One Degree
If you deviate by only 1 Degree, where does this inevitably lead you, so where do you actually land up at? Quote; “In air navigation, the 1 in 60 rule is a rule of thumb which states that if a pilot has travelled sixty miles then an error in track of one mile is approximately a 1° error in heading, and proportionately more for larger errors.” Wikipedia. Let us have some fun, and assuming that my schoolboy maths is somewhat accurate, we get this. A one degree off track, should give us a radius of 225 kilometres, but a radius of 225 kilometres should give us a circumference of 1,414 kilometres. Now this is fun in a Laboratory and in a clinical situation, but with wind, currents, storms, obstructions, fuel capacity and the like, it becomes very much theoretical, but fun to postulate over anyway.
Application; we set off together, you stay laser true on track, but somehow my settings are just a minimal “One Degree” off true, so after travelling for 60 kilometres, there is a space of “One Kilometre” between us. Now somehow, we keep this perfect setting, in a perfect world, just travelling onwards, you will reach your destination, and as for me, well after travelling for some 1,414 kilometres, I am exactly right back at the very starting point, journeyed right back to the point we recently left from, for I have gone around in one enormous circle, and am back at the beginning, back at the start once more. If I am worse than “One Degree Off,” then my circle gets smaller and smaller, tighter and tighter, and I still land up right back at the starting place, but getting there much quicker at arriving there each time, having travelled less distance, but at a greater angle of error. If I have a huge angle of error, and we get ridiculous in theory, then if I just spin right where I stand, I have lots of enthusiastic efforts, spin in a very tight circle, just getting nowhere, well we are still at the “Start Line.” As they say, “A blowfly in a bottle,” it makes lots of noise, lots of effort is put into everything, just getting nowhere in the end.
Is there any “Error” in our “Spiritual Life?” We have found that “One Degree” off track will send you right back to the “Start Line” in a huge circle, but “1/2 of a Degree” will still send you right round in a circle, a much bigger circle at that, but round and round you will go, no matter how enthusiastic you are, how devoted you are, commitment and enthusiasm, will still send you right round in circles. Quote; “The greatest want of the world is the want of men,–men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall. {Ed 57} So how accurate are we? Are we “true to duty as the needle to the pole?” For any “Deviation from the absolute true,” is a wasted trip, that just goes around and round in ever decreasing or widening circles, sending you right back to the “Start Line.”
Matthew 3:3 “For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” To play with our “Title,” 100% dead true, is the only way that you will ever get to “The Kingdom of Heaven,” and anything and everything other than dead true, is just going around in ever widening circles. Just “Widening your parameters,” leads to ever widening or decreasing circles every time, just looking up expecting to see the “Finish Flag” but only finding every time, you have just come right back to the “Start Line.”
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” We have discovered that “One Degree” is just a long way back to the “Start Line,” but with Jesus in command, setting our navigation on Heaven and Home, listening to the “Holy Spirit,” who will always guide us “Back on Track,” so when the winds of trials and troubles batter us and attempt to blow us off track, we just keep resetting our course, keeping focused on the goal ahead. Philippians 3:12-14 “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul was not interested in anything but, staying true, keeping “On Track,” as there is no other way to Heaven. Acts 4:11-12 “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” All it takes is a few degrees, a little bit of error, or just part of a degree off dead true, and you will always land up right back at the “Starting Line.” Are we “true to duty as the needle to the pole?” Is our Doctrines and beliefs “Error Free?” Let us have a “Great Re-set,” get back on track, Heavenly focused, as all other paths lead right back to the “Start Line.”
Is “Near enough – Good enough?” As we have discovered “Near Enough,” is just a big long circle right back to the “Start Line. Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” So beware of “Circular Reasoning,” which will always loop you right back to the “Start Line,” so stay close to Jesus Christ, be obedient to any “course corrections,” to stay on track, and then you are assured that you will arrive safely in Heaven.
