Imagine that you are a famous explorer, and you are searching for a very valuable treasure. Spiritually, in fact, that’s true. The greatest treasure we could ever find is the Kingdom of God. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44).

So if it’s hidden, how do you find it? For a physical hidden treasure, you need a map and a compass. A map shows you a ground plan. It’s something that gives you a clear vision of what is ahead. It shows you what you need to see. It gives you a destination and a way to follow. When you view a map, you can see marker points that lead you to your destination.

What do you use in your daily Christian life that is like this map? If you haven’t guessed, it’s your Bible. The Bible is the most important tool in your Christian life. It guides you in the path that God wants you on, the path you need to be on to reach this ultimate treasure. It is full of directions and guidance that will lead you as you grow in the faith. As you go through this adventure of finding your treasure, let’s look at some important steps along the way.

1. Prayer

The first step to understanding the Bible (your spiritual map) is getting down on your knees and praying that God will guide you to understand and lead you on the right path.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

2. Study

The second step to understanding and following your map is to study it. To go in the right direction, you have to know the truth, the way, and follow it. Think of this: how do you ace a test in school? You have to study! And it isn’t just a quick run through; you have to be repetitive with it in order to get it right. So, if you do it to get good grades, how much more should you do it to reach this treasure you are searching for?

“If you seek her [wisdom] as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:4-5).

3. Fasting

In addition to prayer and studying, fasting is a great way to connect with your Almighty God. It is an action of humbleness and submission to Him. It shows Him that you are taking your calling seriously, that you are not giving up on the treasure. Fasting is a part of God’s plan for us. It is part of His Holy Day plan (the Day of Atonement). We are commanded to afflict (humble) our souls. Fasting, however, should not only be done on this day. It needs to be a regular action within your Christian life. It is a oneness with God. It shows Him that you know you can’t finish this adventure without Him.

“I proclaimed a fast . . . that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions . . . The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him . . . So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer” (Ezra 8:21-23).

When you can take these three steps in your life, you start to grow as a Christian. Each one of these marker points is laid out throughout your Bible (the map). As you actively do them (the first two should be done daily, and the last one more than just once a year), you draw closer to your goal. And they lead to the next steps in your journey.

4. Repentance

Repentance means to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to God. Turning from sin is to actively try to do things differently and not repeat that sin. So what is sin? “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4, King James Version). Sin means going against God’s laws and principles. “To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

Once you know what sin is, you can repent of it. You have likely already started this process or thought about it. It’s common at this point to start asking, why is this so hard? Well, you can’t do it alone. You need a helper. Something to guide you the rest of the way. But before you can get that help, you have to be baptized. Only then can you receive the help you need to make it to the treasure!

5. Baptism

What is baptism? Baptism is being fully immersed in water by a minister or elder, and then receiving the laying on of hands and being prayed over to receive God’s Holy Spirit. It is a symbol of burying your old self (the sinful man), and putting on the new man, just like Christ was buried and rose again.

“If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:21-24).

Baptism cannot be taken lightly. It is a lifelong commitment to God and His ways. When we repent and are baptized, there is no turning back. But when you move through the three steps, prayer, study and fasting, it prepares you for this vital last step. Mind you, this is not a “Go quickly do” thing, just so you can get to the treasure faster. It is a slow process, and it needs to be treated with the utmost respect. (For more, see ucg.org/members/compass-check/understanding-baptism.)

“. . . Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39).

Imagine you are getting baptized. You are asked, “Have you repented of your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?” You come out of the water, and are prayed over. Then you look down and notice something in your hands. It is the compass!

Now you need to know how to use this compass. What is a compass? A compass is a device that points you in a direction by means of a magnetic needle turning freely on a pivot towards the magnetic north. The Holy Spirit does spiritually exactly what a compass does physically. It points you in the direction that God wants you to go. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13-14).

Once you have both the map and the compass, you have the tools you need to get to the treasure! While you might not have yet received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that comes with the laying on of hands after baptism, you can still pray that God will guide you. Study the Bible that is your map, along with the terrain in front of you. Trust that God will help you when you are stuck or having a hard time. Fast to strengthen your bond with God. Throughout your adventure you will be faced with times where you have to do a compass check to make sure you are still on the right path (hence the name of this magazine).

God provides all the tools you need to find the treasure. Remember, it is a lifetime adventure. All you have to do is continue to use the map and the compass, and endure to the end. “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21).