II Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Sir Wilfred Grenfell was a missionary to Labrador, and Newfoundland, Canada. A generous donor gave Sir Grenfell a boat for him to use on his missionary trips.  The boat would help the missionary navigate the treacherous waters around the islands.  One night, Sir Grenfell received a call for help from someone needing urgent medical attention.  He jumped into his new boat and headed towards the island from which the call had come.

Though Sir Grenfell knew the location of the island, finding the island in the midst of the dark night proved difficult.  Sir Grenfell had to rely on the guidance of the compass.  He soon realized the compass was giving him wrong directions.  He could not spot any land in sight.  In fact, he was heading into the open sea waters.  He turned around the boat to return home.  He was fortunate to make it home safely.

On the following day, Sir Grenfell examined the boat compass.  He discovered the compass was malfunctioning.  The person who had affixed the compass onto the boat had used some steel screws instead of all brass screws.  Steel attracts magnets.  The steel screws had pulled the magnetic compass needle toward itself. Instead of following the True North, the boat compass had provided directions to itself.

The same is true of us humans.  We are born bent on following our self-interests rather than following the True God!  As humans we fail to chart our course towards God, instead we chart a course towards self-sufficiency.  We are born with an inherent desire to be self-centered, selfish, self-absorbed.

II Cor. 5:17 states we become new creatures at our conversion.

Colossians 1:13 States Jesus has rescued us from the powers of darkness.  He has brought us into the Kingdom of God.

Since Jesus came into our lives, we are now under new leadership.

Galatians 2:20 states our old selves have been crucified with Christ

Although we are now new creatures, the old self often rears its head.  Christ must reign.  We must, therefore, seek to follow His leadership.  We must no longer follow our former way of self-centeredness and selfishness.

• Where are you headed?
• Are you following God’s directions or your own?
• How is it working for you?
• What would your life look like if you followed God’s directions?
•  What do you need to give up so you can follow God?