Part 3: Where the Journey Leads—and How We Walk With Others

The Final Step in the Journey of Faith—and What It Means for Us

Adapted with attribution from I Once Was Lost: What Postmodern Skeptics Taught Us About Their Path to Jesus (Don Everts & Doug Schaupp)

At some point in every journey, the question shifts. It’s no longer just about curiosity—it’s about direction.

Like Alice standing at a crossroads: “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
— Alice in Wonderland

By the time someone reaches this point, they’ve learned to trust, asked honest questions, and begun to open their lives. But now a deeper question emerges: Where is this leading?

Because every journey eventually asks for a response.

And in the journey toward faith, there comes a moment when curiosity gives way to decision—when the path forward is no longer just something to consider, but something to choose.

After trust is built, curiosity awakened, and hearts opened… there is still one final step.

And it is the most significant step in the journey.

Threshold 5: Entering the Kingdom

This is the moment of decision—the point where a person is invited to repent, believe, and surrender their life to Jesus. All the previous thresholds prepare the way for this—but they don’t guarantee it.

Some people travel a long way along this journey:

• They trust deeply
• They ask meaningful questions
• They pursue answers sincerely

And still, they stop short of this final step.  Why?

For some, it’s intellectual barriers.
For others, it’s fear of what change might cost.
For others, it’s the desire for a level of certainty that faith doesn’t always provide.

And yet, when this threshold is crossed, it is both deeply personal and profoundly mysterious.

Scripture reminds us that this step is both simple and profound:

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” — Romans 10:9 (NLT)

Rethinking “Lostness”

One of the most helpful insights from Everts and Schaupp is how people experience being “lost.”

From our perspective, someone may clearly be far from God. But from their perspective, it often feels very different.

• Some don’t even realize they’re lost.
• Some know—but believe they can find their own way.
• Some recognize their need and begin looking for help.

This matters. Because how someone experiences their situation shapes how they respond to faith. What we see as obvious may feel confusing—or even unnecessary—to them.

How We Walk With Others

This framework invites us to ask a better question: “Where are they on the journey?”

And that question changes how we respond.

• If they don’t trust Christians → build relationship
• If they aren’t curious → don’t force answers
• If they’re closed to change → be patient
• If they’re ready to move forward → help them take that step with clarity and care

This shifts us from pressure to presence. We stop trying to control outcomes and start participating in what God is already doing.

Entering the Mystery

Faith journeys are not formulas. We cannot force someone across a threshold, predict when change will happen, or guarantee outcomes.

But we can:

• Love consistently
• Listen deeply
• Pray faithfully
• Walk alongside others with patience

“The seed that fell on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long…” — Mark 4:16–17 (NLT)

Jesus reminds us that not every seed takes root—and that’s not failure. It’s part of the mystery of how God works in people’s lives.

A Final Thought

The journey to faith is not a straight line—it’s a story. And when we begin to see people not as projects, but as travelers on a path, everything changes.

We become:

• Less anxious
• More attentive
• More compassionate

And in the process, we may discover something unexpected: We’re not just helping others find their way— we are being shaped along the way as well.

Across these thresholds—from trust to curiosity, from openness to change, and ultimately to surrender—we are reminded that faith is both a journey and an invitation. People rarely arrive all at once; they move, often slowly and sometimes uncertainly, toward Jesus. And along the way, they don’t need us to rush them—they need us to walk with them. To listen well. To love patiently. To recognize where they are and trust that God is already at work.

As we join their journey, we begin to see that this isn’t just about helping others find faith—it’s about becoming the kind of people who reflect the heart of Jesus along the way.

“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” — Colossians 4:5–6 (NLT)

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