A book I read recently explained that in the early days of Trans-Atlantic sailing, ships crossing the ocean would use two separate compasses. One of them was fixed to the deck where the helmsman could see it and try to keep the ship on course. But the second compass was fastened at the top of one of the masts and a sailor could climb up to check it to make sure they were still on track.

Somebody asked the captain, “Why do you have two compasses?”

The captain replied, “This is an iron vessel, and the compass on the deck is often affected by its surroundings. That’s because proximity to iron can cause the needle of the compass to shift. But that’s not the case with the compass up on the masthead. That one is above the influence of what’s around us. We steer by the higher compass because it’s more reliable.”

As human beings, we know what it’s like to be affected by our surroundings, don’t we? Our morality can be so easily influenced by the views of those around us and the shifting tides of our culture. We need a higher compass.

Is the Lord God your higher compass?