True North

If you were lost in a deep-wooded black forest, you’d be immensely grateful to find a compass in your backpack. Chances are, you would not ignore its guidance. Following your own intuitions about which direction was north would surely fail and misguide you like my GPS does sometimes—-it’s always ‘re-calculating’ and sadly, I’ve missed another appointment. Ugh!

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve become dependent upon the latest technology and tend to think it’s 100% correct. But, alas, anything made by man is sure to have a few flaws or bugs to work out. Don’t you think?

However, people do have genius moments just the same. Take for instance the early form of compasses. Rather, lodestones (mineral rocks) that possess a magnetic force giving true-north direction. Having distinct polarity, these magnetic entities point the way. For instance, the first seafarers were in big trouble if they didn’t rely on these forms of directional gadgets. Hmmm, so that’s how they discovered America—just thinking.

Just as we need physical direction in our lives we also need spiritual leading. Like a compass, Scripture provides sure footing for the Christian life. Which brings me to one of my favorite passages “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not upon your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Those verses pack a gigantic punch and cover a lot of territory—urging us to come to the One who created us for the wisdom we so desperately need. In this life, tests and trials come in all sizes (some extra-large, XXL, XXXL). God has the right plan for each and every life. The question is, will we follow God’s (GPS) system for our individual lives.

Spiritually, the fastest and most direct route to the heart of Father God is obedience. C.S. Lewis once wrote, and I’m paraphrasing, ‘never calculate without God’. I buy that.