Trip of a Lifetime

I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up.

– Isaiah 49: 11

Who are Christ-followers?

Simply put, they're folks on a life-long spiritual journey that started one day by accepting Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. And all along the way they seek to know him better and do God's will with purpose and vision.

If you're one of these special travelers, you already know that the journey can

be rough at times. And that’s a reminder of a remarkable trip taken by some other special Christ-followers long ago: one that covered thousands of miles through deserts and rugged terrain — all for the purpose of meeting Jesus in person.  

These followers were called Magi, but if you’re familiar with the Christmas story, you might know them better as the Wise Men or the Three Kings. It's thought that they were astrologers from Babylon (ancient Iraq), who were familiar with the Old Testament prophesies about the Jewish people's long-awaited Messiah. Then one evening they recognized a brilliant star in the nighttime sky. It was a sign that was both breathtaking and unmistakable. And the Magi would soon follow it at all costs to find the king of Kings.

The Magi's journey more than 2,000 years ago holds lessons for modern-day Christ-followers like you and me. One is that following God can be both dangerous and demanding. Our winding spiritual pathway is full of hairpin turns and steep hills rather than smooth stretches of superhighway. And to reach their goal, the Three Kings chose the difficult route rather than a clearly marked boulevard. How often do we choose the easy way out of hard situations rather than doing the right thing?

The Magi's trek also reassures us that as Christ-followers, we will indeed find him if we search diligently. Moreover, the Wise Men lived up to their name because they not only recognized his star from a distance, they stayed on the path until they reached the destination.

What about you?

Easter — the celebration of our Savior’s victory over death — is right around the corner. Now's the time to take that first step by setting your sights on Jesus and opening your eyes, mind and heart to God's will for your life. As the saying goes, Wise Men still seek Him.