A few people were looking, watching, hoping the day in prophecy would come—the day their Messiah/Savior would be born in Bethlehem. To them (Micah 5:2) contained God’s words which said: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Not man’s.
As such, they could be trusted. So, the believers searched the Scriptures, sifting through clues God had provided to the prophets. And they believed those clues. And they watched for them. And they prayed their appearance was near.
And some 2,000 years ago, God answered those prayers. The prophesied fourth world empire was in place, “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever” (Daniel 2:44). All the conditions had been met. In an instant, the key sign appeared—a special “star” became visible to those who were looking. It was an announcement for which “Magi” in the East (likely Babylon) had been waiting.
Seeing it in the eastern sky, they started for Jerusalem. But when they arrived, likely to their surprise, no one else seemed to have seen the sign. If they did see it, they failed to understand that it signaled the birth of the Messiah. Jesus had been born in Bethlehem. In a unique moment in time, part of the Godhead was transported from Heaven into the physical world.
At that time, it was the greatest moment in history. But most people didn’t see it. They weren’t looking. One day, the same Scriptures that told of His first arrival tell us He will return. In a second. In “the twinkling of an eye.” And little will have changed. Most people will still not be looking. They will not participate in what will then become the greatest moment in time— God’s “Welcome Home” party for those who are watching.
~Adapted from Kenny Barfield
0 Comments