God’s Compass
December 15, 2015
Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
I think about a story that Chuck Swindoll told. Imagine that you are exploring the jungles of Africa. You get into a deep, dense area of jungle so thick that it is almost dark. It isn’t long before you have lost your way. You can’t tell where you are or what direction you are heading. There is no sun, no stars, no trail, and no river to follow. You are hopelessly lost, lonely, and afraid. Suddenly a twig snaps behind you and you hear footsteps. Someone calls your name and steps into the clearing and says, “I’m glad I found you. I have a map and a compass. I thought you might need them. Would you like to have them? What do you say? “Are you kidding? That map of Africa is old and I’m not sure I can trust it. Look at it. It is wrinkled and worn. And that compass, it may or may not be pointing true north. How can I know for sure? No thanks, I think I will stay on my own and figure it out for myself.” Would you say that? Absolutely not. You would take the help being offered. The Bible is God’s compass and map. He gives it to us. The compass will always point true north. The map will always guide you correctly. But a lot of people reject the Bible, never read it, never look at it, and ignore it. Some people think they don’t need any help and they can figure it out for themselves. That’s crazy. Isaiah 48 says, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Fads, feelings, kingdoms, cultures, people, ideas, notions, nations they come and they go, but the truth of God’s word is eternal. You can count on God’s word.
I think about a story that Chuck Swindoll told. Imagine that you are exploring the jungles of Africa. You get into a deep, dense area of jungle so thick that it is almost dark. It isn’t long before you have lost your way. You can’t tell where you are or what direction you are heading. There is no sun, no stars, no trail, and no river to follow. You are hopelessly lost, lonely, and afraid. Suddenly a twig snaps behind you and you hear footsteps. Someone calls your name and steps into the clearing and says, “I’m glad I found you. I have a map and a compass. I thought you might need them. Would you like to have them? What do you say? “Are you kidding? That map of Africa is old and I’m not sure I can trust it. Look at it. It is wrinkled and worn. And that compass, it may or may not be pointing true north. How can I know for sure? No thanks, I think I will stay on my own and figure it out for myself.” Would you say that? Absolutely not. You would take the help being offered. The Bible is God’s compass and map. He gives it to us. The compass will always point true north. The map will always guide you correctly. But a lot of people reject the Bible, never read it, never look at it, and ignore it. Some people think they don’t need any help and they can figure it out for themselves. That’s crazy. Isaiah 48 says, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Fads, feelings, kingdoms, cultures, people, ideas, notions, nations they come and they go, but the truth of God’s word is eternal. You can count on God’s word.