Check your Compass
KOZ APR 2026 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
How far is it from the North Pole to the South Pole?
How far is it from East to West?
Whats the difference between North to South and East to West?
North to South is positional
East to West is directional
In the early 1800s, explorers sought the Northwest Passage, a fabled route that promised to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by way of the Arctic Ocean
However, many faced perilous conditions and were lost without a reliable compass. In the same way, our spiritual journey can be filled with challenges if we don't keep our spiritual compass aligned with God’s Word.
Just as explorers needed to check their instruments to stay on course, we must regularly check in with our faith to ensure we are following the right path.
Why did the compass become so important to Sailors?
Cant get a star bearing on cloudy days.
What if we just decided to ‘Wing it” one day,
What if we had all the right tools available for us, but chose not to use them properly?
How many here have ever been on an Ocean cruise?
What happens shortly after leaving port? You lose the internet!
No internet, no smart phones, actually sounds rather nice, eh?
History suggests the compass was invented around 200 BC
Thats 200 years before Christ was born.
The form and function has changed over time, but the basic principle has not changed much since the beginning.
One of the fun-filled moments of my Army career- and most terrifying as well
Land-Nav, at night.
The story of the wise men from the East captures the essence of checking one's compass.
Guided by a star, they persevered through harsh terrains, seeking truth.
When they arrived in Bethlehem, they not only found the king but also the fulfillment of prophecy.
This illustrates the importance of seeking divine guidance in our own lives.
Just as the wise men had to frequently check their direction, we must continuously check our spiritual compass to ensure we’re on the right path towards our Savior.
He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
Why does God give us way out from our sins? What have we done to deserve such grace?
No matter the mess we get into, no matter how many times we get into that mess, God s grace will always be waiting patiently.
He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
How far is it from the North Pole to the South Pole?
To follow the surface curve of the planet- 12,430 miles
To cut through the center of the earth straight down- 7918 miles
How far is it from East to West?
Whats the difference between North to South and East to West?
North to South is positional
East to West is directional
Why did God remove our sins as far away as the East is to the West?
Why not from North to South?
How important is it to keep your compass on correct setting?
Example: The 1800’s sailing ships were some of the fastest, most advanced ships prior to the invention of the combustion engine and coal fired power plants.
A trip from NYC harbor to London England, on average took about 25 days
So: Suppose a ship left NYC and its compass heading was one degree off for every day at sea.
Where would it make landfall?
Short answer: it would miss London by a very large margin — most likely make first landfall on (or near) the Iberian/Azores region if the compass drifted to the right (east), or in the Newfoundland/Labrador area if it drifted to the left (west).
He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
Understand that no matter the pressures they face, God's love is far greater and can help them redirect their path toward His grace.
Maybe there is a tough situation you're facing or your faith is being challenged.
Realize that true success is measured by character, not just grades.
He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
How far is that? (To Infinity- And beyond)
Our freedom in Christ becomes reality BECAUSE of His great Grace shown to us through His forgiveness offered to us.
There is no mistake to small that God cant see and no sin to big that God wont forgive it.
Consider:
In this Easter season...
There were two people that failed Jesus horribly in this story, Who were they? (Judas and Peter)
Judas was so overwhelmed by the guilt of his betrayal that he tried to give the money back
And then hung himself on a rotted out tree branch
Peter was one of Jesus’ closest followers
The only one to get out of the boat in the storm
The one who declared that they had nowhere else to go, for Jesus “Had the words of eternal life.” (John 6)
Yet at Jesus’ trial Peter stood off in the shadows and denied even knowing Jesus three times- Just as Jesus had said he would.
Peter realized what he had done and submitted to Jesus’ authority
And was commissioned by Jesus as the first leader of the Apostles.
If Judas had come back to Jesus and repented- Would Jesus have forgiven him?
The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
Not everyone here has a good example of what a father should be in their lives.
As father’s we have all made mistakes- We are not perfect.
But our Heavenly Father is perfect.
He doesnt hold a grudge when we come to Him in humility and confess our sins to Him.
He is faithful to forgive us of our sins.
Just like the story of the Prodigal son- We will always have a place to come back to as long as we humbly submit to Him.
What does Psalm 103:10–13 reveal about God's character in relation to our sins?
How can you apply the concept of forgiveness in your life when dealing with past mistakes?
How might unplugging from social media for a day help you regain focus on your true values?
Just like that ship leaving the harbor, one degree doesnt seem like a big deal.
One simple little compromise
One simple little excuse to justify something, not that big a deal, right?
That’s how sin works.
Very few, if any, people start off life with the idea that they are going to commit one REALLY BIG SIN today
It starts with a compromise here, a broken promise there, that leads to other bigger compromises that leads to
that REALLY BIG SIN.
But if we keep our spiritual compass fixed on Jesus, we stand a much better chance of being able to course correct in time to save the rest of the trip.
Check your compasses all the time.
