There is a difference in compass heading and relative bearing. They both require a point of reference to be effective. In sailing navigation, that is knowing where True North is. Where is your true north? How is your bearing, your path in life, in relation to true north?

1. Finding Your True North

2. Direction
• Direction is determined by decision.
• Decision is carried out by action.
• Indecision has no action.
• Inaction determines no direction.
Our direction is determined by the acts
we make, the actions we take.

3. Direction
Direction requires a heading.
Direction without a heading is going
nowhere.
A person without direction may be going
somewhere but he/she is going no
where.

4. Direction
A direction with a heading requires a point of
reference to arrive at a planned destination.
– What is your point of reference?
– What is your heading?
Psalm 37.23 (KJV)
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord;
and he delighteth in his way.”
Psalm 119.105 (NAS)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my
path.”

5. Heading: Sun, Moon, Stars
Proverbs 14.12
There is a way that seems right to a
man, but in the end it leads to
destruction (death).
Since Adam walked separate from God
Man has been trying to find his/her own
way.

6. Heading: Sun, Moon, Stars
In the early days of Man, direction was
determined based on the rising and falling of
the sun.
At noon travelers would stop because they
could not determine direction.
Interesting. When the greatest illumination is
right overhead, one must stop and rest.

7. Heading: Sun, Moon, Stars
Traveling at night, one could use the
moon.
Like the sun, it had a very predictable
course.
But what about those nights when the
moon is not there? What then?

8. Heading: Sun, Moon, Stars
Watching the night sky, Man discovered the stars
followed predictable paths.
Groups of stars were remembered by familiar images
on Earth. Constellations were drawn and named.
Man used the sun, moon, and stars to provide for his
own direction, …
instead of pursuing God.
But, God was not finished with Man.

9. Heading: Sun, Moon, Stars
In the early days Man ventured out on water.
- One could not venture out of sight of the coast
- The coastline was the point of reference.
- Losing one’s point of reference meant being
completely lost and death was probably eminent.
- Then someone took note of the tail of Ursa Minor,
the Little Bear. The tip of its tail did not move. It
always held its position. They called it Polaris, the
North Star.
Sailors found they could venture as far as they
wanted because they could tell where they were by
the paths of the sun, moon, stars, and the fixed
position of Polaris, the North Star.

10. Heading: Sun, Moon, Stars
Polaris, the North Star
Man discovered that he could find his
way if he oriented himself to a single,
unmoving light.
Again, God gave Man a symbol in the
heavens of an unmoving truth.

11. Heading: A little bit of ferrite
Using the sky to determine one’s direction is good to a point. It
requires that the skies be constantly visible to determine
direction.
Without clear vision, one is unable to determine one’s direction.
It was discovered that a floating piece of magnetized ferrous
metal always points in the same direction, North.
When used in conjunction with a map a person could navigate
on land or sea whether the skies were cloudy or not.
Direction was no longer just determined by those things above,
but also by those things at hand.
Man found another way to determine his own direction.

12. What’s your heading?
True North versus Relative Bearing
In nautical navigation terms there is ‘true north’ and ‘relative bearing’.
True north is a fixed point of reference representing ‘North’ in Earth
geography.
– By finding true north, one is always able to determine one’s place in relation
to north.
Relative bearing is the direction of a fixed point or moving point in
relation to the direction one is heading along a course.
– Relative bearing does not determine location along a course unless the fixed
point is true north.
How are you determining your direction?
How are you determining your course?

13. What’s your heading?
Jesus said:
“If you continue in my word, then you
are truly disciples of mine; and you will
know the truth, and the truth will make
you free.” (John 8.31-32 NAS)

14. What’s your heading?
Jesus determined what the ‘true’ fixed point
toward salvation was: His word.
Set your course in life
– Whatever direction you are taking
– By the fixed point that is Jesus,
the Word of God.
Adjust your course along the way
- Check your position relative to Jesus’ words.

15. Adjusting Course
Who needs a course correction in their
life?
It is never too late to correct your course
and make Jesus Lord of your life.
If you have gotten off course, a simple
prayer with a hearing ear and an open
heart will set you back on course.

16. Adjusting Course
Jesus said:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father but through
me.” (John 14.6)

17. Adjusting Course
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
(Romans 12.2)
“… with the washing of water by the Word.”
(Ephesians 5.26)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God.” (John
1.1)

18. Adjusting Course
Know the Word of God for yourself.
“But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives
within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you
what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you
need to know, and what he teaches is true--it is not a
lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship
with Christ.” (1 John 2.27 NLT)
“Study to show yourself approved of God, a workman
that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
Word of Truth.” (2 Timothy 2.15)

19. Adjusting Course
Psalm 37.23 (KJV)
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the
Lord; and he delighteth in his way.”
Psalm 119.105 (NAS)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to
my path.”

20. Adjusting Course
Jesus said:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”
(John 8.12)