Moral Compass
Trusting the True North while seeking direction in the midst of turbulent times.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Imagine that you have a sailboat and you are in Gulf Shores, Alabama and a man says he will pay you (generously) to sail his beloved to dog to his relative in the Bahamas. Imagine that you are an experienced sailor and you do this type of thing all the time. Do you just set sail and hope the currents carry you to the Bahamas. No!
Do you just say, well the Bahamas are south of here and follow the compass to the south. No! You have to plot your course. You have to find the latitude and longitude and get a map. You may use a GPS and a compass. But all of those depend on the location of the north pole or true north.
To understand declination you must first realize that there are two North Poles. There is a True Geographic North Pole [or TRUE NORTH] at the top of the world, and a Magnetic North Pole. The Magnetic North Pole is always moving. It has been as much as 1,200+ miles from true north, but in 2005 it is only around 500 miles from the True North Pole.
We typically say that a compass points to Magnetic North, not True North. Technically, that is not exactly true. The compass actually points in the directions of the horizontal component of the magnetic field where the compass is located, and not to any single point. Knowing the difference (measured in angular degrees) between true north and the horizontal trace of the magnetic field for your location allows you to correct your compass for the magnetic field in your area. This angular difference is called your declination.
Declination varies from 0 to 30 degrees in most populated regions of the world. These declination values usually change slightly over time, as the earths plates shift. The actual value of declination and its annual rate of change for your area will usually be shown on your map. This will be expressed as either an Easterly or Westerly declination, depending on your location
The LORD Commands Joshua
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea [a] on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Moses was their leader. And now he was dead. They were directionless without Moses. They had followed Moses for 40 years. He brought them out of captivity. And here they finally were on the edge of the promise land. And their leader dies. They must now get behind someone new and different at the most pivotal point of the journey. Crossing the Jordan and going into the Promise Land with a new leader.
Joshua was part of God’s plan. He was a military leader and the children of Israel were headed for a fight to claim the promise land. I’m sure things changed. Moses was humble and fatherly. He was a law giver and settled disputes. Things were very different with Joshua as the leader. Change is not bad. Change is how we grow and learn. Change is an opportunity to trust God.
As a young person, you may ask "What is God’s will or plan for my life?" Whether it be in my life in general or specific situations. My job, my friends, who I date, college, everything. Yes, God has a plan (a specific plan) for your life.
Jeremiah 29:11-12
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
The way we find God’s plan for our life is listen to Him through His word. To draw close to Him and learn His ways. To pray to Him and hear His voice. He has to trust you to reveal His secrets to you. Intimacy is the product of trust.
Jeremiah 1:5
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;
1 Corinthians 2:10
10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
2Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
Here is the point. God doesn’t want to keep us in the dark about His plan and direction for us. Whether it be in general or in a specific situation in your life. He loves us and wants the very best for us. God wants you to prosper in everything you do. But, we have to know Him in order for Him to reveal His plan to us. We have to trust Him and He must be able to trust us. We have to trust Him even when we don’t understand or when the timing is confusing to us. He is never late and He will never leave us or forsake us. If you draw close to Him he will warn you of situations in your life and lead you to blessings. I believe that God is concerned about every aspect of your life. Where you will work, who you are friends with, who you date....
The word of God is our true north and will never lead you astray, regardless of what the compass (or logic) says. Trust in the Lord (and His word) with all your heart and don’t try to figure everything out.
His word is our True North.
One scripture or one word from the Lord can carry you through a situation.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Beth Wingate 2007
Imagine that you have a sailboat and you are in Gulf Shores, Alabama and a man says he will pay you (generously) to sail his beloved to dog to his relative in the Bahamas. Imagine that you are an experienced sailor and you do this type of thing all the time. Do you just set sail and hope the currents carry you to the Bahamas. No!
Do you just say, well the Bahamas are south of here and follow the compass to the south. No! You have to plot your course. You have to find the latitude and longitude and get a map. You may use a GPS and a compass. But all of those depend on the location of the north pole or true north.
To understand declination you must first realize that there are two North Poles. There is a True Geographic North Pole [or TRUE NORTH] at the top of the world, and a Magnetic North Pole. The Magnetic North Pole is always moving. It has been as much as 1,200+ miles from true north, but in 2005 it is only around 500 miles from the True North Pole.
We typically say that a compass points to Magnetic North, not True North. Technically, that is not exactly true. The compass actually points in the directions of the horizontal component of the magnetic field where the compass is located, and not to any single point. Knowing the difference (measured in angular degrees) between true north and the horizontal trace of the magnetic field for your location allows you to correct your compass for the magnetic field in your area. This angular difference is called your declination.
Declination varies from 0 to 30 degrees in most populated regions of the world. These declination values usually change slightly over time, as the earths plates shift. The actual value of declination and its annual rate of change for your area will usually be shown on your map. This will be expressed as either an Easterly or Westerly declination, depending on your location
The LORD Commands Joshua
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea [a] on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Moses was their leader. And now he was dead. They were directionless without Moses. They had followed Moses for 40 years. He brought them out of captivity. And here they finally were on the edge of the promise land. And their leader dies. They must now get behind someone new and different at the most pivotal point of the journey. Crossing the Jordan and going into the Promise Land with a new leader.
Joshua was part of God’s plan. He was a military leader and the children of Israel were headed for a fight to claim the promise land. I’m sure things changed. Moses was humble and fatherly. He was a law giver and settled disputes. Things were very different with Joshua as the leader. Change is not bad. Change is how we grow and learn. Change is an opportunity to trust God.
As a young person, you may ask "What is God’s will or plan for my life?" Whether it be in my life in general or specific situations. My job, my friends, who I date, college, everything. Yes, God has a plan (a specific plan) for your life.
Jeremiah 29:11-12
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
The way we find God’s plan for our life is listen to Him through His word. To draw close to Him and learn His ways. To pray to Him and hear His voice. He has to trust you to reveal His secrets to you. Intimacy is the product of trust.
Jeremiah 1:5
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;
1 Corinthians 2:10
10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
2Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
Here is the point. God doesn’t want to keep us in the dark about His plan and direction for us. Whether it be in general or in a specific situation in your life. He loves us and wants the very best for us. God wants you to prosper in everything you do. But, we have to know Him in order for Him to reveal His plan to us. We have to trust Him and He must be able to trust us. We have to trust Him even when we don’t understand or when the timing is confusing to us. He is never late and He will never leave us or forsake us. If you draw close to Him he will warn you of situations in your life and lead you to blessings. I believe that God is concerned about every aspect of your life. Where you will work, who you are friends with, who you date....
The word of God is our true north and will never lead you astray, regardless of what the compass (or logic) says. Trust in the Lord (and His word) with all your heart and don’t try to figure everything out.
His word is our True North.
One scripture or one word from the Lord can carry you through a situation.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Beth Wingate 2007
