Our Inner Compass

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27)

My daughter is currently studying Psychology and this week she began a module on “nature v nurture”. Chatting about this, I asked her opinion on whether people were born or made good or evil. Pausing to think about it, she decided that people were probably made good or bad. I left the conversation there - mainly so she could get on with her work! - but continued to think this through …
 
Our sense of right and wrong, good or bad, is so deeply entrenched in us that I am not convinced that nurture should get all the credit. After all, we are made “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27), so surely that means we have God’s very nature within our DNA. Whether someone is a Christian or not, this must mean that in every person - whether inactive or awake - there is a kind of internal compass that guides us to the true north, back to truth and goodness.
 
At HTR I have often heard newcomers refer to “coming home” when they come to church or experience Jesus for the first time. Something deep down feels right and good. They have arrived due north, the compass pointing straight and true.
 
I came across a great example of this while listening to a podcast this week. It was an interview with a successful business leader who had overcome all odds to grow a highly profitable business. It came at a cost, of course, with family sacrifices being a main regret for this individual. Birthdays missed, holidays disrupted by calls, that kind of familiar thing. They also developed a reputation for being relentless in their pursuit of success and recognised this was not a healthy trait.
 
To my surprise, this person - who was from a non-Christian background and culture - said that a turning point for them was discovering the book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy. It had a profound impact on them and triggered a reevaluation of their values and behaviours … for the better.
 
The book isn’t explicitly Christian, but the underlying messages and values are absolutely based on the teachings of Jesus. It has been a huge mainstream success and has sold millions of copies (even outselling Jamie Oliver!). Charlie Mackesy is a Christian and has publicly shared his Christian faith on many occasions at Holy Trinity Brompton.
 
I first encountered Charlie Mackesy back in 2013 when I listened to HTB sermons online. He would often give a talk on the opening night of Alpha. I was drawn to his honesty, his grittiness and the reality of his faith journey. I suppose this unpolished account was perfect for those coming to Alpha full of curiosity or even cynicism.
 
So, back to the business leader I listened to on the podcast. How interesting that the book’s central messages of love, compassion, joy and comfort have resonated so profoundly with this business leader and millions of others. Perhaps, at its core, the book points to the true north, back to the truth and hope of God. And as our business leader was to discover, it celebrates the upside down nature of the gospel.
 
“What do you think success is?” asked the boy. “To love” said the Mole.
 
Prayer - Heavenly Father, I pray that you would awaken in all of us a spirit of truth and reveal to us what is good and right. I pray you would open our eyes to our Godly ancestry and help us to fathom that we are made in your image. Amen