Epiphany: A Revival of the Heart

Every early January we celebrate Epiphany, a Christian festival commemorating the journey of the Magi or Three Kings to Bethlehem. They followed a divine star in the sky that led them to the Christ child. These Wise Men recognized Jesus’ identity as King, while the rest of the world remained unaware. This earth-shattering revelation quietly came to pass, even though no witnesses except a few shepherds acknowledged it. On the first epiphany a revival of the heart occurred in the magi, suddenly transforming them from stargazers to star followers.

It wasn’t enough for them to see the star and simply recognize its magnificence. Something in its appearance moved them to act. Without hesitation, the magi set off to find this newborn King of the Jews and bring Him gifts appropriate for his station. Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

Some scholars believe it took two years for them to arrive in Bethlehem. Certainly, after such a pilgrimage, the magi returned to their homeland as changed people. Nothing about their lives would ever be the same.

Such is the nature of epiphany. It is an ‘A-ha’ moment when something hidden all of a sudden becomes clear. A door opens. An idea is born. In every situation, an epiphany changes the recipient in an inexplicable way. Stargazers become star followers. Life will never be the same.

Yet epiphanies aren’t necessarily dramatic occurrences like the rising of a new star. Often, they are simple, inconspicuous observations only noticed by a few.

God reaches down through everyday epiphanies to let us know that He sees you and still loves you. You don’t have to be a ‘Wise Man’ to experience epiphany. God will reveal himself to you in common, ordinary circumstances. Are you prepared to recognize Him in these moments?

Your personal epiphany may be through a beautiful sight in the sky. But another time it could be a chance meeting of an old friend or a blessing out of the blue. Whatever the circumstance, allow this revival of the heart to fill you up with joy. Open your eyes to see and your ears to hear. Through everyday epiphanies, God reveals His message of grace and love for all who choose to believe. This is a gift from God.

But also, don’t fail to recognize the lessons found in the story of the Magi and apply them to your own life. We, like them, have a choice to make. We can decide to remain as stargazers, only admiring Jesus from a far. The path to follow Jesus’ star and emulate His life is certainly long and often hard. Besides, what gifts could we possibly bring that are fit for a king?

Few of us possess material goods anything like gold, frankincense, and myrrh. However, neither did the shepherds yet that didn’t deter them from running head long to Jesus on the night of His birth. It doesn’t matter to Jesus whether you come to Him in wealth or in poverty. His arms are open, not only to those with lives put together, but especially to those whose lives are falling apart.

Jesus offers a revival of the heart. Come just as you are to seek the newborn King.

After the wise men heard the king, they left. The star that they had seen in the east went before them until it stopped above the place where the child was. When the wise men saw the star, they were filled with joy. They came to the house where the child was and saw him with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their gifts and gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their own country by a different way.

Matthew 2:9-12 NCV