The Navigator of Life
Timothy Tin
Almost everyone today has a smartphone. In addition to being a communication device, smartphone also has navigation function. Users only need to install a navigation application to get their accurate locations. It can also display real-time traffic conditions and find the best route to desired destinations. This function has become indispensable for many people in their daily lives. How was this navigation system invented?
The earliest appearance of this function was in the Transit navigation satellite system developed by the U.S. Army in 1958. It was later developed by the U.S. government in the 1970s and in February of 1978 a satellite was launched. The system was fully completed in 1994 with a total of 24 satellites orbiting six orbits around the earth. This system is called the Global Positioning System (GPS). As long as you have a GPS receiver chip, you can use this service. At that time, GPS signals were divided into two types: Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and the Precise Positioning Service (PPS). Currently, there are 31 satellites. (Refer to https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global Positioning System) Not only that, as countries engaged in technological and economical competitions, Russia also came up with GLONASS, which composed of 24 satellites. The European Union Galileo positioning system has 26 satellites, which will increase to 30 by the end of 2020. China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System has 55 satellites. Although countries are working hard to cover satellite networks, the accuracy of the navigation system depends on the accuracy of the atomic clock on each satellite.
The lifespan of an artificial satellite is only about seven to eight years, but the galaxy created by God has been running for many years! As early as more than two thousand years ago a star suddenly appeared in the night sky in the east! This strange star attracted a small group of Wise Men who were not only good at astrology, but also believed that this strange star in the sky was prophesying to the world that a saint will be born! They thought that this saint will be the newborn king of the Jews. They followed the star to the Middle East and were instructed by religious leaders in Jerusalem that according to the prophecies of the Jewish Old Testament, the newborn king will be born in Bethlehem! Although this small town is not far from Jerusalem, they found the Newborn King under the guidance of the Star of Bethlehem. He was the Savior Jesus Christ that the Jews were waiting for. This famous Christmas story is an ancient navigation record. In ancient times, both sea and land navigations relied on the stars in the night sky for directions, and these Wise Men followed a special star that led them to a savior who saved all mankind. Our lives are like these wise men who needed bright guidance!
1. Life is like looking for stars to point the direction in the darkness. Usually, people get lost in the dark. We often walk into darkness and lose our direction and purpose in life.
These Wise Men had a goal in life because they saw the starlight, and took action to move toward the goal until they saw the truth! Some people cannot see the starlight in the dark, some see the starlight, and others see the starlight never took any action to respond. The Wise Men saw the starlight, took action, followed the light, and reached their goal!
2. Life needs wisdom of the truth to solve problems. After finding the goals in life, we also need guidance, just like how the Star of Bethlehem led the way for the Wise Men. When the Wise Men got to Jerusalem and could not find the newborn king, they humbly asked religious leaders for advice. The Wise Men learned from the Bible that the birthplace of the newborn king is Bethlehem. Our lives also need to seek wise answers. The words from the Bible are “a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105), and “as to a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19)
Dear friends, life is a journey of no return, and we often have to find the right direction in the dark. The birth of Jesus Christ is an eternal navigation satellite. He can guide our lives out of the darkness and into His light. He once declared to the world, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) I hope you can open the door to Jesus Christ, just like connecting to a GPS signal with your smartphone. Not only He can guide your whole life, but also brings you into eternal life!
(Author: Christian Alliance Bible Church in Los Angeles, CA)
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