The thick humus air of the dark woods almost muffled the young camper’s voice, “Now which way should we go?” The experienced scout calmly replied, “What does your compass tell you?” The young camper gazed at his compass. As the needle swung to indicate north, it was as though suddenly the woods were overlaid with a large grid. He smiled, “we need to go that way!”
Compasses respond to the strongest magnetic field acting upon them, not just the earth’s magnetic field. Since a magnet can make a compass point in any direction, a compass under the influence of a magnetic source other than the earth’s will provide false guidance.
Our hearts also have a compass within them guiding us through making decisions. Instead of indicating north, our heart’s compass provides a constant reference point to whatever we ultimately value in life. As a compass can only point in one direction, so also our heart pulls us toward whatever we value most in life. If our compass is attracted toward perserving and promoting self, then it may guide us into those behaviors which we believe are important for:
On the other hand, if our compass is attracted toward serving God, then our behavior will not only be guided by godly values but it will reflect those values. Whatever we treasure most in life will pull the compass of our heart to make decisions in order for us to follow that path. For this reason one person might choose to pass up a job promotion in order to be with family, while another person will take the promotion even though it involves hardly ever being at home.
And just like its magnetic cousin, if our heart is attracted to false sources of security and purpose, then our hearts will also guide us in the wrong direction. For this reason, it is vitally important that we love God with all of our hearts(1) and that we do not love anything in the world.(2) For the true love of God and the love of worldly values and things can not abide in the same heart.(3)
To put it in Jesus’ words, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is sincere your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is evil, your whole body will be dark. If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Matthew 6:21-23
(1) Matthew 22:37
(2) 1 John 2:15
(3) 1 John 2:15
Barry Newton, Copyright © 1998, 1999
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