Posted by
Terry Hestilow on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 3:06:38 AM
Last year this old soldier was on active duty in the far western province of Farah in the war torn nation of Afghanistan. While there I had the great blessing of serving as the "Religious Activities Director" for our small chapel on Forward Operating Base Farah. It was awesome serving, in effect, as the pastor of the last chapel east of Iran, where worshiping Christ would not be met with threats against your life. Our chapel was known as "Heaven's Outpost" for good reason! I shall never forget the joy of serving that wonderful congregation in God's tabernacle in the wilderness of western Afghanistan.
As a support to the chapel program I wrote and published a weekly Christian devotion. I have decided to publish last year's Christmas devotion again this Christmas Eve on my blog. I do so this year from the comfort and relative safety of Fort Worth, Texas. While I cannot tell you what the status of that chapel is today (religious support is very limited the further you get from a major headquarters these days) I know that soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and a host of others are still out there in the field keeping us safe. Keep them in your prayers.
I pray you have a Merry Christmas, too! Hope you are blessed by the devotion.
Dear friends,
Merry Christmas! Our devotion this week looks into the nature and character of the star that guided the Magi to Christ Jesus on that first Christmas so long ago and reflects upon the wisdom and faithfulness of the wise men who came looking for the promised Savior. I pray that you are blessed by the devotion and encouraged to pursue the true Light the wise men sought in Bethlehem so long ago. God bless you as you take time to study God’s Word!
You will find the current devotion, “Foundations for Faith and Fellowship in Farah” for December 23, 2007, [below]. Thank you for the opportunity to share this devotional message with you.
This Christmas Eve, may you experience the same wonder and joy of both the Shepherds and the Magi; the Shepherds in learning that they were included in the invitation to receive Christ; and the Magi in discovering the True Light of God. Peace be with you. Amen
Your friend and fellow laborer in Christ,
Terry
Foundations for Faith and Fellowship in Farah
A devotional publication for Christians serving in Farah, Afghanistan
Published weekly in support of the chapel program at
Heaven’s Outpost Chapel
Forward Operating Base, Farah, Afghanistan
Captain Terry M. Hestilow, Publisher Sunday, December 23, 2007
Scripture Reference Text:
Matthew 2:1-12; Focal Text: 2:1-2
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBILE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society. Used by permission.
For at least a month now I have been fascinated by the brilliant beauty of the planet Mars as it dominates the night sky in intensity with the singular exception of the moon. Nearing the point in space where it is nearest to our own planet, Mars announces itself with a brightness that cannot be ignored and identifies itself with its unique hint of red tinge. Indeed, when the moon is playing companion to the sun and unavailable for night viewing, on the darkened landscape of western Afghanistan the planet performs its solo act attracting nearly every eye to embrace it on its nightly traverse of the star filled sky.
As we near the celebration of Christmas in this Middle Eastern nation, the western mind is naturally stirred to question what the world of Christ must have been like over two-thousand years ago. So, too, our observation of this bright planet naturally and logically calls to mind the exceptionally bright star that alerted and guided the Magi to Christ’s presence on that first Christmas.
“What was the nature of that star?” we ask. Could it have been such a planet coming so close to the earth and traveling on a trajectory that, following it over time, would have led the religious astronomers (note: not “astrologers!”), the “wise” men of their time, to the very manger in which Jesus had been lain? Perhaps it was not just one planet? Some have suggested it was the apparent intersection of two or more celestial bodies occupying a point in the night sky combining their corporate illumination to produce a phenomenon so bright that prophecy students of that day would have known this was the star spoken of by the prophet Micah (Micah 5:2). Could it have been of such a natural character; or must it have been a miracle of God, known only to Him and the angels of Glory?
Problematic in such a natural theory is the fact that Herod’s own wise men did not have a clue that the sky had changed its appearance at all. Perhaps that is because, to them, there was nothing observed in the night sky that was of any new significance? To them, perhaps, there was no star!
Notice, Herod "...was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born" [Matthew 2:3b-4 (NIV)]. Herod's advisors knew the prophecy, but they had seen no star to follow. In the end, Herod returned to the Magi from the east (presumably Babylon), and told them to come back and tell him where the child was when they had found him. Herod's "priests and teachers of the law" had no celestial guides. Quite clearly, only the Magi from the east could see the star.
Finally, Scripture tells us, “After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was” [Matthew 2:9 (NIV)].
Planets may appear to stop, and even reverse course; but not in a night. Clearly, the “star they had seen in the east” was a personal guide sent from Heaven to guide them to Jesus’ location so that they might behold God’s Savior.
Mars is beautiful and brilliant in the Christmas sky this year. Combined with Jupiter, Venus and perhaps Regulus, the illumination value would be incredible; but, the evidence of Scripture indicates that the star of the Magi was both supernatural and personal in nature.
You don’t need a celestial object to lead you to the Christ child this Christmas. Turn to the pages of Scripture and by the supernatural illumination of God’s Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that inspired the Magi to follow a star, you too can know his loving presence and receive his gift of salvation. God bless you, and have a Merry Christmas.
Copyright © Terry M. Hestilow, 2007