Posted By Michael Breznau on Mar 21, 2024

Celebrating my 40th birthday at USAF Officer Training School was rather underwhelming. However, I did happen to procure an MRE with M&M’s on the big day last May, which brightened my afternoon of field training. But upon our return to the base that weekend, I received a gift shipment from my incredible wife and kiddos. Inside was a beautiful cherrywood box with a handsome compass nestled in the center. Stephanie knows of my love for compasses and how I’ve often woven together spiritual analogies with these captivating devices.

Any compass worth its salt will always point true to magnetic north. From where I stand in the middle of the lower 48, that is just about on-point with true north, too. Roll out a topographical map, mark your route, and set a heading. The compass will lead the way.

Jesus’ sixth “I Am” statement in John’s Gospel is bold and unmistakable:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).

He claims not to be one of many decent options, but the one true Guide for the only trail of Truth and Life. Grammarians quickly notice the thrice repeated definite article (“the”) in this verse, which clears away any notion of universal ways to God.

Christ Jesus is the Compass. He came to be the Compass for a beautiful yet broken world – a planet filled with people following a giant pile of cracked compasses. No man-made trail can lead us to redemption and life forever with God, no matter how good, altruistic, or helpful the path may appear. Only Christ the Compass can “bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18b), a return into the communion with our Creator that our hearts long for.

Think about it:

What compass are you following? Check your heading.

Are you linked to True North? Only Christ can lead you there.

In God’s Vineyard,

     Michael J. Breznau