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The Great Parallel - Are you Facing True North?

 

Something dawned on me last night while attending an online discipleship course - and the realization is scaring me.

 

Over the past week, while scrolling through LinkedIn for business reasons, I became aware of a trend that has probably been trending for a long time. There’s an explosion of posts about leading with empathy, not to be toxic bosses, kindness in business, and similar themes. One post in particular spoke about showing respect in business, regardless of rank or position. Others warn against gossip, favoritism, and dishonesty, reminding us that people are not commodities. The list goes on.

 

You may wonder where I’m going with this.

It’s simple: everything clever people come up with has already been written in Scripture - by God: 

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NIV)

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

 

As children of God, we know that trying to “do good” in our own strength isn’t sustainable. It doesn’t bring us closer to God. And this is where we must check which way we’re facing - are we aligned with True North?

 

If True North represents God, then Magnetic North - the path that looks, sounds and feels right - subtly leads uas away until we are completely separated from Him. 

 

We understand that the world - those who haven’t yet said yes to Jesus, and those who deny Him outright - are on that parallel path that does not lead to God and eternal fellowhip with him - even if it's the kindest boss, humblest leader, most caring co-worker or most generous family member. 

But my concern is with the millions of sleepy Christians walking that same road, believing they’re fine.

 

The truth is, Satan actively deceives. He is a liar, and though we know this, we get misled. Instead of a relationship so deeply rooted in God that the things of the world grow dim, we become so entwined in the good-looking deception that the things of God grow dim instead.

 

This is why Jesus said this to the chrurch of Laodicea in Revelation 3:15–16 (NIV): 

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

 

Someone said to me recently, “I’ve started going to church again and I'm giving to the poor - but not like you. Everything in moderation.”
What? No! We cannot serve God in moderation!

 

We cannot follow the look-alikes we see on social media - self-help dressed up as spirituality, clever sayings that sound like Scripture, diluted “faith” that fits neatly into our lifestyles. Cleverly twisted scripture that fools the Christian who spends more time on the parallel road than the true one. We say we love God, yet fill our minds with whatever Netflix serves up, the music we choose, the things we call “just fun.”

 

A friend once said, “Oh, but playing with divination cards is just for fun.”
No - it’s not fun. It’s giving Satan a foothold and he WILL use it with great gusto.

 

By now, you may want to stop reading or you may disagree. That’s okay. Some people walked away from Jesus - the rich young man, and the one who wanted to bury his father before following Him - and others.
And Jesus let them go. Don't take my word for it.  Go read it for yourself. (Go find the scriptures!)  But if you are serious about a deep, intimate relationship with the triune God, read on.

 

We need to ask ourselves, every day - no even several time during the day: Am I facing True North? Is God my FIRST LOVE?

 

This world is full of almosts - almost truth, almost light, almost good - but they are not God. The great parallel runs close enough to look right but ends in total, eternal separation from the loving God who spoke us into being.

 

It’s time for us to turn radically away from the parallel path. To stop measuring our faith by what looks respectable or acceptable. By what makes us feel comfortable or doesn't offend us. By what comes easily or follows the latest good-looking or comfortable worldly trend. 

 

True North isn’t about trying harder. It’s about surrender. TOTAL SURRENDER JUST AS YOU ARE. It doesn't matter how much you have done wrong, how guilty you feel, how worthless you feel, or even how proud you feel or how large your ego is.  Just come as you are.  Do you realize that God knows the darkest secrets of your mind? And that He still loves you despite the worst thing you may try and hide, even from yourself?

 

Pray right now: "Jesus, I need you.  I need your forgiveness. I am tired of living in my own stregnth. I want to turn away from this parallel path of deception and confusion.  Show me Your path. Renew my mind and shine Your light in my life so that my feet will stay on your path, the one that keeps me connected to You."

 

Once you have prayed this, the only way you can ever say that God did not answer that prayer, is if you carry on like before.  Don't just attend church. Get into Scripture.  Make God NUMBER ONE in your life.  That means: Before you wife, or your husband, or your children, or your career, or your hobby, or your car, or ANYTHING else. 

 

Ask a mature Christian in whose life the fruit of the Spirit is clearly evident, to disciple you, just like Jesus discipled the twelve.  Go read about this in John 13 to 17 and go find other scriptures about the fruit of the Spirit. Learn, grow and multiply by discipling others!  That is after all what Jesus commanded us in Matthew 28 : 18 - 20. 

 

Let’s wake up, friends!
Let’s return to the compass that never shifts, the Word that never changes, and the Presence of God that never deceives.

 

Our days are short and can end at the drop of a hat. But it's not just about the end.  It's about living in the abundance of God's love, mercy, fogiveness and grace right now - every moment.

 

With love

Hilda