True Direction

On Nov. 23, 1877, the last of the great naval steam ships, the USS Huron, left port and headed south toward Cuba, captained by the best and brightest West Point had to offer, Commander George P. Ryan.

Ryan ignored warnings of upcoming storms. He was confident he could weather any storm with his compass and his knowledge.  However, he failed to realize there was a tiny 1-degree error in the ship’s compass. The further it headed south, the closer the USS Huron got to the East Coast’s reefs. Within 24 hours, the Huron sank just 200 yards off the coast of Virginia, and 98 men lost their lives. Ryan’s last recorded words were, “My God, how did we get here?”

Ever look up from your busy life, see the wreck about to happen, and ask the same question? I have, many times, and I know you have too. Ryan was lost because what he trusted wasn’t true. I was lost because I was distracted. Sometimes, we’re lost in a fog of pain, despair, or doubt. Whatever the reason, it’s a very bad thing to be lost.

Father God knew that. That’s why He sent Jesus. “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10  Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to help us find our way.

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. – John 14:16-18

God hates the idea of you being lost. He will do whatever it takes to find you, but you have to want to be found. Have you fallen off the path? Never been on the right road and want to find the way to your true home? Call out to Him! It’s that easy.