(Read Ephesians 1)
True North is a reference to the direction of the North Pole from any given point. I find that I use this phrase often to describe my situation or when I check to see if I’m on the right course and right direction. I caught up with a working colleague and friend (J) to learn more about how God is working through his life. It’s funny, I wasn’t entirely sure of his particular faith, but with some people you can just tell. (J) is an extremely articulate, genuine, and patient person, not to mention a 300-score bowler! No doubt, his patience comes partially from his job as an educator.
“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.”
Jeremiah 29:11
“I remember seeing a poster (of Jeremiah 29:11) on someone’s room at my church before I made my salvation call,” (J) told me. “I don’t exactly remember whose room, but the Scripture always resonated with me, and I will always remember the poster.”
After a lot of reading, I have discovered that the passage from Jeremiah was most likely God telling the prophet good news about Israel’s future, rather than a personal promise. But that doesn’t take away from the underlying meaning of this verse. God has a plan for everything. He has a plan for our lives, no matter our current situation, He can allow us to prosper and give us hope.
“My introduction to Jesus Christ was a two-stage process,” (J) continued. “The first thing happened when I was in seventh grade at church camp. Our counselor asked if anyone wanted to accept Christ as their Savior.” (J) smiled, “And I don’t know if it was more about making my counselor happy or really giving my life to Jesus as a 12-year-old, but I raised my hand and went outside and prayed the Sinner’s Prayer.” Looking back, (J) admitted that he might not have discerned that much, but it was an inroad. “But then my second fencepost was during my sophomore year of high school while sitting in church, and the preacher asked, ‘If you died today, would you go to heaven?’”
“Wow!” I said, imagining any teenager answering that question with conviction.
“And I wasn’t really sure. The counselor said, if you’re not sure, then you know.” (J) added, “God spoke to me. Nervously, I went down front for an altar call. I just felt prompted to do it and went back and prayed.” (J) clarified that moment, “Then I really understood what I was doing. It was something I needed to do as a sinner, and so I gave my life to Christ. I’ve been pretty much heading due north ever since. Of course, I have doubted things here and there, but my faith has been really important to me since that day, and it’s not really wavered since then.”
Shortly after that, (J) started attending church regularly and participated in youth group and Bible Study with his brother. “Whenever I was in Christian fellowship, I felt at home, and I felt like the people there had a common focus like I did. They were nicer than my high school friends.” He described to me about how his Christian friends showed signs of true discipleship. “They would ask questions about me and were concerned about who I was as a person. Whereas, you know, my football friends, we kind of hit each other and that kind of stuff.”
While we walk on the true north path towards Jesus, we adjust. It’s not a straight road or a smooth, paved one. I think it has to be like this because we don’t know what the end looks like, so we turn, look, listen, and even correct. “One thing that changed for me in college and through my early years of adulthood is how I became less dogmatic in my approach to how I talked about the gospel to people. I became far less judgmental.”
Enter apologetics, logical arguments to justify Christian doctrine. “I tried my hand at apologetics and I was not very effective or good at it. People were not too super interested in hearing me wax.” We talked about this philosophy for a bit and concluded it’s a very specialized talent, left to those who have been gifted by it. “But in my early to mid-twenties I tried to connect more with people as human beings and less trying to convince them.” (J) added, “Trying to convince someone of change didn’t make very good friendships and ended up alienated people.”
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105
God’s Word allows us to see the proper direction and guidance for our travels through life on earth. It is living energy that actively offers to navigate our journey through a sinful world. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “We are walkers through the city of this world, and we are often called to go out into its darkness; let us never venture there without the light-giving word, lest we slip with our feet.”
“I realized that people’s salvation shouldn’t be dependent on me being able to supply an answer to a question that they ask. I’m not responsible for this person’s soul just because I was not able to give them a defense of some obscure fact in the Bible they see as incongruent.” I have written before about my eagerness to convince my sister-in-law of the way (my way really), and how I talked instead of listened. Boastful believers can do this when we’re not following His path. “My responsibility is to evangelize, to love, to serve, to care for the poor. And the Holy Spirit is pretty powerful and gets along just fine without me.”
Because of his job, (J) has strict rules of engagement when it comes to sharing his faith at work. “I’m not allowed to overtly, share my testimony. I have to be careful not to advance my religious faith in any way.” But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t allowed God’s illumination to introduce his students to Jesus’ grace. “For 25 years, I have been an advisor to FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) to open up conversations and provide a forum for kids to study the Bible and ask questions. It’s a fantastic student-led avenue in a public workplace.”
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
Ephesians 1:7
“The gospel is important to me, I’m so grateful for what Christ has done for me. I am deeply touched by stories of redemption in the Bible about Christ changing someone’s life.” (J) started getting more serious, “I was not a great student in high school. During my junior high years, I was getting involved in a crowd that wasn’t the greatest, with some people drinking. So that’s where I was heading. I came from a good family, but I wasn’t making great choices. Christ saved me, but left to my own devices I’m not sure where I would have ended up.”
(J)’s story comes back to our true north path again. Redemption is available to all of us.
This verse transitions to payment Jesus made for us “through his blood.” Paul is referring to Christ’s death on the cross as the sufficient payment for the sins of all who believe. Only Christ’s blood could pay for the full price of sin. Only the sacrifice of God Himself is enough to redeem us back from the consequences of mankind’s fall, and ours. In my 61 trips around the sun, I can’t come close to counting how many times I’ve beaten myself up over my mistakes. Despite my record-keeping, Jesus on the cross has forgiven it.
“I have my own redemption. It wasn’t a Paul-like experience, but I could have had one, had I not accepted Christ when I did. Redemption is an important theme for me, and I want to share that redemptive story with others.” We talked about The Chosen series, and both of us shared some of our favorite highlights. “The story of Lilith and Mary Magdalene was very, very touching, especially the effect that meeting Jesus had on them. It was an example of the new creation, for sure.”
True north points us towards the north pole. For followers of Jesus, true north points us towards Him. “I have hope in the fact that the story is true, that the end has been written,” (J) said. “That this life on earth is not all there is. One day all sad things become untrue. This world is not designed to bring satisfaction, fulfillment, and contentment completely. That’s only in the next life and with Him.”
(J) meets a lot of people in his primary job and other his career as a consultant, so I asked him, “Have you ever tried to explain your faith to a non-believer?”
“Yes. My approach is to begin by asking these three questions and I’m borrowing these from our pastor:
- Where did I come from?
- Why am I here?
- And where am I going?
After asking these questions I might say, let me share with you from my perspective, where I’ve come from and where I’m going. Hopefully, these perspectives make the ‘why I’m here’ a lot more sensible.”
We agreed that it needs to be a discussion not a monologue. “I might continue with, ‘and this is my story. Where do you think you came from?’ Then I would start playing the long game in those conversations, looking at the end in mind, as opposed to proselytizing where it’s my job to convert them in the next 10 minutes.” (J) summarized his thoughts with the clarity I expected. “You know, if God is for every man, if that’s true, then the answer to their dilemma is the answer. It’s just a matter of walking alongside them and being there if they discover that. And hopefully they do.”
For Christians, true north is the only only path we can be on. What’s the point, of having the perfect map, compass, and GPS if it’s not getting us to the right destination? Like getting on a plane from LAX to Midway, when we’re supposed to be going to Dallas. If we’re on a true north trip to Jesus’ redemption, we’ll reach our destination.
Key Applications:
- (Read Ephesians 1) The next time you’re using your phone or car GPS, or old school map, pay attention to the journey. Think about your destination. Our trip has been paid for. We don’t deserve to get there, but thanks to Jesus, we can.
- How can you help someone else find redemption? It’s not up to us to give it to them, we can’t. Pray about ways we can lead them to the path
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.