INTRO: Today I want to spend some time looking at our destiny, how we are going there, and how we can arrive well and good. Today I want to look at ourselves as individuals. I want you to look at your vehicle or ship that is sailing the seas of life.

Where is your ship headed?
What is the direction of your vessel?
What colors or type of flag are you flying?
What type of vessel do your children, neighbors and friends see?
More importantly, what does God see when He looks at you?

Acts 27:1  And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
2  And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
3  And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
4  And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5  And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
6  And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.

I. You cannot go there on your own
 

A. You need the Lord to go
B. You cannot purchase your "ticket"
C. You cannot hire on to work out your passage
D. You cannot go as another person's guest (mom, dad, etc.)
Also …
E. You must want to go
F. You must choose to go
G. You must be determined to go - vs. 4

A. Many count on their late acceptance for reconciliation (luck)
B. Many count on their nationality for rescue (location)
C. Many count on their memberships for redemption (leagues)
D. Many count on God's unfathomable love for a reprieve (latitude)

The problem is…Many will be lost! Many will miss the ship!
God will not forgive us because He is a nice guy!
He will forgive us because we have accepted Christ!

Acts 4:7  And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9  If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Matt. 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Are You determined to get on board?
Have you accepted Christ?
Let go of your hope for luck, location, leagues or latitude!
Let go of anything except the hope for Christ.

· Are you determined to make the journey for Him?

· How will you answer this morning?

· Do you want to accept Christ? Or will you reject Him, the only way for your entrance into an eternal rest?

Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist - 01/16/00am