“NORTH STAR”
The North Star is the only star in the night sky that doesn’t move from dusk to dawn. Well, technically none of them move. The earth rotates which makes them all appear to move. Except for the North Star, also known as Polaris.
If you watch a time-lapse video of a starlit sky, every other star rotates around Polaris. Follow any other star, and you’ll walk in a circle. But a walk toward Polaris is a straight walk due north.
Polaris meant north. Polaris meant freedom.
When I was in elementary school, I learned that the brave men and women who escaped slavery in the American South made their way to freedom by following the North Star. Polaris meant north. Polaris meant freedom.
WHAT IS YOUR NORTH STAR?
Every one of us has a North Star. It drives us. We wake up thinking about it and go to bed dreaming about it. It’s the deepest desire of our heart, the thing we place our value in.
Family, success, hobbies, Instagram-able travel, approval, fame, pleasure, acceptance. The list goes on and on, as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Maybe you found your North Star on that list. Or maybe you would say, like many Christians around the world, that God is the center of your life. “Everything revolves around him,” we say. The church-answer to everything is Jesus, and most Christians would tell you that Jesus is their North Star.
God is the dollar we put in the snack machine to get the candy.
But if we inspected our calendars, text messages, and credit card activity, we would discover another priority, perhaps dozens.
Even those busy at church can have many North Stars. Without us realizing it, we can view God as a means to an end, not The Prize.
God is the dollar we put in the snack machine to get the candy. We do our thing to make God happy so that we can get what we really want – success, a hot spouse, respect, power, or whatever else our souls truly desire.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS GARBAGE
In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul lists his resume. It’s impressive, and he knows it. He claims that if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! (Philippians 3:4 NLT)
His potential “North Stars” look similar to our lists: he was born to the right family, studied at the best schools, worked harder, and accomplished more than anyone else. If Paul were alive today, his list might include Harvard, a blue checkmark on Instagram, or a busy calendar of spiritual activities.
But after Paul lists his reasons for confidence, he says something stunning. Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:7-8 ESV)
Paul says that compared to knowing Jesus, everything else is garbage (which can also be translated “dung”?).
WHAT ABOUT US?
Is Jesus your North Star? Is everything else “dung”? Or, is Jesus a means to an end? Is God your genie, your boss, your co-pilot in times of trouble, or the only true treasure you have?
As we begin this journey, I am not going to ask if you go to church, read scripture, have a great marriage, are a great friend, or fill your calendar with a million good things.
I am going to ask you if Jesus is your North Star?
Do you consider every other accomplishment as garbage compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus?
This doesn’t mean we must become monks or nuns and move into the wilderness.
Personally, I want Jesus to be my North Star. But as I consider my life, I realize that a million other priorities can get in the way.
This doesn’t mean we must become monks or nuns and move into the wilderness. In scripture, those who followed God were businesswomen, kings, fishermen, mothers, and tentmakers.
When Jesus becomes our North Star, our relationships, jobs, and free time become acts of worship to Him.
Jesus is loving and gracious. He meets us where we are at. And he invites us on a journey to grow closer to him. As we begin this journey, ask yourself the question: What is my North Star?
NEXT STEPS:
1: Read Philippians 3:4-11. Write down one thing that you learned.
2: We can learn what we truly value by looking at our money, free time, and words. What do these three categories say about your North Star?
3: Text one friend one thing God showed you today.
Tomorrow: Week 1, Day 2 – “Follow Me”