Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 16: Compass Magnets

Key Text

"Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 (WEB)


Lesson

The compass is a relatively new invention in the history of navigation. It has only been used for this purpose for about a thousand years. People have been navigating land and water for several thousands of years. Despite its relatively recent invention it is indispensable in navigation. The compass allows navigators to stay on course even in the midst of a storm when they cannot see where they are going.

The compass has many parallels with our spiritual journey. An interesting fact about the compass is that it is a tiny magnet. All magnets are attracted to each other at opposite ends or poles. The south pole of one magnet is attracted to the north pole of another magnet. Many people don’t realize that the end of the compass needle that points north is actually the south pole of the compass magnet.

This fact is a paradox. It does not seem correct at first, but it is true. There are many teachings in the bible that seem like paradoxes or contradictions. Some examples are God’s justice and mercy, Jesus is the lion of Judah and the Lamb of the world, Jesus said he is the Son of God and the Son of Man, Jesus had to die to give us eternal life. You have no doubt come across things in the bible that are complex, confusing, or appear to be contradictions.

The comforting thing is that we don’t have to understand all these things to receive Jesus and the salvation he offers. It is important to study and understand the mysteries of the Bible. There are pastors and bible scholars who can help us understand the complex things.

Do we need to understand why or how the compass needle works to be able to follow the needle pointing north? Of course not. Similarly, God does not require us to understand everything about the bible or salvation in order to be saved. As it says in Proverbs 3:5-6 we must not lean on our own understanding. All we have to do is trust that God knows what he is doing and will always point us in the right direction.


Questions

Do we trust a compass more than we trust God and his Word?

What paradoxes or complex things have you found in the Bible? What did you do to understand it better?

How do we know that God can be trusted?


Written by David F. Garner

Photo Credit: David F. Garner

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 10: Life's Map and Compass

Key Text

“Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (WEB)


Lesson


What is the allure of backcountry travel and recreation? For many it is the unknown, the sense of facing uncertainty and overcoming. There is a challenge in going to an unfamiliar place and surviving. The challenge is thrilling and enlivening. There is always an inherent amount of risk. The key is keeping the level of risk manageable.

There are many tools used by outdoorsman to manage risk and overcome challenges. Wearing proper clothing, carrying shelter, using a water filter, and having a fire source are all essential, fundamental ways of overcoming obstacles. But perhaps the most fundamental and clearly necessary tools are the map and compass.

The map and compass are what make outdoor travel possible. They have been in use for thousands of years. They are still in use today, perhaps more than ever before. Today the map and compass may look different but are still used together in a digital form called GPS. There is a map on the screen and an electronic compass telling direction.

Map and compass are so fundamental for good reasons. They enable us to travel to a previously completely unknown destination and find our way as if we have been there a dozen times. A skilled navigator can even get completely lost in the wilderness and pinpoint their location on a paper map with observation of the surrounding area. Map and compass or GPS allow us to travel confidently into the unknown because we trust the information they provide to be correct and reliable.

Another word for trust is faith. Hebrews 11:1 says faith is the evidence of things not seen. Faith is trusting that the Map and Compass for our life are correct and reliable. When we read the Bible stories about God's faithfulness we can have trust or faith that his promises are reliable. The more we follow the paths and trails on a map, the more confident we become that the map and compass are trustworthy. As we walk the Christian path we learn from experience that God’s Word is faithful. 

As our faith grows, it becomes the assurance of things we hope for such as heaven and Christ’s soon return. As we experience God’s steadfastness to his followers our faith becomes the proof of things we cannot see such as God’s providence and protection.


Questions

Have you ever had to rely on a map and compass or GPS? If so, did you doubt their accuracy? Or did you doubt your ability to use them?

Have you ever doubted the reliability of God’s Word? Or maybe you doubted your ability to have faith in God’s Word?

Do you long to have the type of faith described in Hebrews 1 that gives hope for things not seen?

What can you do to improve your faith in a map and compass? What can you do to increase your faith in God and his Word?


Written by David F. Garner

Photo Credit: David F. Garner