THE FOURTH KING

The whole world knows of the three kings - the wise men who travelled far to saw homage to the Baby born in a stable, and to offer Him their gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. They followed the star of Bethlehem in their quest for Baby Jesus.
A little known fact was the fourth King. He, too, was a wise man who journeyed from the east guided by the same star, and who brought his own gift securely fastened to his faithful camel.
But the fourth king did not succeed in his quest. Or so he thought at first. For long the way, he kept making stops. Every time he saw a man in need, he would alight and provide help.
He overtook a farmer carrying a heavy load. He stopped and offered his camel as he himself alighted and walked.
Near a rocky valley, he found a farmer wounded from the attack of a wild animal. The fourth King stayed for days taking care of the farmer's needs. He refused to continue his journey until the man was brought home to his village.
A group of bandits was stealing the produce of another farmer. The fourth King again stopped to depend the helpless man. In the end, the bandits took away his camel and his gift.
So he continued his travel on foot, still stopping and tarrying at every town, where need beckoned him.
Many years passed before the fourth King reached Bethlehem. He was told that the Messiah had proceeded to Jerusalem on a donkey. He rushed over and found a throng of people. They were talking about a Jew who had carried a cross to Calvary.
The fourth King ran and from a distance saw the silhoutte of two crosses. A third one was just being erected. At the foot of the Christ nailed on the cross, the fourth King knelt and wept. "I am despicable for tarrying on my journey. I lost my gift, and failed in my quest," he sobbed bitterly.
The Man on the cross spoke in a whisper a most kindly voice... "Stand. i received your gift long ago and yours is the greatest of them. You found me!"



I will cause you to walk in the straight way...
I will open to you the gates of righteousness...
For whoever finds Me. finds LIFE.
-Psalm 118:19; Proverbs 8:35-6