Following the Right Compass

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Following the Right Compass

2 Timothy 3:1-12.

“Now you followed my teaching conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance.”

                  We live in confusing times when it seems there are many views regarding moral truth.  We live in a world where Alice’s  (i.e., Alice in Wonderland) dream has become a reality. Alice describes her world in the story: “If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense.  Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn’t.  And contrary-wise, what it is wouldn’t be, and what it wouldn’t be, it would.”  We live in a world where what used to be wrong has become right, and what formerly was right is not condemned as wrong.  How do we determine direction and perspective in a confused world?

                  In verses 1-5, Paul describes the world that we are living in.  It is a world where people not only embrace sin but “hold to a form of godliness although they have denied its power.”  In other words, they maintain a religious veneer that claims to follow God but is not transformed by it.  As Paul addresses our confused world, he gives a corrective regarding what compass we follow.  He warns against following those who claim to be religious, even Christian, but are not being transformed by it.  These people's ultimate compass is directed by their wisdom and desires.  While claiming to be followers of Christ, they reject the truth of scripture.  They alter scripture to fit their desires and objectives. They deny its transforming power.  Paul thus warns against following them. 

                  Instead, we are to set the course of our life by the compass of scripture.  Paull challenges Timothy to follow his teaching and example. In his faith, patience, love perseverance. The word “follow” means learning the details and thinking about something to become a faithful follower who conforms to his life to the pattern someone established.  Paul is challenging Timothy to remember the past instruction that he has received not only from Paul but also from his mother and grandmother.   Who we follow is who we become.  Paul challenges us to carefully examine and evaluate the people we follow and influence our thoughts and actions.  Who are the authors we read, the podcasts we listen to, or the individuals we admire and seek to emulate?  Are they pointing us toward Christ and His morality, or are they pointing us away from it?  Do they point us to the moral compass of Scripture or direct us to the misguided moral compass of human reason?  In a confusing world where morality has become relative and popular culture determines right and wrong, we must examine how people choose what is truth and right.  The wrong people can easily influence us. We need to make sure that they are individuals who are promoting Christ and His word.  We need to make Christ, and His word is the compass by which we live.  In a confusing world, we can only find clarity and truth in the Bible, and those who not only teach the Bible by are transformed by It.    

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