Everyone’s looking for a game-changer. It’s not just football, and it’s not just sports.  The desire for a game-changer invades just about every sphere of American Life.  We want game-changers in the business world, in the entertainment world, in the educational world, and in our personal worlds. The demand for gifted and talented, powerful and pretty, charismatic and energetic leaders are longed for.  And in this election year, we Americans are especially hoping for a game-changer in the political world.  We’re looking for someone who can put it all together and make it happen in just the way we’re hoping for with just the desired results.

2000 years ago, the Jewish people who lived in Palestine were hoping for just the same thing.  And they had good reason to.  The Bible, God’s Holy Word, had foretold that just such a man would come.  He would be the ultimate game changer, restoring them to their property in the promised land bringing peace and power and prosperity to God’s People.  You may have heard what this ultimate game changer was called: The Messiah.  We Americans use that word from time-to-time.  Usually, it’s tongue-in-cheek.  But we Americans ultimately would define a Messiah in the same way as I just did when I talked about a “game-changer.”  It’s a person with the power to produce positive and productive change for the better, usually an ideal that we hold personally or in a community.

But it wasn’t just the Jews who were looking for the Messiah.  In the Bible, we read about the story of what we traditionally call, “The Wise Men.”  They had seen the signs, and they made a long journey to meet the Messiah.  And when they did, they weren’t merely relieved – they were overjoyed! That’s what I’d like to call, Wisdom on Display.  Think about what the wise men were willing to do.  They made a long journey, at great expense and even greater risk, with an uncertain result – all to meet the Messiah.

Why? Because there’s only one messiah that can deliver what Jesus does: the forgiveness of sin and everlasting life.  He’s the true game changer.  Do you believe it? That’s what wisdom looks like.  

Pastor Ryan Sarenpa

Warren Covenant Church