Wednesday, December 23, 2009

God's Compass


For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10

Recommended Reading
Romans 3:10-18

The mariner's compass is thought to have first been used in China in the eleventh century A.D. It consisted of a magnetized needle floating in water that consistently aligned itself with the earth's magnetic field. Finding magnetic north allowed mariners and travelers to know the direction of south, east, and west—and keep from getting lost.

To be lost geographically means to wander aimlessly without purpose or direction. The whole idea of "lost" implies there is a standard by which "found" is measured. Having a compass allows one to stay on a fixed course and gradually change one's condition from lost to found. When Jesus Christ said He came "to seek and to save that which was lost," what did "lost" mean? It means humankind has lost its spiritual orientation, that we were on a path leading away from God instead of toward God. It also means that Jesus is the only compass—the only means by which we can find our spiritual way home (Acts 4:12).

One's progress when lost is only as dependable as one's compass—and the world offers many unreliable ones. Since only Christ knows the way "home," we, the lost, must follow Him alone.

I do not know if there is a more dreadful word in the English language than that word "lost."
Charles Spurgeon

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