THE ONLY TRUE COMPASS

If you have not noticed, comments on this blog lead to lengthy discussions and can get rather boring so I do not blame anyone for not following them.

For those who do not follow all of the comments I have something to share with you.

This blog is a Bible Study by a student and not a study of any other source.

I have an analogy that might help everyone when it comes to the study of Scripture.

There was a group of ultralight aircraft pilots that were attending a fly-in. They had flown there from basically the same area, but they took off at different times, from slightly different places. When the fly-in was over, they decided to fly, in a group, to a small airport that was close to their homes. One of them stated that he knew the way home very well and wanted to fly the lead. The other pilots, though far from home, were pretty sure they knew the way also. After all, they had flown from home to the fly-in and although they were in a strange area, they all had compasses to guide them.

Just so they could all fly in a group they decided to let the one pilot lead. So they took off, one by one, gathered together in the air, and then headed for home.

It did not take long for the pilots to begin to realize that they were headed in slightly the wrong direction, but the leader had boasted that he knew the way and there is always some doubt in everyone’s mind about everything and anything. So the group followed the leader and the error grew by the minute.

Ultralights, in this Country, are only permitted five gallons of fuel and that limits the time they can fly without landing. Two and a half hours is about the limit for most of them and after a little over an hour one of them decided to follow his own compass, combined with his own experience, and he broke with the group to head in the direction he was sure, in his mind was right.

It did not take long before the others, one by one, also turned and headed in the right direction. The previous leader, after seeing no one was following, finally rejoined the group and followed the new leader.

They all landed at the small private airport that was close to their homes and they asked the first leader why he had set a wrong course.

His answer was hilarious!

It seems as though he thought that his compass was not reading correctly, so he mounted another compass on his aircraft to check the first one!

As you know, a compass is a small magnet that is attached to a display. It is attracted to the earth’s magnetic pole which causes the display to show the direction of the magnetic pole. If one places two compasses close to each other they tend to point at each other, because they both have magnets. Not directly at each other, because of the earth’s magnetic field. However, neither compass will be accurate.

I use this story as an analogy. However, it is a true story, as I was one of the pilots.

My point is that we should only have one compass. Our compass for spiritual understanding is the Bible. If one chooses to have more than one compass, then even the true compass will not indicate an accurate reading.

Your favorite Bible may be a different translation and use different words to display the way, but the direction is the same. North is still north, no matter if the compass uses the letter N or the number zero to indicate north.

If you place the same importance on some other writing, as you place on the Bible, even the Bible will not show the way. That writing may have been recent or ancient, many might claim it authentic, or many may claim it false: it does not matter. The only thing that matters is it is not the Bible and therefore it will not show the way. It will only confuse the way. Do not place the same importance on anyone’s writing, especially mine, that you place on the Bible.

I have the perfect Teacher (John 14:26), the perfect Navigator, that keeps tapping me on the shoulder and pointing toward the only true compass, the Bible, to keep me on the right course.

You have the same Navigator, listen to Him.