Christmas is the season of splendor and brightness. Decorations are pleasing to the eye; gift giving a way to express our love; and parties that gather family and friends reminding us of the blessing of community. Of course above all, we celebrate the incarnation – the glorious birth of the God-Man, Christ Jesus.

A group of Magi, foreigners from the East, saw a star rise, and escorted by its splendor, they navigated their way to the bright and morning star. Rev. 22:16 As the first worshipers of the Messiah they encountered opposition from King Herod who was disturbed at the news of another king. Having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Mt. 2:12

That is the reaction of the world system to our faith in Christ. Once you bring him the gift of your life and worship at His feet, you become a target of the enemy. There is a dark king, the god of this world, who schemes to offer lesser lights, the glitter of earthly treasure to distract us from gaining heavenly treasure. Like the wise men, we must find another route to travel.

Living life on the path of discovery, in every season of life, is always worth the journey. Our ultimate destination is a heavenly city that does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. Rev. 21:23

May God give us grace and strength to walk in the light as He is in the light, to renew our pledge of allegiance to the bright and morning star.