Have You Checked Your Compass Lately?

A compass is so important, especially for pilots.  Katherine Kehler underscores this fact with an experience that her husband endured:

"For years my husband had a pilot's license -- just for small planes. One summer, he and three other men set off to attend a conference in Saskatchewan -- three provinces east of where we were living, over the Rocky Mountains. Before he started the plane, he checked all the instruments and set his course on the compass. They would be staying overnight in a city near the Alberta border.

"What he hadn't realized when he set his compass, was that the needle was a fraction off center. At first it didn't matter, but when the time came to land (by this time it was getting dark and he wasn't licensed to fly in the dark), he was far off course. The men, unaware of the miscalculation, were having a great time talking and laughing...

"Then Marvin realized the mountains were much higher than his map indicated they should be. The city where they were supposed to be landing was nowhere in sight. A fraction of a degree off on the compass had set them on the wrong course. What seemed like a small insignificant mistake could have cost them their LIVES down the road (sky)." *

It is ESSENTIAL that one’s compass be set accurately.  The ONLY true standard by which one may set his compass correctly is the Word of God! The Psalmist declared to God, “Your word is a LAMP to my feet And a LIGHT to my path” (Psalm 119:105).  One’s thoughts, feelings, and preconceived ideas can be misguided.  Solomon has warned, " There is a way that SEEMS  right to a man, But its END is the way of DEATH" (Proverbs 14:12).

Set YOUR compass by the infallible Word of God: place your trust in Him (Hebrews 11:6), repent of your sins (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), be baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38), AND continue to set your COMPASS and your LIFE by the Word of God (1 John 1:7). THEN - you will reach the wonderful destination of Heaven.

Thankfully, Marvin and his company were able to find a landing strip in a small town, landed safely, and flew on to their destination the next day.

We, too, can reach OUR proper destination -IF- we will set our compasses according to the TRUE guide: the Word of God.

Have YOU checked your compass lately?

God bless you!

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695  

* Adapted

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