DO YOU HAVE A COMPASS?

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

Exodus 40:36-38 “Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys”

The tabernacle of Moses represented the dwelling place of the Lord among His people. (Ex. 25:8 “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 29:45. “I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God.” 1 Kings 6:13” And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel”

God’s presence guarantees His ever presence and availability i.e. He will always be found in time of need. It also serves as an assurance that He will not forsake His own people. He appeared to them in a form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The cloud represented the glory of God and the fire represented His passion.

Because the children of Israel did not have God inside of them; they could not accept His invisible presence by faith. They needed something to see, and God gave them a physical appearance in the form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The cloud served as a covering – an umbrella; a much needed shadow in the desert by day. The fire also served as a covering – a blanket needed to keep them warm throughout the cruel desert nights.  

The cloud also served as their compass. It decided their direction. Their journey was directed by the cloud. When the cloud moved, they moved; when it stopped, they stopped. Whichever direction it took, they followed. God, Himself was their Leader and Moses realized this and said “if you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place...for your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth” NLT

Oh my beloved brother and sister; how I wish I could say today as we face the threshold of the new month; if you don’t personally go with me, don’t make me leave this place. How good it will be for the people of God to rely on this divine compass. TAKING A JOURNEY WITHOUT A COMPASS IS LIKE BUILDING A HOUSE WITHOUT A SPIRIT LEVEL.

God has offered Himself to take us through the wilderness of this 21^st century by giving us Jesus His Son as our Compass. Do you remember what Jesus said in John 14:6? “I am the way, the truth, and the life” If you want to reach the land of promise - the land where God’s promises are fulfilled in your life; take the compass. Jesus is the COMPASS for our lives. “No one comes to the Father except through Me” He said.

Some of us had a compass at one time but we don’t know what happened to it and are trying the journey all by ourselves. When asked; “friend how’s the journey?” It’s hard; we reply. My friend; don’t battle it alone out there; we know where the compass is. JESUS IS THE COMPASS. Come back to Him – He will never turn you away.

Others have been trying every route. “All routes lead to Rome” they say. It may be true; but there are two problems with that kind of approach. One; what if you don’t want to go to Rome? See; you will end up where you did not set out to go. Two; you are going to reach your destination after a very looong walk; I mean if you will ever reach there any way. Possibilities are; you may die before you reach your destination. Why do you have to rely on chance when there is a compass? Suppose you take a journey to Cape Town and you drive for 30 years without reaching there. Wouldn’t you think you are lost? You have been driving for so long and you are not reaching your destination. Are you not lost perhaps? JESUS IS THE COMPASS of your life. With Him; you will not go wrong.

My friend; it is not save to launch out in life without a compass. I advise you to take Jesus; the compass before you attempt any move. Many of us have long lost direction and are just wandering along. We are drifting away without direction. Friend, you cannot go on like that. Say like Moses if you don’t personally go with me I won’t go. Invite the Master of the way; and He will provide you with the umbrella by day and heater by night. In Him there is comfort. In Him there is assurance. He will point the way in which you should go. He said; “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

REMEMBER, JESUS LOVES YOU; I DO TOO