believed that they traveled thousands of miles in search of the Messiah! However, the reasons why they journeyed is where the true wisdom lies. They traveled so far with much risk, not only to pay tribute to a miraculous birth, but also to praise and worship the Messiah foretold in Scripture.
It's no exaggeration that Scripture calls them wise men either! Think of all the years of careful Scriptural study, historical research, prayer, cartography and astronomical mastery that went into preparing for such a journey to find the Messiah! It's ironic that these three gentiles displayed more insight about the coming of the Messiah, and displayed more zeal and expectation for Christ's birth, than most Hebrew Scholars and experts of their day. They also displayed great faith by relentlessly following a star which led them to Jesus. Their gifts to the young Jesus symbolize Christ's identity and mission: gold for a king, incense for God, and myrrh, used to anoint the dead. Further more, God honored the wise men by warning them in a dream to go home by another route and not to report back to King Herod.
Jack Zavada says on the lessons we can learn from the three wise men,
"When we seek God with sincere determination, we will find him. He is not hiding from us, but wants to have an intimate relationship with each of us. These wise men paid Jesus the kind of respect only God deserves, bowing before him and worshiping him. Jesus is not just a great teacher or admirable person as many people say today, but the Son of the Living God. After the Three Kings met Jesus, they did not go back the way they came. When we get to know Jesus Christ, we are changed forever and cannot go back to our old life."
In our journey to God, let us never waiver to the goal of attaining the eternal glory of Christ! For His glory, let us endure and persevere until, like the wise men did, see Christ face to face!
Merry Christmas!