Matt 2:1-12

These wise men from the east were heathen/pagans even as all of our forefathers too, before the light of the Gospel dawned on them. In Northern Germany they used to walk around in skins, like some of the African nations. They were also a very rough, fighting nation. They used to fight and conquer other nations and sacrifice them to their gods. Some of the altars where human sacrifices are believed to have taken place are still there to this day. Similarly, the Dutch and the British were pagans before the Gospel reached them. God had chosen the Jews as His people, so that He might bless all the nations of the earth through them (Gen 18:18; 22:18; 26:3-5; 28:14-15).

Let us consider for a moment how and why these wise men came. Numerous prophets from the Old Testament prophesied about the coming of the Messiah. Daniel, for example, who was a Jewish captive in Persia (probably modern Iraq), even prophesied about the very time the Messiah would come and die for our sins. We read in Dan 9:21-26, "Gabriel ... informed me, and talked with me, and said, "Seventy weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint the Most Holy.
25 “ Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street shall be built again, and the wall,
Even in troublesome times.
26 “ And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself ..."

So the coming of the Messiah was expected. When Mary and Joseph brought the Child Jesus to be circumcised Anna and Simeon were there in the temple expecting His coming and said, "Now Lord let your servant depart in peace according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation." Anna, a prophetess, "spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem." (Luke 2:25-38)

Even the pagans knew about the prophesies. These wise men from the east didn't come just to gain knowledge; above all they wanted to worship the Child. This is the crux of the matter. Maybe you have travelled a long way in life to gain wisdom and you're seeking after the truth. However, if you're not primarily seeking the Child your search is damned and won't profit you. It is the curse of this world when people seek after fame, knowledge and riches, but neglect the Child of Bethlehem. If you want wisdom without the Child you'll be a clever devil. If you want riches without the Child you'll be a godless man.

To worship this Child must be your main aim; everything else must become secondary. You're not a fool if you seek this Child. The fulness of wisdom is in Him.

Even governments miss the mark completely by stating that primarily men must be educated and receive riches. Such a scheme is doomed to certain failure. The Child must be first.

Theologians will never be on the right road and find the answers they seek unless they be like these wise men and seek the Child first. Fools are they who seek anything else above the Child. Even if such become rich they will go to hell with their riches.

When these wise men came to the Child they didn't come to receive or seek after riches but they brought of their own riches to give to Him, for He was the One they sought.

For pagans anything goes, and they are "free". If they want to they divorce and marry after their desires, be homosexual, steal, lie, gossip, slander, desire, defile their own bodies and look at pornography. The heathen can do those things but the children of God must have self-control. As a Christian you must exercise self-control over your body and mortify it together with its lusts and desires. A Christian seeks after righteousness, is upright and strive to live at peace with everyone.

These are the works of the pagans and the works of a Christian. Consider your own works whether you're truly a Christian or a pagan.

Only the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ can overcome and change a heathen/pagan into a Christian, for it is the power of God unto salvation. By reading and hearing God's Word it goes deep down and changes a person. It's the Living Word of God which transforms a person.

If you have met this Child then your aim will be that the other heathen might also meet Him. When God has helped you then it's your duty to help the other heathens who haven't met with Him.

However, to win the heathens around you to Christ, you must be transformed. You must confess your sins. It is bitter and difficult to confess your sins but it must be done. Myrrh is bitter as gall but it heals the worst wounds. So when we come to Jesus let's come with our gold, frankincense and myrrh. Let's sacrifice all we have. This bitterness symbolises genuine godly sorrow. You cannot truly repent unless you know godly sorrow for your sins.

These wise men sought the Child until they found Him. They gave Him all they had; and you must do the same otherwise you'll live like a fool, pretending to be a Christian, but without the power.