Some Places You Just Can’t Go Back!
One of the fascinating stories around the birth of Jesus had to do with certain men, only called "wise men" from the East who saw a star that led them to the Christ Child. Imagine that across the world, with no internet, no television, or radio – God painted a message in the sky that these men should travel west to see His Son.
Upon their arrival, they naturally sought out the King to inquire where this special child should be. Herod, appearing to want to know this information told them to let him know when they found the child. Of course, Herod wanted to know so he could kill him, but the wise men didn’t know that.
As they continued their search, suddenly the star appeared over where the Christ Child was:
So they went into the house and saw the little child with his mother Mary. And they fell on their knees and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts—gold, incense and myrrh. Then, since they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by a different route. Matthew 2:12 (PHILLIPS)
God, knowing the heart of Herod, spoke to these wise men in a dream that they should neither return to Herod or go back to their country the same way they had come. These "wise men" obeyed.
Thinking on this, I wonder how many of us God has warned, not to go back. Not to return the same way we came. Not to return to the same people that seemingly were excited about what we were doing. H-m-m-m-m, wonder how many of us the world will remember as being wise?
Maria