As the Christmas season fills our hearts with warmth and the spirit of giving, every present reminds us of the greatest gift of all: Jesus Christ. That’s the whole reason for our gift-giving tradition.
Our focus is on Matthew chapter 2, where we find the story of the wise men (Magi) who came seeking the newborn King of the Jews. These men, perhaps kings or astrologers, were led by something far superior to our modern technology. We rely on a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system today, but the Magi had something better: a Global Positioning Star sent directly from God.
The Miracle Star and the Destination of Life
The first “GPS” God gave was the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night that led Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21. The second, 2,000 years ago, was a miraculous star.
The wise men arrived in Jerusalem asking, as recorded in Matthew 2:2:
“Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
The star was no ordinary cosmic event. After the chief priests and scribes referenced the prophecy in Micah that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem of Judæa (Matthew 2:4–6, the wise men departed. And then, Matthew 2:9 describes the unbelievable accuracy of God’s divine direction:
“When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.”
Talk about a divine GPS! It led them right to the exact spot. The fact that the star reappeared and stood over the location defies natural explanation—it was a miracle star. These men believed God, perhaps recalling the prophecy in Numbers 24:17, and followed that direction completely.
The ultimate destination of life, for the wise men and for us, is at the feet of Jesus Christ. That’s why we are here: to know Christ and to make Him known. He came in a cradle, died on a cross, and is coming again. The journey of life has been perfectly mapped out by God. There is no good reason to be lost.
Following the Directions Fully
God has given us clear directions, and we must follow them fully.
1. Follow the Lamp (God’s Word)
The star that guided the Magi was the physical manifestation of God’s light. Today, our light is the Word of God. As Psalm 119:105 says: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
During Christ’s first coming, the world had been in gross darkness (Isaiah 60:2) for 400 years, and then the light shone. The Gentiles followed the star to where the Light of the World was born. Similarly, we are to follow the lamp of the commandment, the law, and the reproofs of instruction (Proverbs 6:23).
2. Follow His Example (Walk in the Light)
1 John 1:5–7 declares:
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all… But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
To follow the directions, we must follow the example of Jesus Christ. If we choose sin, unkindness, or gossip, we are not walking in the light.
- You must do the walking! God puts the star there, but the Magi were the ones who packed their bags and traveled. God will give you direction and answer your questions, but you must make the decision to move and follow the will of God that has already been revealed. Seek God with what you do know, and He will show you the rest.
Listening at Each Turn Faithfully
The chief priests and scribes knew the prophecy: Bethlehem (Matthew 2:5-6). We too must listen to the Lord at each turn by consulting His Word, which gives us prophecies, principles, and precepts.
- Prophecies help us with Dedication. The fulfilled prophecies of Christ’s first coming confirm that we can trust the prophecies of His second coming, driving our determination to be ready (Acts 1:11).
- Example: A child’s excitement for the rapture, wanting to be ready to meet Jesus.
- Principles help us with Direction. These are the foundational truths of God’s Word—the basics of Christian living (Hebrews 5:12). They ensure we are going the right way.
- Precepts help us with Decisions. These are the guidelines for living, assisting us at every fork in the road. By seeking God’s precepts, we gain understanding (Psalm 119:104) and walk at liberty without a guilty conscience (Psalm 119:45).
A Good Message from a Wicked Source
Ironically, even the despised and wicked King Herod delivered a good message: *”Go and search diligently for the young child” (Matthew 2:8). Though Herod had ulterior, murderous motives (as seen in the rest of Matthew 2), we can still extract the command: Go seek Jesus Christ!
Just as the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was finally awakened from his grief and depression by the church bells—leading him to write the carol I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day—we too must stop shutting God out and embrace the GPS, turning back to the Lord.
Continuing the Journey and Leaving the GPS On
The wise men finally arrived at the house, saw the young child with Mary, and fell down and worshipped him (Matthew 2:11.
Meeting, Worshiping, and Serving Jesus
They met Him, they worshipped Him, and then they served Him by presenting gifts:
- Gold – representing His Kingship.
- Frankincense – representing His Deity and purity.
- Myrrh – used in burial, representing that the King was born to die for our sins.
You may not have gold, frankincense, or myrrh, but you have a life and service you can give to Christ.
Leave the GPS On Freely
Their journey didn’t end at Bethlehem. The Lord immediately gave them the next direction in Matthew 2:12:
“And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.”
The Lord will never run out of direction. He is omnipotent. Your destination is the feet of Jesus, but your journey continues. We must keep in tune with the Lord and continue the journey by faith—from the cradle to the cross, and on to His coming again.
Friends, follow the directions God has given us. We are here to worship and serve Jesus Christ. Would you bow down to Him and follow the GPS to Christ today?
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