Where are you, where are you going?

That really is the aim and focus of every gospel meeting. Not just to share with you information, but so that you would understand that God is trying to get your attention, trying to speak to you. Now before we read from the Bible, we will pray.

Our Father, we do thank Thee for Thy kindness to us. We thank Thee for the Lord Jesus Christ and for His death at Calvary. We thank Thee for the marvelous truth of the Lord's coming again.

And Father, we've been thinking about it today. And Father, there is that within us which would say in response, even so come, Lord Jesus. So many things going on in the world, our Father, that point to the setting up really of that day of tribulation and the returning of the Lord Jesus to the earth.

How much closer should that coming to the air be? Father, we look forward to that time. Although we do consider those who are not saved, knowing that they would be left behind to face a time of trouble and have their destiny sealed for an eternity without God. Father, this is why we have this gospel meeting, so that they can be warned, so that sinners can be spoken to and pointed to Calvary, to the person who died on Calvary, so that they could be in heaven.

Our Father, we do thank Thee for the message of the gospel. We thank Thee that it has been preserved in its purity through the scriptures down to this day. And Father, we do thank Thee for every herald of the cross who truly is preaching the word of God.

We ask that Thou would speak to sinners tonight. Give us a meeting that would be of profit for eternity. We do pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen. Turn with me, please, to the first book in your Bible. So that's the first book in your Bible, Genesis and chapter 3. We're going to read Genesis chapter 3, verse number 1, first of all.

Genesis 3 and verse number 1. Now, the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of the tree, or of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God said, or hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. Now, verse number 9. And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.

And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle and above every beast of the field, upon thy belly shalt thou go, and thus shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.

Now, please turn to a small book near the end of your Old Testament called Zechariah. Very close to the end of your Old Testament. Actually, it's the second last book in your Old Testament.

We're going to read in chapter 2. So that's Zechariah chapter 2, verse number 1. I lifted up mine eyes again and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? Whither goest thou? That's all we're going to read for our meeting or the first part of our meeting tonight. Really, I have on my mind two questions for each person who's attending tonight in the gospel meeting.

Two questions. It would be my desire that you would consider the answer to these two questions very carefully in light of your own experience. Here are the two questions.

Question one, where are thou or where are you? And question number two, whither goest thou or where are you going? Two very simple questions, but questions that you would have to face tonight if you are ever going to be located and if you're ever going to be saved. Where are you and where are you going? I read all of the verses that we did in Genesis chapter 3 for a reason, because really that question, where art thou, if you were counting now would be the second question that was ever asked in our Bible. Where art thou? We read the first one, didn't we? Satan said to the woman, hath God said.

Satan's question was used to put doubt in the mind of this woman and to influence her toward disobedience. But that's not what I'm asking you tonight. I'm not asking you whether you believe the Bible.

I'm not asking you whether you attend a church. I am not asking you whether, you know, Sunday school hymns or whether you could recite these verses that we have read off by heart. I know there's some here who could.

What I am asking you simply and plainly is where art thou when it comes to this life? When it comes, I'm going to point with this now, I have to hold it in when it comes. To the here and the now, the Lord Jesus said, enter ye in at the straight gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way which leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in there at because straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it. The Lord Jesus was obviously telling us about two particular destinations to which all of mankind are headed toward.

One of the two. You are either tonight on your way to heaven, saved, or you're on your way to destruction. A place that the Bible calls hell, where real people go when they die in their sins without Christ.

But he also tells us that of necessity, there are two roads. There is one road that leads upward. He says it is a narrow way and there is one road that leads downward and he calls it the broad way.

He himself said that there are few there be on the narrow way in comparison to the many that go in there at on the broad way. So when I ask you our question again, really what I'm doing is I am asking you in light of the verses we have quoted in light of the fact that there's only two roads. Where are you? See, sometimes, sometimes I go to the mall and oftentimes if I'm going with my wife and the girls, I am not so much a shopper as I am a personal escort and bodyguard because my wife takes the older girl, they share the same interests and they go shopping and I get to escort Josie around the stores.

So she picks the stores and daddy comes with her. There's something I always look for in the mall, especially a mall I'm not familiar with. It's that map.

You know what I mean? The map. Where are all the stores? And while my wife is looking for all of the clothing stores, perhaps I'm probably first looking for Starbucks and then all of the things that Josie wants to do after that. But in order for us to find these places, we have to look at the map.

But even more important than just looking at the map, I'm first of all looking for that little star. You know what I mean? The little star that says you are here, right? Because if I don't first of all know where I am located, then I won't know whether Starbucks is left or it's right. And I won't know whether I should go upstairs or downstairs.

First things first, I have to locate myself and then I can determine how to get to where I want to go. Very simple, isn't it? Exactly the same thing when we're talking about these roads. I know that I'm speaking to people.

And there's no way that you would ever plan on spending eternity apart from God in hell. Right? No one in their right mind would think that this was the destination I would like to end up. And I could say safely that everyone would much prefer the alternative heaven.

Now, I'm not saying that you desire to be in heaven. I would say that sinners in their sinful state without the life of God in them would never enjoy heaven. But what you are choosing is heaven as an alternative to hell.

And that is your desired destination. And you, in a way, desire to be there. But in order for you to get the proper directions, in order for you to take the necessary steps, first of all, we have to answer our question, right? Where are you? The Bible tells us very plainly and clearly.

That each and every one of us were born in sin. Behold, I was shaping. I was born in sin or shaping an iniquity.

And in sin, did my mother conceive me? The prophet David wrote that. Each person born into the world begins on this road. So.

If you're going to be on this road, there has to be a point in your personal life's experience. I'm going to labor this for just a moment. There has to be a point in your personal life's experience when you personally come to know the personal Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and you leave this road and enter onto this road.

Every person who is on the narrow way headed for heaven has a point in time where they had a departure from the broad road. So very simply. A broad road that we all start on.

And a narrow path for which there must be an entrance. In light of the truth of the Bible, where are you? There are many. We say this tenderly and kindly.

There are many who assume that because they have never committed any capital crimes. They've never murdered anyone. They're as good as they can be to their neighbor.

They've never hurt anybody. So they think there are many of these dear, kind people who assume that somehow they are on the narrow road going to heaven. But when they look over their own experience, they cannot recall a point in time where they came to know the Savior.

I'm not talking that you have to be able to tell time on a watch. That's not what I mean. But if someone leaves the broad road onto the narrow road, it happens at a point in time.

And for those people who assume that they have always been on the narrow way, I must tell you faithfully, not only have you not always been on the narrow way, but if that is your thinking tonight, you currently are not on the narrow way. Never lost, never saved. So where are you? There are other dear people I'm speaking to tonight.

And you know the gospel. And you know people who are saved. And you know that you are on the broad road tonight.

You know it. You might not be willing to face it. That's what we run into a lot as gospel preachers.

You know the truth, but you're just not willing to face it. When it comes to this broad road, can I ask you if you would assent to the fact that you are on this broad road? Where exactly on the broad road are you? Perhaps you're on this clean footpath. The clean footpath really is characterized by those who walk it and their attitude is this.

I think I'm on the right way. I must be on the right way. This should be the right way.

That's what the verse here says. Proverbs 16 and 25. There is a way which seemeth right onto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Perhaps that's you. Thinking everything's okay. No need of a savior.

No need of Calvary. No need of the sacrifice. And you're here on this broad road.

Can I point out that the illustration is actually very accurate? It is a clean footpath that is farthest away from the door. That pride that keeps you thinking you're okay is the same thing that's going to keep you out of heaven and keep you separated from God forever. Or maybe you think that you're back here.

You know why? Because you're young. And you think that because you're only young, maybe 10, maybe 12, maybe 15, maybe 16, 17. You're only young and you have all of your life to live.

And the majority of your life is yet to be lived. That's what you think. That's common to think that way.

And you think I'm right back here, just getting my start in life. And not only am I far from the pillar of death, but I'm close to the door. That's what you think.

And if you were to take your little pen and come up and mark on this map behind me where you are, you'd put it right there. Let's deal with facts here for a minute, okay? Not fantasy. You hope you're right there.

The Bible is absolutely clear that no man knows the days of his death. And that you're not to boast of tomorrow for you know not what a day might bring forth. And the fact is that the young boy, the young girl, or the teenager in our meeting tonight who thinks they're here really could be right here.

One step, hours maybe, from entering into eternity. And as far away from the door as you can possibly get. You see, Satan is a master at deception.

And he has succeeded thus far in deceiving you into thinking that just because you come to gospel meetings and because you are respectful to the preachers and to the preaching that somehow you're close to being saved. But nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that very thought process is producing pride in your heart that is a sin in the eyes of God and that will keep you out of heaven.

And even the regular gospel meeting attender might be right at the end. Of the broad road. So we have considered some facts.

In light of these facts, where are you? You say that is a very personal question, absolutely. It is a very personal question. Because you're the only one who can truly answer it.

As you read down further, you find that there are more questions, don't you? In Genesis chapter 3. You find that God says, who told thee? And then, hast thou eaten? Notice what Adam says when God confronts him with his sin. Do you ever consider what Adam says? He says, the woman who now gave us to be with me. She gave me of the tree and I did eat.

Then God turns to the woman and the woman says, the serpent, right? You're following it. God brings down the judgment upon the man and brings his sin right before his face. And still he's not willing to face it.

He says, it's not me, it's her. And she says, it's not me, it's the serpent. And so it is with sinners in our meeting tonight.

As we are preaching and presenting you with facts from the Bible. You've got in your mind. Now, let's be honest.

We're going to face this. In your mind, you are thinking, I know I'm a sinner. But I know I'm a sinner.

Just like all the other sinners here in the meeting tonight, right? I am one of a number of sinners who are on the broad way. And when it comes down to it, it's not my fault. It's Adam's fault.

Like we said in nights past in Manchester. Really, the fall of man in the Garden of Eden is the reason that you were born on the broad way. But it is your sin of unbelief and rejection of Christ that keeps you there.

It is. And while you're trying to look at everyone else and say, everyone else deserves to be on the broad way and everyone else is on the broad way. God is bringing it right down to you and presenting it right into your face.

The very personal pointed issue. Where are you? If you're not willing to face that. You are never going to be saved.

Where are you? It's not until we find out where we are that we can find out where we're going. Tonight, I am sure that although you know you are on the broad road. You never intend.

To end up in the destination to which it leads, right? You're going to be saved someday. Right? You might be saved tomorrow. You won't be saved tomorrow.

You say yes, then Satan is deceiving you. But consider for a second where you are going. The solemn fact is in a crowd this size.

I believe it's very possible. We are speaking to sinners who will be in hell. Bible describes it as a place of torment.

A place of physical torture. A place where there is fire. A place where the fire.

Where the fire is so hot. That there's a man still crying out tonight for a drop of water to cool his tongue. He says, I am tormented in this flame.

But it's also a place of real emotional and mental torment. A place where this man can remember all the good things in his life. A place where he has a memory that is so clear that he's able to remember his family back home.

He is able to remember all of the opportunities that he had to escape that destiny. All of the opportunities he had to be saved. All of the chances he had to receive Christ.

This man is able to remember every one of those opportunities. Absolutely, sharply, vividly and clearly. And it is possible.

Our prayer is that it will not happen. But it is absolutely possible. In fact, if you're not saved right now, it is probable that that's where you will be.

With a memory that is clear to remember the Sunday school verses. With a memory that is clear to remember a mom and dad who chose to lead their family in the right way and pray with them and read to them and take them to the gospel meeting. Yes, every night.

Able to remember all of these things. That will just add to the torment that is eternal separation from God. So where are you going? The reason we preach the gospel is because we believe there are people that came into this room tonight not saved, who could trust the Savior and leave on the road to heaven.

That'd be a change, huh? You say, well, I know lots of people and they say they're saved and they're not changed. Bible says that salvation is such a change that you'll notice it. Not only a change in the life, but a change in the destiny.

Going to a place of which it is said in the Bible to be with Christ, which is far better. Now, I understand folks that the apostle Paul, when he was writing what we call the prison epistles, they could really be called the captivity epistles. He was not in a dark dungeon.

He was in his own hired house and things weren't all that bad. They weren't. He wasn't able to move as freely as he thought he should be able to or as we think he should have been able to.

But at least he was being treated respectfully, just like we would be here tonight. But the fact is, he says, oh, I have a desire. My desire is to depart, depart from this earth and to be with Christ, which is far better, far better than the conditions that Paul found himself in.

Far better than the conditions that he was going to find himself in within the next few years. But can I say with compassion and care for your soul, far better than an eternity without Christ. Far better than dying in your sins.

Please give these two questions serious thought. Question number one. In light of the two roads that are behind me on the chart, a narrow way and a broad way.

Where are you? And question number two. In light of an eternity that will never end. Where are you going?