In this message, I am going to draw parallels between the Bride of Christ and the three wise men who went looking for Jesus because truly, they are a type and shadow of bridal company members. It is recorded in Matthew 2 that three wise men from the east had traveled to Jerusalem in search of the King of the Jews. These men had traveled for approximately two years to reach their destination.

Think about what a sacrifice they made. The complete journey took them about four years—two years to reach their destination and two more years to return home. They left behind family and friends, the comforts of home and their livelihood. They traveled through foreign lands with different cultures and lifestyles, and that was not easy. To make a pilgrimage like that two thousand years ago was indeed a great sacrifice.

The Bible does not tell us of all those three men encountered and endured on their journey; but it is reasonable to assume they faced many hardships and dangers such as bands of thieves, wild animals and cities that were unfriendly and unwelcoming to them. Nevertheless, those three wise men were on a divine mission to meet Jesus face to face, to worship Him and to present Him with gifts even though they had never met or seen Him before.

The wise men followed a miracle star in the sky, and it led them to Jesus. They had put their complete trust in that star, and they were living by faith. As they traveled from town to town and country to country, they no doubt met many people who were curious about their mission. That gave them the perfect opportunity to be witnesses of Jesus, the King of the Jews.

I’m sure those men were met with mixed reactions to their mission. Some people may have been curious to know more, and some may have asked them to come back and tell them what Jesus was like and what they had encountered. Others probably thought they were fools who were wasting their time following a star in the sky to a foreign land to see a King they knew nothing about.

They Find the Little King

After two years of traveling, the star led the three wise men to the little town of Bethlehem; and it rested over a little boy who was the son of a poor carpenter. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).

Like those wise men, the Bride of Christ will go before Jesus on Rapture Day, bowing before Him and presenting her gifts to the King of kings. Her gifts will not be precious metals or earthly spices; they will be much more valuable and eternal as she presents her Lord with souls she collected on her journey to see Him. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him (Psalm 126:5,6). There is a price to pay to complete this divine mission and stand before Jesus bearing gifts of souls.

When those wise men arrived at their destination, were they confused, dismayed or even disappointed as they looked upon that humble setting? Not at all. They had sacrificed themselves completely for that divine mission; and during those two years, they had learned to live by divine faith. Those men did not look at that scene with their physical eyesight; they looked upon young Jesus through eyes of divine love and faith and saw the King of the Jews they had been searching for.

Many Didn’t Believe Christ’s Birth

God’s Word identifies those three men as being wise, so let us consider who God calls wise. Those men sacrificed everything and everyone in their personal lives to fulfill a divine mission. They risked their lives and endured hardships and tribulations. They spared no expense to make their way to their final destination to present valuable gifts to the little King.

Matthew 2:3 tells us that everyone in Jerusalem had heard about the three wise men and their mission, yet how many of them made an effort to travel only a few miles to Bethlehem to seek out Jesus for themselves? How many just considered the wise men to be fools? The pilgrimage of the wise men was a sign within itself to the people in that region, and it gave them an opportunity to be introduced to who little Jesus really was.

God’s Word tells us that there is a large gap between God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8,9). The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (I Corinthians 1:25-27).

Pilgrims in This World

To draw the comparison between the three wise men and the Bride of Christ, I first want to take you to Hebrews 11. And confessed that they [the saints of old] were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city (Hebrews 11:13,14,16).

Every person who is born again through divine blood enters a straight gate to travel the narrow way that leads to Heaven. Jesus said, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13,14).

Children of God are on a journey. It is a pilgrimage like that of the wise men, and their final destination is Jesus. They are no longer a part of this world. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (I John 2:15). When Jesus was praying to the Father, He said, I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them [separate them] through thy truth: thy word is truth (John 17:15-17).

Be Willing to Sacrifice

Like the wise men, the Bride of Christ is on a divine mission to see Jesus. As she journeys through this life, it is like traveling through a foreign country. She is a pilgrim and a stranger, and this world is not her home. She is seeking a heavenly country and a city whose Builder and Maker is God. The Bride has the Word of God to guide her there just as the wise men had the miracle star to guide them. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105).

The wise men made many sacrifices to start on the journey to Jesus. People today who start on the journey to Heaven make sacrifices too. Many leave family and friends behind because those people refuse to enter in at the straight gate and walk the narrow way. They do not love truth, and they will not follow the guidance of truth to Heaven.

Jesus said, And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it (Matthew 10:36-39).

The three wise men left their personal lives behind, and children of God must do the same thing in search of Jesus and His abundant life. As it was with the three wise men, our divine mission and pilgrimage to Jesus is not easy. The enemy of our soul places dangers, traps and snares along the way. Jesus said, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10). The Bible also says, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8).

There are many hardships on the narrow way leading to Heaven, so you must learn to carry your cross of tribulations and persecutions. Only then will you learn to live by divine faith, and that will make you stronger in the Lord day by day. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you (I Peter 5:10).

Never Give Up

When the wise men finally reached Jesus after that long, hard journey, they were not disappointed or troubled at heart. They had no doubt that the poor, little boy before them was indeed the King of the Jews. They had endured so much along the way that all the spiritual dross had been purged from them; and the Bible tells us, When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy (Matthew 2:10).

Now, take note of what the Bible says concerning us: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified (I Peter 4:12-14).

Those three wise men were faithful unto the end. They never diverted from their mission or gave up when the going got hard. Many people down through the years have started out going through the straight gate to the narrow road on their way to see King Jesus, but they turned back because their circumstances became difficult and things didn’t go their way. Situations may have come up that they didn’t understand or they got to the point where they no longer wanted to sacrifice and endure the hardships of their pilgrimage.

Paul said, Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him (Hebrews 10:35-38). The tests and trials of life prove people and reveal what is really in them. Unfortunately, those tests many times show a person’s lack of love, faith and patience to endure for the sake of Christ and finish their divine journey. Jesus said, In your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:19). But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved (Matthew 24:13).

Have the Oil of the Spirit Within

Just as the Bible identifies those three men as being wise in Matthew chapters 2 and 3, the Bible also identifies certain people as being wise in Matthew 25. In that chapter, Jesus was telling a parable of ten virgins—five of them were wise and five were foolish.

In the Bible, virginity represents spiritual purity, and all ten virgins were pure; so what distinguished the wise from the foolish? Jesus identified five as being wise because they possessed the oil of the Holy Spirit in their vessels. Then when the Bridegroom cried, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him (Matthew 25:6), the five wise virgins possessed light to guide them to the Groom, Jesus, in that midnight hour when all was dark. They had to have the light to find their way to Rapture ground just as we do.

The wise men had the miracle star to guide them to Jesus; and today, the Bride of Christ has truth and the Spirit of Truth to guide her all the way to Rapture Day to meet Jesus face to face. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23,24).

Child of God, we’re on a journey. You must pay any price and make any sacrifice to complete the mission because it will be worth it in the end. When you lay your eyes on Jesus, you too will rejoice with exceeding great joy just like the wise men did.

The Wise Receive Salvation

Friend, are you wise or foolish in the eyes of God? Have you entered into the straight gate to walk the narrow way that leads to Jesus? Is it your mission to meet Jesus face to face when you come to the end of life’s journey? Will you come before Him empty-handed or bearing gifts of souls you helped collect along your journey?

The world may call you foolish, but what will that matter when this world passes away and you stand before God in eternity? Friend, you may never have had an opportunity to enter into the straight gate to walk this narrow way that leads to Heaven, but I am giving you that opportunity now; and it can only happen through the power in the divine blood of Jesus. That’s why Jesus came to Earth, and that’s why we celebrate His birth. 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16,17).

You can receive salvation through the blood of Jesus right now. Pray this prayer with me and mean it with all your heart: Oh, God, save my soul. Forgive me of all of my sins. I thank you for sending Jesus, and I thank you that He died on the Cross for me. I believe there is power in His divine blood that washes away all of my sins. Come into my heart, Jesus. Come into my heart. Amen. Friend, if you meant that prayer from your heart, Jesus is yours. He is God’s great love gift to you.

The Wise Can Be Healed

Through Christ’s divine blood, you can not only have salvation for your soul but also healing for your body. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus went to the whipping post where cruel men beat His back, and His blood flowed so you could have healing for your body. If you are in pain or sick in body today, you can receive healing through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His divine blood.

The Bible says, The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up (James 5:15). That is the Word of the Lord, so raise your hands and put your faith and trust in God’s Word. I’m the Lord’s believer, so agree with me as I pray: Lord, in the name of Jesus, I bring those who are sick in body and those who are in pain before you. Lay a healing hand upon each one according to the promises in your Word. In the holy, blood name of Jesus, heal! Heal! Let that healing virtue flow to each one and deliver them for your honor and glory. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Friend, watch for every sign of improvement and give God the praise, the honor and the glory for what He is doing in your life. One great way to give Him glory is to let us know what God did for you. Tell us how He delivered you from pain or healed you of your sickness and glorify the Lord with your testimony. You can send us an email or connect with us through Facebook or YouTube, and we will rejoice in the Lord with you.

If you don’t yet have the Holy Ghost, the oil of the Spirit, in your vessel, you need Him. He will guide you on this journey of life and take you to Rapture ground. You will never make it there without Him. Just begin praising the Lord with your whole heart and don’t stop until the Holy Ghost comes in and speaks through you according to Acts 2:4.