Psalm 119:105 (King James Version)
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Proverbs 3:6 (King James Version)
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
One of the things I look forward to each time I take a trip out to the hunting lease is the view of the stars. The area I'm referring to is about 100 miles from where I live, so the night sky isn't full of light pollution from the DFW metroplex like it is from my front porch, and the view up into the heavens is greatly superior. I like to lay in the bed of my pickup and look up into the clear, crisp Fall air and stare at the stars. They are so much brighter out there, making constellations, meteors, and satellites very easy to see. I usually try to locate the North Star because other constellations can be found by using it as a reference point.A little more about the North Star (Polaris):
Also known as Polaris or the Pole Star, it is located approximately 430 light years away and lies in a direct line with the axis of the Earth's rotation above the North Pole. Therefore, it appears to be fixed in place, and has been used for centuries by sailors and navigators in the northern hemisphere to determine direction and latitude. Because of the spinning of the Earth, it appears that the rest of the stars circle around the North Star. At the North Pole (90° north latitude), Polaris is directly overhead at an angle of 90°. At the Equator (0° latitude), the star is sitting on the horizon with an angle of zero. To determine your approximate latitude look at the North Star and point one arm straight at it, and then hold your other arm level with the horizon. The angle between your arms is roughly the degrees of latitude of your location. An easy method for locating the North Star in the night sky is to first find the more easily recognizable "Big Dipper" constellation. The two stars that make up the end of the cup of the Big Dipper will point up to the North Star. Once you have located it, you will now be able to see the "Little Dipper" constellation, as the North Star is the last star in the handle of the Little Dipper.
The Lesson from the North Star:
The North Star is one of the most significant celestial features, and is an amazing example of God as Creator. It has been used as a beacon for centuries helping people find their way. It has helped sailors chart their course and has led lost campers back home. As long as the clouds aren't blocking the view of the North Star, it is about as reliable a beacon as you could possibly find. Psalm 119 refers to another beacon that we can rely on to guide our walk through the journeys of life - God's Word. No matter what we are facing in life, the Bible will offer guidance and direction. Proverbs also says that if we acknowledge God and consider Him in everything we do, that He will direct our paths. Maybe you have a beacon in your house that you never use. Is your Bible sitting on the coffee table or a shelf collecting dust? Maybe you have some clouds in your life that are blocking the view of your beacon - not enough time in the day, a television show that you just have to watch, a hobby that takes precedence over everything else. I challenge you to stop everything you're doing right now and take a look at the beacon God gives us through His Word.
Lord, thank you for your Word and for providing us with direction and guidance in our lives.
