The Compass And God's Truth

Let me tell you a story to bring this passage home. Back in the 1800s, the thick forest of northern Michigan there was a young logger, confident in his sense of direction, set out one crisp morning to scout new timber. The forest was dense, the sky hidden by a canopy of green. Hours passed, and as dusk crept in, he realized he was lost—hopelessly turned around. Panic set in. He was certain he was heading toward his cabin, but every step seemed to pull him deeper into the unknown.

In his pocket, was a small, weathered compass. He hadn’t checked it all day, trusting his instincts instead. Finally, desperate, he pulled it out. To his shock, the needle pointed the opposite way of where he knew he should go. Frustrated, he nearly chucked that compass into the underbrush, convinced it was faulty. But then he paused, looked at the steady needle, and muttered, “You’ve never steered me wrong before.” He followed it, step by step, through the dark, until he saw the faint glow of his cabin’s lantern. That little compass saved him.

Friends, that’s what God’s Word does for us. When we’re lost in rebellion, when we’re sure we know better, God’s truth is our compass. Jonah 2:3–6 shows us a man drowning in his own choices, yet God’s promises pointed him back to repentance and purpose. The Bible doesn’t waver, doesn’t get confused by our stubbornness. It’s steady, reliable, always pointing to the truth. Some are tempted to toss it aside when it challenges their direction, but if you trust it, it’ll lead you safely home—every time.