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True North

Proverbs 29:28 “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

There is on the compass….a magnetic north, which is not True North.

True north is the fixed point where the lines of longitude meet at the North Pole….somewhere out in the Arctic Sea. (The North Star is fixed over it, and was used for centuries.)

You can navigate with a compass, for short trips….

….but to navigate accurately for long trips over any time or distance, you have to ascertain True North.

So for the long distance trip….which is our life, we need to ascertain True North.

And just what is True North for our lives?

Just what should we use for the long journey of our lives?

For most people, our moral compass is True North….but for Christians, True North is

….that Jesus Christ is your Lord.

This is to ascertain True North. This is to have our guide till the end of our days.

The term “Lord” means many things to the people of the world…

….but what it means in the Bible, is “God, controller”.

Now when I say this, that does not mean He is just like a boss, to tell me what I need to do, so I can get the work done…..

But Lordship is in every area of my life,……He is in control of the circumstances I have been, am, and will come into.

I preach on Matthew 16:24 a lot,…..

…..which speaks of denying myself, picking up my cross, and following the Lord.

For it is the beginning decision in making Christ, Lord of my life.

And it is something we must continue to do while we are in the world, and surrounded by so many enemies.

Our example is Joshua…for the battle of Jericho.

Joshua had a big job. He was to take the children of Israel into Canaan….and win the inheritance God had given them….

….and the first battle was Jericho.

Joshua had done all he could…..where Jericho was concerned, so far….

…he had sent two men to spy out the city….and received their report:

Joshua 2:1, 23-24 “An Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho…

So the two men returned,….and came to Joshua…and told him all things….And they said unto Joshua, Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.”

Now he had some information…..but he had not heard from God about this city….so…

…..he went out to reconnoiter the city….

It is interesting that Jericho….a walled, fortified city…..

….is the first battle that the Israelites were faced with!

(They say the the top of the wall was wide enough that two chariots could travel around it unhindered….people’s [Rahab’s Joshua 2:15] houses were in the wall, it was that wide.)

I believe it was to show to Israel…..and all the inhabitants of Canaan….that God is with Israel.

If it had been an easier battle (not that any they fought, were “easy”)….then Israel might begin to feel that…..”Yes!….we can do this!” And boast of their accomplishments.

Also, fear of God from the inhabitants……was one thing that would be on their side…..as long as they were on God’s side.

The Way God deals with things is always amazing…..and always for the best….

……although Joshua, looking at this towering fortress of a city…..might have had other thoughts…..

….but….though he was not sure what he would, or even could do against such a city…..

……he knew God had a plan….and he knew the fear of the Lord was already in the city.

This is True North….to do all we can do…..always looking up to the Lord….not to do the rest….no……but to be in charge….of me, first….then of everything else….leaving the details to Him.

When we do this, God bless us with encouragement, as He does Joshua, here:

Thinking on these things he sees a Man, with a sword drawn

Joshua 5:13-15 “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold there stood a Man over against him with His sword drawn in His hand: and Joshua went unto Him, and said unto Him, Art Thou for us, or for our adversaries?

And He said, Nay, but as Captain of the hosts of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto Him, What saith My Lord to His servant?

And the Captain of the Lord of hosts said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.”

Notice Joshua’s attitude in everything….

…he was busy looking over the city….although not looking at the problem….for he “lifted up his eyes and looked”….

….which meant he was looking up to God to hear what He had to say about Jericho…

….then when the Man appeared….he was not a slacker, but instantly challenged Him….”for us or for our adversaries?”…

….And when The Lord introduced Himself as Captain….Joshua “fell on his face” and worshipped….

….following that, with the complete subjection, by taking off his shoes before the Lord.

This Man is the Captain of the Lord’s hosts….Our Lord Jesus in human form……already having gone before in the battle….to see His Will and glory manifest…..

…….and now ready to give instructions and encouragement to His servant.

He is there to command the battle…..not just Joshua’s troops…..but the battle on both sides…..for He is the Lord of all.

Everything is under His control….every stone in that wall,…..every heart in that city….all is under His control.

(If you ask, If everyone is under His control, why then, did God let Achan sin? Joshua 7:1

And yes, “let” is the right word.

For God deals differently with those who are His…..

….He can make anyone do anything….but for those He has called to nearness to Him….He says “If any man will, let him”….”My son, give Me thine heart”……

….He wants our hearts to obey His commands….and that requires “will you?”.

And Achan would not.)

And this is what “Lord” means in the Bible…..He commands everything around us…..and with us…..as well as us.

Have we made Him Lord?

Our response should always be,…..worship!….

….and “What saith My Lord to His servant?”

Hebrews 2:10 “For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect (complete in the Father’s Will) through sufferings.”

God is the first and the last…….and as such, He worked out HIs Victory for our redemption, through the Captain of our salvation.

The battle for our inheritance is won, by our Lord Jesus Christ.

He has seen to it all….

…and now, He stands at the right hand of the Throne of God for us.

Let us fall before Him, and worship.

Let us subject ourselves to the Lord, and take the instruction He has for us….

…. as how to get our personal inheritance…those heavenly blessings He has in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)….into us.

For every battle….for every encounter….for everyday.

True North in our lives is making Christ Jesus….my Lord….in control of all in my life…..in charge of all, in my lifeare able to go the distance, without getting lost in the world of changing circumstances.