Theme: Where is your compass pointed?
I have only been on a cruise once in my life, but that is all it took to realize the vastness of the oceans. It is something one could never grasp until you are in the middle, making the huge cruise ship seem so small. I think of the days before GPS and internet, where ship navigators used compasses to keep the ship on course. I am far from an outdoorsman nor an able user of the compass, but in researching I soon realized that there are many types of compasses to choose from, each with positives and negatives. The guidance one chooses will affect the quality of the journey. However, all compasses have hundreds of little hash marks, 360 to be exact, that mark off each separate degree of direction.
Before the journey began a crew member would need to calibrate the compass. When the captain set the course, he knew exactly which little degree mark to set the compass on. As long as they maintained that course they would be fine and arrive where planned.
But what would happen if some devious crew member turned the compass just one tiny degree to the left? Remember, there are 360 of those tiny degrees, so one would ever notice the change in direction unless the compass was recalibrated.
At first the ship would look fine, as though nothing had changed. But, in reality, as the vessel continued en route, the ship would continue ever so slightly one degree away from the original course. Before anyone knew it, the ship would be miles away from its intended destination, all because of one tiny degree of deviation.
Like this ship, our spiritual lives are so similar. We choose our guidance, as Pastor Dan emphasized this past Sunday, and then we set our course on Jesus. But we also have a devious being with us on our spiritual journey. Satan knows that if he can distract us; he can subtly change our direction. He doesn’t mess with our compass by 360 degrees or even 180, but by just one tiny degree. If we are not constantly calibrating our lives with the Word and prayer, we will continue to drift farther and farther away from Jesus.
The lessons to be learned:
1. Decide on your guide.
2. Don’t set and forget.
We will not get lost as long as we select the right guidance, set our course to a constant and unmovable destination, and calibrate our course daily.
Scripture: Psalm 119:1-8 (NIV)
“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart - they do no wrong but follow his ways.
You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees.
Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.”
Prayer:
Lord, I know I am blessed when I remain on the course you have set for me, with my focus on Jesus. My destination is to find you and learn from you while on the journey, so that I can stay the course. Then I will never have any regrets in comparing my life with your direction. I learn to follow your righteous ways, and I will follow intently your will and direction for my life. Please never leave me alone in the vast darkness, and always be my lighthouse. Amen.