"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4-7)
A compass is defined as an instrument containing a magnetic pointer which shows the direction of magnetic north and its relation/relevance to it.
God's Holy Spirit
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.... Acts 17:28 The Apostle Paul is pointing to the fact that there is a relationship between humanity and God. The Holy Spirit, like a needle in a compass, not only keeps us moving forward in the right direction He also witnesses on our [born-again believers] behalf that we are His [God's] children. (Romans 8:15, Ephesians 1:13,4:30)) He is the excellency of God's power within us. It is God who makes us (born-again believers] stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). Without God's Holy Spirit man is a compass without a needle, an empty earthen vessel.
Earthen Vessel
God is the Potter we are the clay. Since the fall (Genesis 3), humans became fragile and died not only spiritually but physically. We have lost our way and die a little more every day. Without God 's Holy Spirit we are just clay, but we [born-again believers] have this treasure, which is the excellency of the power of God, by which we live and move and have our being, existence. He is the essence of God.
God's Essence
God's essence is of great importance. His Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary not only for the born-again experience of the believer which without no one can experience or see the Kingdom of God but also for the ongoing process of sanctification in the life of the believer (John 3:3). “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16). God's Holy Spirit, His essence, is the One Who keeps us - those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross - in right standing with Him. Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit baptizes us into Jesus Christ making us one with Him. Without Jesus Christ all will perish. Jesus said “I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also (John 14:18-19). God's Holy Spirit is the seal of His redemption for believers. (Ephesians 4:30)
Repent
Therefore let us return to our first love. "Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. (Revelation 2:5)