Ariel Sharon’s North Star

I had just finished posting my first post on God as our North Star.  Then just three days later Ariel Sharon died, and Vice President Biden presented a eulogy at his funeral.  I thought it was especially interesting to read that Biden stated this in the eulogy, “But like all historic leaders, all real leaders, he had a North Star that guided him — a North Star from which he never, in my observation, never deviated. His North Star was the survival of the State of Israel and the Jewish people, wherever they resided.[1]

Ariel Sharon’s North Star was the State of Israel and its continual existence.   Amazing how close Sharon was to True North, as he focused on the Jewish people and the continual existence of the Israel.  God, who called Abraham out from the wilderness to be the father of a nation which would bless the whole world.  God, who called to Moses, from a burning bush, to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt.  God, who so loved the world that he sent his only son to be the savior for all.  Yes, God,  is the True North for the Jewish people, and God, is the True North for all who will have Him.

Ariel was so close.  Per Biden, “He never deviated.”  He wanted what God wanted –peace and harmony.  He wanted what God wanted – the preservation of His people.  He wanted what God wanted – an eternal Jerusalem, where people lived in peace, and where war would be no more.

Ariel’s North Star was a focus on what God wanted.  Was he also focused on God, the True North?  If he was, how could he miss Jesus? How could he not see that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah come first to eternally save sinners from their sin?  How could he not realize that the peace, harmony, and end to war could never come without an end to greed, jealousy, pride, a need for control, hatred, lies, power grabs, and all the other sins of our world.

Oh, I believe God does plan for his people to live in such a perfect place, but it has to be a place where sin cannot enter, because the slightest drop of sin would spread like ripples in a pond, until heaven would be infected with sin and become no different from the here and now.

So, God sent his son, to bear the wrath of God’s judgment for our sins.  Yes, that little white lie you told yesterday, or the power grab you watched at work.  Yes, that deep-seated jealousy you have of the house and money your friend has and you don’t.

Your and my sins, be they small or large, will keep us from ever entering a perfect place of peace, UNLESS we accept the gift Jesus freely offers all of us. What gift?  He took our sins to the grave and gave us the opportunity to be washed completely clean of our sin when our days on earth end.  He gave us the free opportunity to enter eternity, a place where there are no tears, no sadness, no greed, no jealousy, no lies, no cheating, no fighting, no back stabbing, no, NOTHING but joy, peace, and beauty for all eternity.

There is just one catch….we have to acknowledge the gift and our need of it.  Then we have to accept the gift.  If we are genuine, Jesus will take care of all the rest.  From then on we keep working at growing in our knowledge and faith as we focus on the True North, the North Star, God, and God alone.

I hope you have your focus on the True North. Don’t let it slide even slightly to the right or left.  Keep looking to the One who has everything to offer, and only asks that you accept the gift.

To God be the glory! Amen