Above Minnesota's scenic North Shore Drive, situated on a picturesque cliff, the Split Rock Lighthouse sends out its warning rays over Lake Superior. Below the lighthouse is a mass of dangerous rocks extending far into the lake.

In the earlier days of navigation, many ships were destroyed in this area. Many lives were lost and much valuable merchandise sank into the depths of the lake. Navigators knew about these rocks and tried to avoid them, but numerous ships were wrecked in spite of all their efforts. Finally, someone discovered the reason why there was so much loss of life and property in this particular spot.

In this location the soil in the lake bed is full of iron ore and this ore deflects the compass of every ship several degrees. The combination of iron ore and the resultant error of a compass caused these numerous wrecks. The boat owners and the mariners united in asking for a lighthouse in the vicinity so that boats could steer by that instead of an unreliable compass.

Many people in our nation today are steering their lives by an unreliable compass. Power, social recognition, money, amusements—these are a few of the forces which are our life compass. These things may lead to success as the world regards success. This kind of success is temporal and is soon lost and forgotten.

There is but one reliable compass by which to guide our lives. The Word of God is "a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). By it we are directed to the One who said, "I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life" (John 8:12).

The Word of God is true, accurate and not affected by the most powerful forces of this world. It is undeviating in its directives, as it is unchanging in its character. It consistently points to the Lord Jesus Christ who said, "I am the Way" (John 14:6), and as the unfailing, powerful, living Compass it says, "This is the way, walk ye in it" (Isaiah 30:21).

It first brings us to see Christ by faith as the Light, the Saviour from the darkness and despair of sin. The Glorified Christ is the once rejected, despised, crucified Lord of Glory who died for sinners and rose again. "Look unto Me and be ye saved" we hear Him say in the gospel message that shines to all. The lost, helpless sinner is told to "Look and live," and looking is believing. "Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

With the Light of Life received, the Compass of the Word continues to guide safely and accurately by its precious truths. The Word of God when heeded, enables the saved sinner to steer clear of all the rocks and shoals in the sea of time. It becomes the Counsellor of the believer's life. Obedience to that Compass assures a journey through time of peace and happiness regardless of the turbulent sea and strong winds. The One who has said, "Let us go over unto the other side" is on board the vessel. And until the time soon coming, when immediately ye shall be in the land to which He leads us—the Harbor of Heaven—He says, "Lo, I am with you always."

—Adapted