What or who do we call a “king” in our lives? Is it a person? Is it something we own? Or has some aspect of our life taken over and that is something we pay a lot of attention to? Yes, there are many things that can control us and things that take over aspects of our life. We know that we probably shouldn’t let these things take such control over us, yet, we still let it happen.
In this first Sunday of January and of the new year, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. The world had been searching for centuries for a King to show up. Many earthly kings arose. They controlled many peoples and great nations. They brought great wars to unite their kingdom and controlled many peoples. But that was not what God ever intended. There would be a new King that God would send to us: A Savior. As Jesus stood before Pilate, just before his time of the passion began, Jesus would even tell Pilate that His Kingdom was not one of this world. The Kingdom that Jesus points us to is the Heavenly Kingdom, a place where we are invited to keep our eyes focused on during our lives.
The Three Kings discovered something that the world had never seen before: A Savior born to the nations. It was not just a king for one kingdom, but a king that would let everyone be a part of His Kingdom. It was a new beginning for the world and for all of us who would be invited to the heavenly banquet.
As we find ourselves just a few days into this new year of 2025, let us be mindful in this new year to not let other things become the “king” in our lives, but instead to keep ourselves focused on the kingdom that is real, the kingdom that is eternal. A new year brings new promises. May the Lord Jesus, our King, help to guide us and help us throughout this coming year.