"Being Guided By Our Purpose"

Sermon Delivered By Reverend Richard E. Stetler – January 6, 2013

Centenary United Methodist Church

Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Matthew 2:1-12

 

    This morning we are going to consider the story of the three astrologers, a tradition that was recorded only in the Gospel of Matthew.  Since the Three Wise Men saw the star in the East, most likely the travelers came from Persia, where astrology had become a science.  Those that engaged in the study of the stars were revered in their societies, much like the prophets in the Hebrew traditions. 

    The men arrived in Jerusalem to secure accurate information about the birthplace of a child king.  When Herod learned of their request, he summoned his staff to find the location.  A scroll written by the prophet Micah was located and it named the town.  “The Lord says, ‘Bethlehem, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family-line goes back to ancient times.’” (Micah 5:2) 

    The ruler that received the Magi was Herod the Great who was well-known everywhere in the ancient world.  Most assuredly the three astrologers were aware of his political stature. He was best known for building the Temple in Jerusalem.  In fact, the building programs he initiated within his kingdom became part of his legacy.   

    Herod was also known for his extreme generosity.  He once suspended all taxation during a period when his country experienced a deep recession.   On another occasion, Herod used his own gold to purchase food for the starving Jews during a severe famine that took place 25 years before Jesus was born.

    No doubt, the astrologers also knew that Herod had a major flaw in his character.  Everyone in the ancient world knew of Herod’s dark side.  He was insanely suspicious of everyone in his court.  If there was even a hint that others were undermining his authority, he had them eliminated.  He murdered his wife and her mother.  He put to death three of his sons.  Caesar Augustus was so disgusted with Herod’s paranoia that he once remarked “It was safer to be one of Herod’s pigs than Herod’s son.”

    All the Middle East countries held the expectation that a mighty ruler was coming into the world possibly in their lifetime. Seventy-five years before Christ was born, the Roman historian Vespasian wrote “All over the Orient there is an established belief that in the future, men coming from Judaea would rule the world.”  Another historian wrote, “There is a firm persuasion among people that at this very time the East will grow very powerful and rulers coming from Judaea are destined to establish an empire of universal proportions.”

    Possibly an exploding star became the sign that the new ruler had been born, thus inspiring the Magi to make the journey. Once they learned that the site of his birth was Bethlehem, the three prepared to depart.  As they were leaving Herod said, “Go, and search carefully for the child.  When you find him, please send word to me so that I, too, may go and worship him.”  We can almost imagine the eye contact the three had with each other.  They knew that any such word coming to Herod would doom the child. 

    What lesson from this chapter during Jesus’ infancy can we take with us this morning?   These three individuals, revered in their homeland, set out on a specific purpose – to find a future king. The three Persians never wandered from that purpose.

    They were not interested in being entertained by Herod the Great.  They were not impressed by his opulent lifestyle and surroundings.  They were not persuaded by Herod’s false sincerity that he, too, wanted to honor the future king.  Nothing detained or distracted them from achieving their purpose and mission.  They accomplished what they set out to do and vanished from the pages of history.

    One of the characteristics that appears to be missing in many people’s lives is a purpose that guides them.  They are like ships that set sail with no specific port-of-call as a destination.  They remain vulnerable to everything from “getting in with the wrong crowd” to “making poor choices that later sabotaged their future.”

    The three Magi not only had a purpose but following that purpose provided them with a specific goal and an identity.  How different our lives would be if all of us possessed a fixed purpose for being here.

    There have been over a dozen people throughout my life that have said to me, “God’s intervention is the only reason I am alive today.  I heard the paramedics say, ‘No one could possibly have survived from such a mangled car!’ but here I am without a scratch.  I guess God has a purpose for keeping me alive.”

    It is a shame that anyone has to guess that God has a purpose for his or her life.  God has a purpose for each of our lives.  What is even more fascinating is that God has the same purpose for every man, woman and child.  That purpose is for all of us to look within ourselves, find the treasure that is there, develop it and share it with the world.

    I mentioned last week that everyone is one-of-a-kind.  None of us has the same treasure inside of us. When we discover our gifts, we become architects, composers, developers, physicians, researchers, historians, artists, machinists, teachers, etc. (Ephesians 4:11).  The list of what people can become is only limited by their lack of imagination. 

    Some people do not immediately develop a purpose because they enter the world without knowing who they are or what they have to offer.  Even after they have made a very challenging life for themselves, what they have the opportunity to learn is that their decisions did not work for them.  Even failure can teach people to choose again.  We can always learn to grow in a different direction.  This is the nature of God’s grace.

    Think of how having a unique identity and an established purpose can influence our lives.  Think of all the detours that we would miss when we remain faithful to that identity and purpose as the Magi had done.  Their chosen profession provided the purpose that took them to a ruler that would change the values, attitudes and beliefs held by those who paid attention.

    There is an ancient story that came from India long before Jesus was born.  It captures what can happen when we have an identity and a single-minded purpose.  The King of India was dying and he divided his kingdom among his five sons.  His first son had developed into a person that was spiritually wise beyond his years.

    The King said, “Even though you are the Crown Prince, I wish to divide India among my five sons.  However, I have chosen you for the purpose of watching over your brothers so that India continues to flourish and prosper.”  

    The years quickly passed and the five brothers reached the point where it became time for each of the men to divide their land among their sons and begin the journey to the great mountain to be with God. 

    Once the division was completed, the five of them set out on their journey.  One by one, however, the brothers fell by the wayside as they each pursued various distractions that greeted them.  Four of the sons lost sight of the purpose for their journey.  Only the Crown Prince and his dog made it to the base of the great mountain. 

    Suddenly, what looked like a fiery chariot descended from the top of the mountain. Holding the reins was a magnificent angel.  He came to carry the lone survivor of the family to Heaven.  After a warm greeting, the mood of their meeting quickly changed.  The angel told the Crown Prince that it was not possible for his dog to make the journey. The prince said, “Are you telling me that my best friend, my companion of 13 years cannot come with me?”  The angel said, “That is correct. Where I am taking you, these lesser life forms cannot come.” 

    After a long moment of hesitancy, the prince said, “You are asking me to abandon my partner. If Heaven has such a requirement, I cannot come with you.”  The angel asked, “Do you mean that you are willing to give up being with God, the Creator of the Universe, in order to stay with your dog?”  The prince responded, “No, I am always with God.  It is to Heaven that I do not wish to go.” The angel paused for a moment and then reluctantly allowed the dog to join the two of them in the chariot.

    “Where are my brothers?” the prince asked.  The angel said, “I am sorry about them.  Their lives have experienced one tragedy after another.  Their choices made it impossible for them to join you.  They did not cultivate what God had given them.  They were not as wise as you and cannot have the rewards that you so richly deserve.”

    The prince said, “Please take me to them.”  “Very well” said the angel, “but I can only go part way.  My powers will begin to weaken when I approach where they are.” The angel took him as far as he could.  Incredibly weakened, the angel said, “I cannot go any further.”  He pointed and said, “There are your brothers.” 

    The prince and his dog stepped from the chariot to be with his brothers.  The angel said, “Your love for your wayward brothers is that strong, that you would prefer to be with them than enter Heaven?” The prince said, “My father asked me to look after them. If they cannot be where I am, then I choose to be where they are.  Right now they need me more than I need Heaven.”

    Suddenly, God’s thunderous voice was heard throughout the universe.  “You are, indeed, the wisest and the most spiritually aware of your kind.  You may stay with your brothers so that you can teach and guide them.”

    Like the three astrologers and their single purpose to seek the new born king, the Crown Prince did not abandon his dog or his brothers even when the result of doing so appeared to be the loss of being in Heaven.   When we are guided by a purpose that is higher than our wants, needs and the prospect of receiving rewards, we become an instrument of creation.   

    The Magi found the infant and his mother in a home, deposited their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and returned to Persia never to be heard from again. Their faithfulness to their purpose, however, influenced the future.  The three left the region never realizing that their gifts would sustain Mary, Joseph and Jesus when they had to flee into Egypt. We hear about these three mysterious men once a year. The custom of gift-giving on Jesus’ birthday has stayed with us for two thousand years. 

    What is our purpose?  Again, when we do not have one, we are like a ship that proudly sets sail with no destination in mind.  Not knowing the location of the reefs around Bermuda is what caused over 300 ships to be lost. 

    Jesus once told Pontius Pilot, “I came into this world for one purpose and that is to teach the truth.”  (John 18:37)  In spite of how his world responded to him, Jesus stayed with his purpose and all of us have been richer as a result.  What can God do with our lives when we stay on track with the purpose we discovered?