The Wrangell Sentinel

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
By Rev. Paul F. Evans, Pastor

"And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." St. Matthew 2:10.

One of the great mysteries connected with the birth of Jesus is the appearance of the guiding star. It was a mystery to the wisemen, even as they followed it faithfully. It is just such a mystery to us as we look back upon it from the vantage point of nineteen hundred and fifty-three years. It was a part of the vast miracle by which "God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven."

But as those wisemen looked into the sky, there were other stars. There must have been bright stars shining that night ... stars that left for the wisemen a choice as to which one they would follow. That is one of the ways God works with men. Mankind is always given a choice of good. The way is made plain. Light is shed upon the right path.

So there must have been other stars in the sky. One led them to the Christ Child, the other led away from Him. It was the brightest star in their heaven.

After the intervening centuries, we see the same stars today which those wisemen saw, in a symbolic sense. The star which they followed, some of us let go by; and the ones that the wisemen rejected, we follow. They looked to the brightest star, and it led them to the Christ. When we have followed the lesser stars, we have been led away from the manger.

The star that those wisemen followed led them to the lowly Babe. By our standards appearance there was nothing of majesty and grandeur in that manger. In realistic terms all that was there was just the com-
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
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Common things that are found in barns the smell of hay, the noise of restless animals, cows, mules and sheep. The cattle had been driven from the manger and on top of their hay, wrapped in swaddling clothes, was a tiny baby. That was His crib. Can you think of any more common condition for the birth of a baby?

There was no pleasant room for Him. No cosy, crackling fireside light: But just a manger damp and dim to greet Him on that Christmas night.

That was a common man born in common surroundings, who was to be born King of Heaven and Earth. But it seems that we might well say, God must have loved the common people because He sent His son to live and work and die among them and for them.

From the common character of His birth, to which the Wisemen were guided by the star, we know something of the nature of the Christ child. He was to be Savior of the people not alone to the rich and the mighty, not alone to the poor and to the downtrodden, but to all men. And He becomes the savior to those who would follow the guiding star which points to Bethlehem's manger.

I TOO MANY OF US HAVE TURNED ASIDE FROM THE HUMILITY POINTED TO BY THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. How easy it is to follow the wrong star! And how human, too! There is within the heart of man the desire to rise above the lowly earth to the vaulted skies. That is good if it is the desire of the soul to rise to the things of the Spirit. That is where the Star of Bethlehem leads. But how easy it is to confuse the stars.

The star that leads to the common people, the common tasks, the common useful life is often confused with the Star that leads to the Presence of Christ. One star leads to the appreciation of and devotion to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom on earth and in heaven, while the other stars lead us away from Him to 'keeping up with the Jones.'

The wise men saw many stars, but only one pointed them to a true and abiding faith with God. It was for a sign to strengthen the faith that the old world was so much in need. 'Oh,' they said, 'if God could only be with us. If we could only touch and see, and hear Him, then we would believe.'

So God came to be with them. The star which the wisemen followed pointed to faith in the reality of God. If they had not believed they would not have traveled over trackless desert sands just to see a baby.

The wisemen did not lose their faith or their vision. They followed the star to the manger in Bethlehem, and the star pointed the way to the Love of God.

II. BUT THE LOVE OF GOD IS WONDEROUSLY SHOWN AT BETHLEHEM.

"For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son . . . that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The love of God was so great that Christ came to earth in the form of a common man. The star that the wisemen followed pointed to a faith in God in His reality and in His love, which we must see if we would find the inner meaning of life and Christmas.

Many stars were seen. One pointed to faith in God the other to faith in man. The one they have followed we have lost: and the ones they counted loss, we follow. Man has become the measure. It is in man his inventions, his ability, his designs - that we have placed our trust.

In the light of the star that points to faith in man alone, we are headed for sure disaster, whether as a single man or as a nation of men. It is in God that we should trust.

Many people have failed to think correctly concerning God. They have even failed to think correctly concerning Christmas. Several people from the city were asked the same question by a sidewalk interviewer. The question was "What to your mind is the real spirit of Christmas?" One person thought it was symbolized in the bills that would be due January 1. Five others thought it was gifts, dinners, and gaiety. One person felt that Christmas had to do with the Prince of Peace, and "Peace on earth good will toward men." That person was an artist.

That is what our neighbor thinks Christmas means! What do you think? Does it not in any way remind the people of our town, and this nation that Jesus Christ is Savior of the world?

We, like wisemen, have seen several stars. One points to faith in God, the others to faith in men. Have we chosen the latter? They saw many stars. One pointed to the true Spirit of Christmas, the others to the false Christmas spirit. The true Christmas Spirit had a hold on the wisemen, for they followed the star to the presence of Christ.

For these wise men, by following that star, found the most precious Gift, the Savior of the world. Have you found Christ? Are you following His star?