Today is the Sunday before the feast of the Epiphany. In case that's a new word to you, Epiphany means "illumination" or "manifestation." Christians have long-celebrated the manifestation of God's love for the world through Jesus' birth by telling the story of the wise men and the star.

However, we know far less about these magi than tradition implies.

For example, tradition says they were kings. One of our hymns this morning draws from this tradition. "We three Kings of Orient are…" Of course, when I was a kid, we preferred the version that said, "We three Kings of Orient are, tried to light a loaded cigar. It was loaded, and exploded. Now all we see are stars!" This is all based upon tradition, both historic and adolescent tradition. But the Bible says nothing about this.

Tradition tells us the names of the kings. Balthasar, dark-skinned and handsome, was king of Arabia. Melchior was an elderly royal, with grey hair. He was king of Persia. Caspar, the king of India, was young and beardless. So the kingly tradition goes. But the Bible says none of this.

Tradition also says they came riding on camels, but again, the Bible is silent on the issue of transportation. And, of course, we are led to believe there were three wise men, but that tradition stems from the Biblical mention of the three gifts - gold and frankincense and myrrh. Easter Orthodox tradition holds there were something like twelve kings, but once again, the Bible does not tell us any of this.

So what does the Bible actually say?

Well, Matthew tells us these people were magi. In those days, there were two kinds of magi. Some were magicians, soothsayers, astrologers - the kind that have 900 numbers and advertise on TV late at night.

The other magi were learned individuals, with a pre-scientific interest in astronomy. They were seekers of the truth and often counselors and advisors to kings. That these magi in the Epiphany story find it normal to consult with king Herod upon arrival in Judea suggests their comfort in rubbing elbows with royalty.

But perhaps the most important thing we know about the magi is that they were Gentiles. Non-Jews. With a heavenly star to guide them to the Christ child, what we Christians believe most about the story of the Wise Men is that they reveal that God's love is for everyone!

And in the story of the magi, this worldwide, religion-transcending, all-encompassing love is illuminated and manifested - a wonderful Epiphany of grace!

So Christ is not just for Jews, but for Gentiles, too. Not just for believers, but atheists. Not just for the well, but also for the sick. Not just for the old, but surely for the young.

Jesus came for everyone.

And if that's true, then we must own up to the responsibility that God's love, so wonderfully experienced and received in our church setting here at Tellico Village Community Church, is not just for us, but to be shared with others, too. And in the same way, your experience of Jesus' love and healing grace is intended not only for your own consumption, but also to be given as a gift to others! The Light did not come to be hidden under a bushel. Or even in someone's heart.

The Light came to shine as an Epiphany for everyone!

So an important question to ask ourselves this morning is, "What can WE do, as individuals, as families, and as a church, to let Christ's light shine?"

Let me explore with you three ways we can respond to that question. Three ways that are illustrated in the story of the wise men and the star.

First, I want you to notice that the star they see is in the distance. And I want to challenge you this morning to let there be some distance between yourself and God.

Does that sound strange to you?

Quite honestly, its my observation that one of the primary reasons God has become so obscured in our society today is because we may have gotten too close to him.

For instance, there is a war raging on in the Church today about whether we ought to call God he or she, father or mother, Lord or lover - or by any one of a number of other titles. Do you know what I'm talking about?

Not to say that there are not important issues to be explored here, I nonetheless find myself thinking we have come a long, long way from the days of the Bible when God was called Yahweh because it was felt God's real name was too sacred to even be whispered by mere mortals.

Have we made God into "just one of the boys…or girls? Have we made God into a caricature of ourselves, a product of our own imagination and culture and interpretation?

I have often heard people say, "I can't believe that a God of love can be a God of judgement." And I wonder if that statement by itself doesn't indicate that many people have no interest in finding out who and what God really is, preferring instead to personally predetermine what God will be allowed to be.

Have we lost our sense of the distance - the difference between creature and Creator? Have we lost that sense of reverence and awe reflected in the Psalm that says, "The Lord is in his holy temple…let all the earth keep silence before him!"?

I have a friend whose name is George. Brilliant man. Genius level IQ. Successful executive with a major corporation, devoted family man, wonderful church leader.

When George was in grammar school the teacher asked the class to go around the circle, each one sharing what he or she wanted to be when they grew up. Along with several others, in those days of the '50's, George blurted out that he wanted to become an astronaut.

Trouble is, when George said "astronaut", it came out sounding sort of funny as a result of the cleft pallet he'd been born with.

Right away, the teacher said, "You know, George, astronauts have to be able to speak very clearly. Maybe you should become a truck driver."

No disrespect intended for truck drivers who keep our society moving and well-supplied. But the tragedy was that George's teacher ignorantly predetermined who and what George was. I wonder how surprised the teacher would be to know of George's great success in life?

You see, its tempting to decide ahead of time what another person is like. And many of us have done this with God.

But the challenge of the Epiphany story is come to God with reverence and respect. And to let God teach us who and what he is.

The star the magi followed was in the distance. They were awed and fascinated by it. They were focused on it. Overwhelmed by its attraction. Full of wonder at what it might mean and willing to go and learn its secrets.

Will you follow God this way? For, if you do, you will not only discover wonderful gifts for yourself, but you will also hold out to others the glimpse of a God unlike the predetermined god of the secular world. A God whose different and unique character can revolutionize peoples' lives and meet their every need.

Will you let yourself go and be fascinated and curious about this God who is like no other! Ask God, in this New Year, to teach you who he is. Study the Scripture. Engage him in prayer. Listen to what other people of faith have experienced.

Second, we are told that the star went before them! As the magi followed, the star seemed to move!

You see, the Light of the world is a light that draws us ahead.

Those who are content with a God of their own creation and imagination are people who almost never really grow or change spiritually or morally. They don't need to. They already live up to the standard of themselves!

But if our God is this God reflected in the birth of Jesus, then we are challenged to step beyond where we are!

Where we are enslaved - by other people, by drugs or alcohol, by prejudice, by destructive behavior - we are called to freedom!

Where we are lazy, we are called to work!

Where we are irresponsible, we are called to take up responsibility!

Where we hate, we are called to love.

Where we are hurt, we are called to forgive!

Where we are preoccupied with ourselves and our own needs, we are called to give ourselves to others!

The star draws us from where we are to where God knows we need to be.

Where do you sense God calling you today?

Dear friends, wouldn't the world begin to change if we responded to the higher standards and challenging ideals of the Kingdom of God? And wouldn't other people be blessed if we shared with them our faith in a God who calls us to grow and change and become all we were created to be?

So the star was at a distance, and the star went before them. And thirdly, the star was with them.

During the daylight hours, I'm sure it seemed like the star was gone. But every night, when the sun went down, there it was! Still shining! Beaming its light to the wise men - to Mary and Joseph - to the shepherds - to King Herod - to the whole world!

The great hope of the Gospel is that we are called into relationship with a God who is so much greater than we are - who calls us to live in ways that are higher and greater than we are living now - but with a promise:

This God is with us - personally and powerfully - guiding us, and giving us the strength we need.

I dare say that as dark as life has sometimes gotten for me, I have discovered over and over and over again that a light shines in the darkness. And in my years of living, the darkness has never overcome it.

And however you may be facing some personal darkness in your life right now, I want you to know this morning that he is here! To love you. Strengthen you. To show you the way to the light.

So come to the table on this first Sunday of the New Year. Epiphany Sunday. Come, dear friends, follow the star!

But come with reverence. Come prepared and willing to discover new things and to change.

Come…to meet Jesus - the Epiphany of God's amazing love!