Your True North

The compass is a fascinating piece of hardware that revolutionized maritime travel around the world. Its beginnings were in ancient China, perhaps as early as 206 BC. It was originally used for divination during the Chinese Han Dynasty. Actual usage as a device for land navigation began during the Song Dynasty, dated 1040 AD. Maritime navigation began sometime around 1100 AD. A lodestone, which is a naturally formed iron stone with magnetic properties, is what gave a compass its ability to point to the Earth’s magnetic poles.

The compass uses a magnetized pointer positioned in a free-floating manner with markings arranged in a circle around the pointer. Originally, the markings indicated the four main cardinal directions: north, east, west, and south. Over time, improvements made the compass more accurate.

Prior to the availability of the compass, travelers depended on landmarks and a clear sky. By traveling at night, they could utilize the stars to keep the correct heading toward their destination. This led to most travel occurring during summer months because of overcast skies in the winter months. The compass does not need to rely on clear skies to point toward cardinal north.

Travelers would record data points for various locations and mark their positions relative to true north so they could consistently make additional journeys to the same location in the future. This led to the creating of degree markings in a circular pattern around the floating needle of the compass. A traveler would use the compass to lock in where true north is. By using the degree markings on the compass, they could travel in a precise direction that would take them to their intended destination.

In modern times, the use of the compass is becoming nostalgic for many. There are children learning to navigate in a wooded area so that they can find their way back to base, and the same applies to military personnel, but most people do not know how to make use of this device. Society, it seems, has lost touch with the concept of ‘true north’. When someone loses sight of the true north, they are doomed to drift aimlessly with little hope of reaching their desired destination.

As a Christ follower, our true north is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a story in the Gospel of John where He was speaking to the disciples, explaining the way to the Father in heaven.

In John 14:5-6, it says;

⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

When you are feeling disoriented, your inner man is in despair, or the way ahead seems like you are in a dense fog bank, stop. Center your focus on Jesus. Ask Him for guidance and turn to His Word. In there, you will find exactly where to point yourself so that you reach the correct destination. He will, as it says in Psalm 23, lead you in the way where you will have all that you need, and you will find quiet rest.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.