Lesson 11: Compass
For centuries sailors have relied on their compass to find their way across vast stretches of unmarked ocean. When out of sight of land or sailing in a fog there is no way to tell in which direction you are heading without a compass or GPS. A compass contains a magnet that lines up with the earth’s magnetic pole. It is therefore possible to navigate fairly confidently even when you cannot see any onshore marks to guide you. On my sailboat the compass is mounted where I can easily see it while operating the tiller so that I can keep the boat on a steady course at all times.
Many old gospel songs have compared elements of our Christian faith to a compass. Some songs describe the Bible as a compass that points us in the right direction. Other songs talk of the Holy Spirit as our compass that guides us to Christ and Heaven. There are songs that refer to our conscience as a compass. All of these images have merit. But whether you talk about the Bible or the Holy Spirit or your conscience, all of them give direction only. The compass does not steer the boat. In the end it is up to you to decide the direction of your life. You can choose to ignore or to follow the directions that God gives you.
Matthew 9:9
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
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