I may not be a wise man but like them I love to star gaze. There is such beauty in the twinkling night sky. To think that each of those shining lights are massive orbs of burning gas, that they are the suns of other universes so far, far away. Even more exciting is the knowledge that some of the lights have already gone out but it takes so long for the light to reach us that it is still shining long after it is gone. Fabulous, wonderful, beautiful stars. The wise men watched them for signs, and one was the sign of the star that showed the coming of the king of kings. They saw the star and they followed it.

This must have been a miraculous thing to witness. How could it be that the star that shown that night was somehow brighter and unique when it shone in the sky above, surrounded by so many other stars. But if you believe the story, you must admit that the star was not just a star like any other. It also did not just shine for one night like some might assume, since the true story has the wise men arriving sometime after Christ’s birth. It was sometime within two years after Christ was born. Two or younger was the death order that Harrod gave, so it gave us a timeline.  It is true that the wise men did arrive when Jesus was a babe, but not when he was a newborn babe.  

This got me thinking. There was a fabulous, unique outstanding star that shone night after night, but only the wise men followed? Wouldn’t everyone see it? Why didn’t everyone recognize its significance?

Instead, only that group of wise men watched and waited and saw if for the sign it was. I think this is significant because it reveals the truth. You will not see a sign, no matter how obvious it is, even if you observe it, you won’t recognize it, unless you are looking for it. God opened the wise man’s eyes, these heathen kings’ eyes, to see the sign of his sons coming and they brought gifts to honor him. 

They honored this humble child as the king of kings. They were important men from other parts of the world. Imagine it, first they had to know what the sign was, obviously it was something that they had been waiting on and looking for as well, and when they finally saw it, they had to respond. People will say well if God just sends me a sign, then I’ll listen. Perhaps he already has but your eyes were closed to it, you didn’t know what you were actually looking at when you saw it, or your heart was not open to receive it. You have to know what the sign is that you’re looking for. 

Like the wise men we have been given notice about signs that will occur before Christ returns to us once again. Not unlike the first time, many will not see the signs or recognize the signs though they will be obvious and though the signs will continue for an extended period of time just like the star. 

We can learn from the star the lesson of looking, waiting, watching, and then acting. When the wise man saw the star, they prepared and began to travel. This was no short journey. It was hard to travel back in those times, uncomfortable even. There were no planes, trains, sat NAV to guide, posh hotels or on the road entertainment. They saw that beautiful star and followed in a dusty, hot, dirty, long caravan. I imagine the cargo must have been heavy. But they went. You see a sign is a call to action, to preparation. 

Like a woman about to begin labor, every twinge and feeling triggers the thoughts “is it time, is this it?” She watches for the signs that it’s real labor. The long process gives time for the woman to get ready. When you look for the signs, you won’t be surprised, or at least you won’t be caught unprepared. If a woman doesn’t pay attention to the signs soon enough, she could end up having her baby at home, in her car on the way, or a million other potential places. So it vital she pay close attention and look for the signs. In some ways this was like what it was for these wise men. They watched with expectation, not knowing when but anticipating, and when they saw the signs they responded and went and traveled far so they could see the child king of kings. So, they could worship and honor him as he deserved. 

We watch, we recognize, we act, all because we see the signs. The first time Christ came only these foreign kings, the wise men, and the shepherds whom the angels sent the night of his birth realized what happened. Outside of those already mentioned and Mary, Joseph, and Elizabeth no one else recognized his coming. The next time Christ comes, it’ll be different. You see as believers all of us should be looking, watching, waiting, living as his children by faith and believing that we will see him come again.  We should be actively keeping our lamps burning and full of oil as we await our bridegroom. The day Christ comes as the Mighty Son of God.  He will split the eastern sky coming in power and authority and take us to himself.

It’s true, I did not get to see the star as the wise men did, instead I wait to see the Son of man returning in the clouds. He promised to come again, he told us the signs to look for, and he advised us to get ready!

This is not an easy road that we are called to as believers, this is not for the faint of heart or the impatient. We must be ever alert and stay ready. But what a day it will be!

Can you imagine how they felt, those wise men, when they finally arrived after their long journey at that humble home and the even more humble king. Those mighty wise men bowing low to worship. All the anticipation, expectation, effort, sacrifice, and miles traveled spent just for the opportunity to worship, and give him gifts, and then go back home. 

Their journey is a little bit different than ours. You see when we receive our promise of Christ return, Christ will take us all to our home with him.  There will be no long return journey. Just think, as lovely as that magnificent and unique star was that shone the way for those wise men so long ago, The Son of Man’s return will be more brilliant.  When he comes he will shine brighter than we could ever imagine, in a moment in a twinkling of an eye all of our watching and waiting finally come to fruition. So, we have a light we’re looking to see also in the sky, our true star – Jesus – and we look to see Christ come again, split the eastern sky and shines brighter than any star ever could.