Mark Affleck

Find the NORTH STAR Before It Gets Cloudy

December 14, 2021
Spiritual Growth

This month’s end-of-year FAITH INVENTORY has me convicted about, and praying over, this piercing question: “Hey Mark, will Christ be your NORTH STAR in 2022?”
  
I’m not sure why God has me contemplating this question with such intense focus right now as 2021 prepares its fade to black. I have heard countless versions of the NORTH STAR metaphor for over 20 years, mostly as a business strategy. But this is the first time, as I prepare to step over the transom into 2022, it has surfaced as a challenge for the position Christ holds in my life.
  
Maybe he’s calling YOU to the same challenge right now.
  
Since God is wisdom, an important first step in living with him as our North Star is destroying the world’s misguided notion of WISDOM that rules the day on planet earth. We must INTENTIONALLY deactivate the world’s power and elevate Christ to his North Star throne.
  
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and set aside the understanding of the scholars.” 1 Corinthians 1:19
  
The gospel of Christ, not human wisdom, is the power and promise of God’s North Star. This “Good News” has always been, and will always be, foolishness to those who do not believe. But the gospel is a life-transforming NORTH STAR for those who believe.
  
BUT GOD WANTS US TO LIVE BY HIS NORTH STAR, NOT JUST ACKNOWLEDGE ITS EXISTENCE.
  
Human wisdom cannot save people from evil. Not one skeptic of God has ever saved a soul for eternity. That’s how Christians know that activating the benefits of God’s message, truth, and countless promises does not come from the world. They know that it comes from believing, trusting, and following our North Star–the Lord of Heaven and earth.
  
That’s where the challenge comes into view. It’s difficult to follow Jesus as our North Star when the culture screams COMFORT through the movie of messages live-streaming 24/7 in the cinema of our mind. Jesus did not come into the world to make us comfortable. He came to save us from sin.
  
Jesus is not a joy genie. He is our North Star.
  
I want to live with God as my North Star and ask him to help me fight off the world’s intrusion with its false hope and worthless idols.
  
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
  
Will Christ be YOUR North Star in 2022?
  
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.Matthew 2:10 
  
“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2
  

 

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