Sometimes we leave the magazines sitting in racks and as people come by they can pick up a copy. But other times I will stand at the edge of our booth and pass them out as people walk by.

I have discovered something that has stayed very consistent over the years. As a large crowd is passing by when I offer a magazine to the first person in the approaching crowd, whatever they do is what the majority of the rest of the crowd will do. If the first person eagerly accepts the magazine, then everyone behind them wants a copy.

But if the first person says "No thanks" then nearly everyone behind them also refuses to take it. These aren’t even people who are together. They’re strangers just passing by the booth at the same time.

Its inconsequential that many people missed out on reading a magazine because the leader of the crowd they were following didn’t want to read it.

But how many people will miss the splendor of heaven and will spend all eternity suffering in hell because the people they were following said no to Jesus. Rather than risk doing something the crowd wasn’t doing, rather than risk being thought of as not cool they’ll forfeit joy and happiness for all eternity for a brief few years of being part of the crowd.

If this is you, don’t comfort yourself by saying none of this is true, because whether you believe it or not, there is a life for eternity beyond this life on earth. When you die if you have given your life to Jesus you will spend all eternity in indescribable joy but if you followed the crowd who said no to inviting Jesus into their life, then you can count on being cast into hell "where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched." (Mark 9:47).

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. - Matthew 7:13-14