Trail Guide for the Narrow Path

Introduction Psalm 27:11 says “Teach me your way O Lord; lead me in a straight path…” One evening when I was on a date with my then boyfriend James, we got into a discussion about Christianity. Although we had been dating for several months he did not know that I was a Christian. How could that be? I thought. He knew I was kind and good hearted, but he didn’t know that Jesus was in my heart. So we talked a little bit about my faith and I am sad to say that as a 17 year old girl, I was a terrible witness for Christ. When he asked me what it meant to be a Christian, I replied with something stupid to the tune of “you have to do God’s will”. James replied “well, what is God’s Will?” Crickets. What a wasted opportunity. But truth be told, I had no idea myself what God’s Will really was. I went to Sunday school for many years and attended church all my life but I had never read the Bible myself. I only received knowledge of the Bible in fragmented stories without knowing how those stories fit into the bigger picture. I also was never put into a position where I had to witness for Christ and I was certainly not knowledgeable enough to seek out opportunities to witness to others. This was the first time in my life I ever felt that I had failed God. After several more years of goofing off in college, getting married to my husband Bob, and having three children as well as a nursing career, I finally got down to the business of reading the Bible from cover to cover like I would my trashy romance novels. I dedicated myself to studying God’s Word and my life has been forever transformed. The purpose in writing this book is to present Christianity and God’s Will to you in simple terms and answer those questions for you that I should have answered more than 20 years ago in James’ car. In our lives one of the most important questions we must ask ourselves is: Where will I spend eternity when I die? Or, how do I become a Christian? Some of you may have to even back up a bit more to: Is God and Jesus really real? Maybe some of you are already Christians or brand new Christians, but like me 20 some years ago, you have no idea how to effectively present Christ to others in a simplified easy-to-understand way. This book will help you answer those vitally important questions and of course, hopefully, to help you make a decision for Christ!

(Concluding Paragraphs) When you become a Christian, you cease to exist in the darkness that hides your shameful sin. As you repent, your heart is changed and softened. As a new Christian, you are brought from the darkness into the light where any residual sin is brought into exposure. To be a child of God, we must be walking in this light. Only Jesus can bring us out of this darkness. Jesus’ disciple Thomas asks Him how he can be sure that he is going to Heaven to be with God for eternity. Jesus answers "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:2). Congratulations! You have been given tools and teaching to live an abundant, blessed life as a Christian as we learned how to hike down the narrow path with me. I am thrilled you are going to have eternal life in Paradise! My prayer for you is that you accept Christ and are still hiking down that path toward Jesus’ open arms as you continue to choose life. If you are still undecided, I will be praying for you to change your mind and accept Jesus’ free gift of salvation. Know that if you were the only one who came to Jesus because of what you just learned, this book was worth writing. As in the words of our Savior spoken to me that day long ago when I was struggling with pain and doubt: “I would have done if you were the only one.” “May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26). When our Savior was born, there was a bright star that gave light above the stable where Jesus was. Wise men followed that light to get to Jesus. Please, choose to follow the light, and remember, wise men still seek Him…