GO BACK TO THE COMPASS.

GO BACK TO THE COMPASS

Have you ever taken a wrong turn while travelling?

Perhaps you were following directions someone gave you. Perhaps you missed a turning because you weren’t paying attention. Or perhaps you were so convinced that you knew the way that you ignored the directions altogether.

Whatever the reason, you eventually discovered that you were heading in the wrong direction.

Would you keep going, hoping somehow to arrive at your destination? Or would you stop, reconsider your route and find your way back?

Life can be rather like that.

Sometimes we find ourselves in places we never intended to be. We look at our circumstances and wonder how we got there.

It could be in a relationship, a marriage, our parenting, our careers, our finances, or even our walk with God.

It is possible that we started out with the best intentions. We had plans, hopes and expectations. We believed we knew where we were going. And then somewhere along the way, we took a wrong turn.

Perhaps we listened to the wrong advice, got distracted or made a decision without seeking God’s direction. And before we knew it, we were travelling along a road that was taking us further and further away from where we thought we were headed.

When we lose our way, the best thing to do is simply GO BACK TO THE COMPASS.

Now we do not necessarily have to go all the way back to where we started. Sometimes, we only need to find our way back to the point where we missed the turn.

When we miss a turning on a journey, we do not ordinarily return all the way to our house and begin the journey again. We find a way back to the correct route, and from there, we continue towards our destination.

And perhaps that is what somebody needs to hear today.

You may have made a mistake. You may have taken a wrong turn. You may have spent considerable time travelling in a direction you now realise was wrong. But that doesn’t necessarily mean everything is lost. NO!

It may simply be time to stop, acknowledge where you are, and seek the right direction again. But continuing in the wrong direction doesn’t make it the right direction. Sometimes we are reluctant to turn back because of how far we have travelled.

We think about the years we have invested, the effort we have made, the sacrifices we have endured and the opinions of those who have watched us along the way.

We tell ourselves that perhaps things will work out eventually.

And sometimes, rather than admit that we have taken a wrong turn, we keep going. Yet the distance we have travelled is no guarantee that we are heading in the right direction. Neither does the amount of time we have spent on a particular road.

Hear the Word of the LORD in scripture:

“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”. Jeremiah 6:16 (KJV)

Please note the following words:

Stand. See. Ask. Walk.

First, Stand: Stop long enough to recognise where you are. Stop rushing. Stop insisting that everything is fine when you know something is wrong.

Then, See: Look carefully. Examine the direction you are taking. Consider where your choices are leading you.

Next, Ask. Seek the right way. Ask for direction. Be willing to acknowledge that you may not have all the answers.

And finally, Walk: Once you recognise the right path, take it.

But there is another part of that scripture that we must not overlook.

“But they said, We will not walk therein.”

You see, not every wrong turn is taken by mistake. Sometimes we know the right thing to do, but still choose to do something else. We know what God’s Word says, but we do the wrong thing anyway. We recognise warning signs, but ignore them.

And sometimes, even after we realise that we have taken the wrong road, pride, stubbornness or fear prevents us from turning back.

The important thing isn’t only how we took the wrong turn. It is what we choose to do when we recognise our mistake.

Will we continue simply because we have already gone far? Or will we humble ourselves enough to acknowledge that we need to change direction?

And what is that compass to which we must return? It is the Word of God.

The psalmist declares:

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  Psalm 119:105 (KJV) 

God’s Word illuminates our path. It provides direction, correction, wisdom and instruction. It helps us recognise when we are moving in the right direction, and it also reveals when we have wandered away.

A compass is of little use if we refuse to consult it. We may carry it everywhere, admire it and even tell others how valuable it is. But if we never look at it when we need direction, we may still lose our way.

And so it is with the Word of God.

It is not enough to own a Bible, quote familiar scriptures or know what God expects of us.

We must allow His Word to direct our decisions, influence our choices and correct our steps.

The psalmist prayed:

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”  Psalm 119:133 (KJV)

This is a prayer for anyone who has lost their way.

Perhaps you need to reconsider a decision.

Perhaps you need to seek forgiveness.

Perhaps you need to make peace with someone.

Perhaps you need to abandon a course of action that you know is contrary to God’s Word. Or perhaps you simply need to return to the habit of seeking God’s direction before making important choices.

Whatever the situation, there is hope.

We should never allow the embarrassment of having taken a wrong turn to keep us on the wrong road.

We should not allow the time we have already spent travelling in the wrong direction to convince us that turning back is pointless.

There is no shame in allowing God’s Word to correct our course.  Because sometimes, going back to the right turning point is exactly how we begin moving forward again.

So, wherever you find yourself today, if you have lost your way, whether knowingly or unknowingly, remember that you do not have to keep travelling in the wrong direction.

Stand.

See.

Ask.

Walk.

And above all,

GO BACK TO THE COMPASS.

OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©