My Compass

Good morning, and welcome in today. Today we’re going to look at some scripture from John chapter 14. But first of all, I wanted to ask you a question.

Have you ever gotten lost before? Have you ever been unable to find your way, not knowing where you were?

When I was a teenager, I liked to go snowshoeing. I can remember one time when I was way out in the middle of a huge swamp and I got completely turned around. There was a lot of wind and drifting snow that had covered up my snowshoe tracks so I couldn’t follow them back home. Obviously, I eventually got out of there, because I’m here today, but there was something that I wished that I could have had in my pocket that day. It would have really helped me to find my way through that storm. It was a compass.

The compass has been used many years for navigation, location and direction. We use it to find our way, whether it’s on a hiking trail, or on a trip to some new location.

When I was very young, I remember many people who used to have a compass that was mounted on the windshield of their vehicle. When we can’t guide off the stars in the sky because of foul weather, or because clouds and storms come to pass, it is that compass that keeps us pointed in the right direction.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The teachings of Scripture, are a spiritual compass for us. When the clouds of sin surround us, when the darkness attempts to confuse and confound us, it’s that compass that points us to Christ. It’s the things that he taught us that guides our course in this life.

When the apostle Thomas asked the Lord Jesus, how can we know the way Jesus said unto him, I am the way.

If you want to find the way home to heaven someday, Jesus is the way there. He gives us a compass so that we can find our way home. It’s found in His Holy Word.

A Way is defined as a road, a track or path, for traveling along.

Matt 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The Lord teaches that there is a broad way and a narrow way.

They claim that there are over 4000 different religions in the world today. Many of these people truly believe that they’re going to be in heaven someday, but the Bible is clear that there is only one way to heaven, it’s through the forgiveness and the grace found in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins.

Think about an airport that has lots of different gates, but there’s only one that’s going to lead to your destination. You’ve got to make sure that you choose the correct one.

If you’ve ever studied the waterways in the world, a straight is a comparatively narrow passageway that connects two large bodies of water. In order to get from Earth unto heaven, there’s a narrow passageway that we must go through, it’s found in Jesus Christ.

One year we were up in the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. We were canoeing across a really large lake, but in order to get to the next series of lakes, there was only one way to get there. We had to portage our canoes over land. The portage trails were very, very narrow, but when you stayed on this path long enough, it finally opened up into a brand new place, a completely new lake that you had never seen before.

God wants us in heaven someday. He doesn’t want anybody to perish. He wants all of us to come to repentance, and to have a change of our hearts. He desires that we confess and admit our sins so that He can forgive us, so that we can begin a new walk with Him.

Jesus is that narrow gate. He is that narrow portage. The teachings of the Scriptures are a compass that guide us all the way home.

Jesus taught Thomas that He is the way. A way is defined as an opening, or a passage from one place to another.

John 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

When you get into your vehicle each morning, you have to open the door to get inside. When you go into the gas station to pay for your gas, you have to go through the door. When you buy groceries at the grocery store, you need to pass through the front door. In order to inherit eternal life and get into heaven, there is one person that you will have to go through in order to get in, it’s the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only entrance point.

Have you ever been somewhere where there was only one way to get in? Maybe you went to a concert, but you had to file through a very narrow ticket booth. One person was checking and punching your ticket stub. That’s like the kingdom of heaven, you have to go through Jesus, in order to have access to heaven someday. Many people feel that there are numerous ways to get to heaven, but there is only one.

Jesus told Thomas that He is the truth.

The Bible teaches us that God is truth, and that his Word is truth.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

When we really desire to know what’s true, you will find it in the Holy scriptures. It’s God’s Word that helps us to discern all the falsehoods and lies out in the world today.

It is Gods Word that purifies us and sanctifies us. It is Gods truth that sets us free from our sinful condition when we accept the fact that we’ve all come short of the glory of God. It is Gods truth that causes us to humble ourselves under His mighty hand. It is Gods truth that leads us to apologize for the sins that we’ve committed against Him and others. It is Gods truth that leads us to cry out for mercy. It is Gods truth that leads us in a new direction. It is Gods truth that causes us to become obedient to the teachings of Christ.

God’s word is a compass that points to True North. It points us to heaven.

Jesus taught Thomas that He is the life.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

When somebody believes something, it’s going to result in an action.

Think about a fisherman who is out on a big lake. And all sudden you see a thunderclouds rolling in. If you really believe that it’s going to rain, it’s going to result in an action. You will start your motor and head for shore.

When you believe, it causes you to do something. If you really believe in Jesus, true faith will cause a change inside of your your heart. It will cause you to get off the wide road of sin and onto the narrow path of Christ.

If you believe in Jesus, there’s going to be a change in your life. If you believe in Jesus, you will accept the things that He teaches in the Scriptures, and have a desire to do what it says. It’s becoming a person of action. It’s being a doer of the Word, not a hearer only. That’s what it means to believe in Jesus. It’s love for God, in action.

When you wake up some warm summer morning, and you believe that it’s going to be a beautiful day you load up the kids and take them to the park. Faith leads to actions. Without works, faith is dead. It results in activity.

Whenever you see this word believe, don’t forget what it truly means. If you truly believe in Jesus, you will have a desire in your heart to obey Him, and to do His will rather than your own.

The Lord taught that no man cometh under the Father, but by me.

Think about how many people are going to be trying to get into heaven at the Judgement Day, but there is only one access point. In Northern Minnesota, there are a lot of lakes that we can go fishing on. There’s some fairly good sized lakes, but they only have one place to access the lake. Only one place that you can put your boat in.

As a Christian, we should desire the salvation of others. What we involved with, is called the ministry of reconciliation. We are pointing people to Jesus, and explaining what He has done for all us.

We publish the gospel just as the disciples did so that others can inherit eternal salvation someday.

When I was lost out in the woods, I really wished that I had a compass. 15 years later, I was walking down a street after work, going to my car, and someone finally gave me a compass, the King James Bible. I’m glad that I finally got my compass. Now, I know that whatever storms I might go through, I’ll be able to find my way home.

Let’s think about those things for today and Lord willing, we’ll talk to you some more tomorrow. Till then bye Bye, everybody.