When we’re using a map we need to understand that there are two different types of north. They are: True North and Magnetic north. True north (geodetic north) refers to the direction along the surface of the earth as you proceed towards the geographic North Pole. The Magnetic north refers to the direction a compass needle will point corresponding to the magnetic field lines of the Earth.
We use a compass to point us to magnetic north. A compass needle will always point towards the Magnetic north pole. The pole may not be the exact point since the compass aligns itself to the local geomagnetic field which varies constantly. The pole is the wandering point in the Northern Hemisphere where the magnetic field points vertically downwards.
The two norths are important to map readers and navigators in making them understand topography. The difference between the magnetic north and the true north is the angle of incline. Each area can be a little different; a few degrees can be either added or subtracted to get the specific north one is looking for. The direction and source of your compass will impact where you end up. What does this all matter?
Consider this. If you're going somewhere and you're off course by just one degree, after one foot, you'll miss your target by 0.2 inches. (doesn’t seem to important- right) But what about as you get farther out?
• After 100 yards, you'll be off by 5.2 feet. Not huge, but noticeable.
• After a mile, you'll be off by 92.2 feet. One degree is starting to make a difference.
• After traveling from San Francisco to L.A., you'll be off by 6 miles.
• If you were trying to get from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., you'd end up on the other side of Baltimore, 42.6 miles away.
• In a rocket going to the moon, you'd be 4,169 miles off (nearly twice the diameter of the moon).
• Going to the sun, you'd miss by over 1.6 million miles (nearly twice the diameter of the sun).
Over time, a mere one-degree error in course makes a huge difference! What we are pointing our life at matters! Our direction matters. The truth in our faith matters. Where we are heading on our faith journey matters!
Magnetic north almost never- aligns with True North. Magnetic North misses the mark because it is focused on the magnetic pull. Truth North is unchanging. We can count on it to be in the same place it was the last time. And the next time too. As believers, we need to follow something that doesn’t change, something that is true all the time. To be on the right track we must be following ‘True North.” Jesus’ truth never changes. Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” He is our true North! Jesus is the only way you will find True North.
Jesus is the one sent from God to be our Savior- the perfect Passover lamb for all humankind. Jesus gave His all for you and me. He desires that we focus our hearts and lives on Him.
Jesus said in John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” We can have life forever with Him- when we choose to believe Him; we must believe that He is the Messiah. We need to believe that He is our truth for today and for the future too.
We all have the tendency to drift from True North. Often, we begin our walk with Jesus with high hopes and expectations- and then something happens. Life happens. Sorrow or hardship take over and we begin to drift. We don’t see Jesus loving hand in our lives when everything seems to be going wrong! We struggle to believe and to have faith. Our hope takes a hit.
When that happens, we have to readjust and find our true north once again! We have to get back into the Bible. We can’t stop meeting together- but meet all the more with other believers. Hebrews 10:23-25 says, “23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” We need to hold tight to our hope- trust in God’s promises and keep being with other believers! We are not meant to live life or faith alone!!! Look at the words in Hebrews: hold tight, without wavering, think of ways, motivate one another, meet together, encourage each other… ESPECIALLY NOW! Especially now as the day of Christ return is drawing near.
If we don’t hang tight, we will drift off course. There are many magnetic pulls that can take us away from True North.
• We can drift when we get our lives focused more on ourselves than on Jesus Words and His truth.
• We begin to drift when we allow compromise and sin into our lives.
• We drift when we focus more on the problems than the one with the solution. Jesus tells us to not worry- He’s got this! Instead of focusing on the problem- we must keep our focus on Jesus Christ.
To stay on course we need to grow a daily walk with Jesus. As we read His Word each day and obey His truths we will be committed to the true north. Will it be easy- probably not! Satan loves to put roadblocks in our way. The world would rather have a pasty, ineffective follower of Jesus than one that is totally committed to Him. Reading the Bible, going to church, being a part of a small group are all ways to keep us on course.
When we follow True North, those things that are pulling us away or making our life a mess will need to be removed. When we recognize the mess we’ve made, or the wrong direction- it is ok to get help. You may need to go to counseling, or to treatment. You may need to get involved in a Celebrate Recovery or another 12-step program. To be restored to true north- you must first admit your need- you need to tell Jesus and someone you trust that you are lost! It’s not easy to admit being lost. It happens to new believers as well as people that have been on the journey for a while. But once you recognize that you have lost your way- seek Jesus- go to Him, get back on course! You may have to go back through a lot of that junk that got you where you are now- but stay true. Remember the power and the love of the resurrected Jesus- Because He lives, we have hope for tomorrow. REMEMBER:
Jesus has the power to give you hope today, and for all your tomorrows.
Jesus is True North, Follow Him!
