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I-442
"We have seen his star and have come..." Surely there were others who also saw his star. Certainly the chief priests, the scribes and the Pharisees were exposed to the pure white gleam of that first century "satellite." Yet, as far as we know, not one of them had any spiritual awareness that the day for which Israel had prayed and longed had finally come.

They knew all the prophecies. They were keen-eyed students of the scriptures. They were experts in the law. In terms of religious indoctrination, they were as high above the wisemen as Mount Everest stands above yonder hill. But with all their knowledge they were blind to what was happening around them.
They knew the doctrine but the wise men made the discovery!
Why? Because the wise men followed what little light they had and acted on the vision, however veiled, which was theirs.

From "What Made The Wise Men Wise?"

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I-443
Right now I'm thinking of some of the people I have known who began with a tiny mustard seed of faith and by using it saw that tiny mustard seed of faith move aside a great mountain range of doubt. A few weeks ago, as part of our Tuesday night vistation program, John Hill and I called in the home of a fine young man. After a few minutes of conversation, it became quite apparent that this young father and husband was an earnest seeker after truth. His religious background was scant. His working knowledge of the Christian faith was almost nil. He had some serious questions and doubts, but he also had the one indispensable ingredient God is looking for -- an open mind and a hungry heart.

The trouble with most of the people who say they cannot find God is that they undertake the task with a hermedically sealed mind. They are unteachable and, as a consequence, they are unreachable. They wonder why God does not reveal himself to them, but I'm afraid they cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman! But such was not the case with Jack. He wanted to know God, So I made a bargain with him. It was the same bargain I've made with many others.

I challenged him to accept God at his word. To truly seek him with all his heart, mind, soul and strength. To begin each day with a prayer asking God to reveal himself. To try in every way to honestly put himself in a position where God could speak to him. To attend church faithfully. To take part in Sunday school and the Hour of Power on Wednesday nights. To read selected passages of Scripture which were directed especially toward the seeking heart. And to do this for six months. If at the end of that period of time God had not kept his half of the bargain by making himself known, Jack would be free to go on living as if there were no God.

He said, "Fair enough. I'll do it!"

That was, as I've said, a Tuesday night. The following Sunday morning when I gave the invitation Jack Howard walked down the aisle. It hadn't taken six months for God to keep his promise. Like the wise men of old, this young man had followed the little bit of light which was his, and it led him to Jesus. That hasn't marked the end of his questions or his seeking or his doubts. He's still growing. But last night, when I called to ask permission to tell his story, Jack told me he wants to be baptized New Year's Eve!

From "What Made The Wise Men Wise?"

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I-444
Right now l'm thinking of another young man for whom I have prayed for many months. He, too, has been faced with some serious intellectual problems. For several weeks he has been praying,
"O God, if there is a God I want to know you, and if Jesus is the Savior
I want to believe in him."
The last time I visited with him in his home he said, "Whatever it takes, I want to believe in God."
He's not far from the Kingdom! He's not far from that glorious moment when he stops praying: "O God, if..." and simply says: "O God!" And when that moment comes the deed will be done. With your prayers and his persistence he will soon know Jesus. So pray for him, please! His name is Honest Seeker. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

It's not God's purpose to hide from you. He is not trying to make himself difficult to find. And he has not left your "sky" without its star. If you want to find him and be found by him, all you to do is, like the wisemen of old, act upon the vision that is yours. William Law put it this way: "When the first spark of a desire after God arises in your soul,
give all your heart to it. Follow it. It will lead you to the birth of Jesus - in your own heart."

From "What Made The Wise Men Wise?"

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I-445
"And they fell down and worshiped him. When they had opened their
treasury, they gave him gifts.."

Imagine coming to Christ for any other motive than to gain something from him! It's contrary to everything we've ever heard. The popular religions of our day have taught us to look upon God as a kind of cosmic bellhop who is convenient to have around whenever we need him. One who can do us favors. Can pull us out of tight spots. Can answer our prayers. Can be a kind of Handy-Andy.

We've thought of Christ as someone it's nice to know because he gives us peace of mind. The assurance of salvation. Eternal life. But whoever heard of coming to Christ, not for what you can gain from him, but for what you can give to him!

From "What Made The Wise Men Wise?"

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I-446
The thing that made the unselfish worship of the wise men so beautiful is that it is so rare. We tend to look upon Christ as merely a source of help. Well, he is a source of help, but I think the word "merely" must hurt him deeply. To be sure, he is bread to the hungry and healing to the sick. He is guidance for the wanderer and strength for the weary. He is comfort for the sorrowing and salvation for the sinful. He is your helper! But - he is not your helper -- merely! He is your Lord and your God as well. And apart from anything he may do for you he is still infinitely worthy of your ardent, poured-out love and worship.

From "What Made The Wise Men Wise?"

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I-447
The other evening, as I stood in the driving rain watching our Outdoor Christmas Pageant, I couldn't help but hear the comments of the crowd: "Beautiful." "Wonderful." "Impressive." "Done with dignity and good taste." "It makes me feel warm and good inside." And I thought to myself, why? What is there about the Christmas story that so captivates people's hearts? A few shepherds in a field? Nothing impressive about that. A brilliant star in the sky? Millions have seen Haley's comet. A mass of people going to pay their taxes? That's nothing to write home about. Three man on a long and tiring journey? Nothing special about that, either. Even a baby surrounded by doting parents is not an un-familiar sight.

Then what is there about the Christmas story which grips us? As I reflect on the biblical record of wisemen kneeling...shepherds prostrate on the ground... angels singing praise to God... it hit me with incredible force. This is a scene of worship. Here are the rich and the poor, the high and the lowly, the animals of earth and the angels of heaven all joined in the act of giving worship and praise to God. Of giving Jesus the homage and devotion he is due. "We have seen his starry and the East and have come to worship him."

From "What Made The Wise Men Wise?"

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I-448
Dr. Clovis Chappel, one of the truly great preachers of today, raises that question. In developing the supposition he visualizes one of the wisemen decades later. Chappel imagines him as an aged grandfather with his little grandson on his knee. He is telling the boy - in vivid and gripping detail -- the most wonderful story ever told.

His grandson listens enraptured as the old man relives the soul-stirring experience of that night when the glory of heaven burst upon the world and angelic choruses sang
"Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."
Then, Dr. Chappel has the old man stop abruptly His grandson asks him excitedly:
"But is that all, grandpa? Was it true? Was the Christ child really born?"

The old man shakes his white head sadly and answers:
"I don't know. Some say it's true. But I don't know for sure.
I was on a journey and I didn't take time to stop and see."

From "What Made The Wise Men Wise?"

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