The Path (Fire on the Mountain Series) Read Online Free PDF

back here?” I asked. “I thought we were on the path to the mountain?”
“This is the path to the mountain,” the Voice said, pointing to the place where I had entered before.
“I know, but I have already been through that part of the wilderness, and I sure do not want to go through it again. Did we just walk in a big circle? Did I fail the test of this wilderness so that I must go through it again?”
“You did not fail. This is the next test, and it is a bigger one. You cannot go further until you have brought others as far as you have gone.”
“So I must go through the same trials again?”
“Yes, but they should be much easier for you this time, though the journey will likely be more difficult.”
“How will the trials be easier, but the journey more difficult?” I asked.
“It will be easier because you will not forget to drink the living water. It will be harder because you will have these with you,” the Voice said, pointing to those getting off of the ship.
    I turned to ask the Voice another question, but he was gone. As I stood there looking at the people getting off, an officer of the ship began to walk toward me, followed by a few dozen people.
“We are ready to go,” the young officer said.
     
     
     

CHAPTER THREE
    THE CHOICE
    I looked at the young officer and then at all the other passengers. Hundreds were on the beach, and I assumed that several thousand more were on the ship.
“You said you were ready to go. Where are you ready to go to?” I asked the young officer who seemed to be representing the group.
“We’re going to the same place every sojourner has sought—the city that God is building.”
“How do you know me, and why do you think I can take you there?” I inquired.
“We know who you are, and we were told that you know the path that will take us there,” one of the passengers said.
“Are these the only ones coming?” I asked.
“The rest said they would come later,” another replied.
“There may not be a later,” I said. “The time is getting short.”
“I’ve been telling them that, but they don’t believe me,” stated the young officer.
“What about the captain of the ship? Has he not been telling them?”
“Sir, I don’t think he believes the time is short,” the young officer said with the obvious agreement of those who had followed him.
“What are they going to do?” I asked. “Where are they going now?”
“They said they have everything they need. If they do not stay here, they may just cruise up and down the coast, which is what we’ve been doing for a long time,” another one of the passengers added.
    I told the group to enter the forest by the path nearby, and I would join them shortly. I knew that it was important for them to get started right away, and that if they stayed in that place long, many would be tempted to go back to the ship. I then asked the young officer to take me to the captain so I could speak to him, which he agreed to do.
    As we boarded the ship, I was in awe of how beautiful it was. Everything was designed for comfort and luxury. There was a large gathering going on in the center of the ship that I could hear echoing throughout. The music was beautiful.
“You must have a great sound system on this ship,” I commented to the young officer.
“Only the best. Everything is state of the art,” he replied.
“Are the cabins as nice as the common areas?” I asked.
“Some are even nicer. You should see where the leaders live. They say that they must have such places to impress and entertain all of the dignitaries who visit us. We do have many famous people coming and going,” the young officer added. “I was offered a magnificent place myself if I stayed.”
“Were you not tempted to take it?” I asked.
“I was very tempted. Even coming back here is not easy,” he answered.
“Remember that God does not tempt us. If it is temptation, we must resist it,” I said, concerned that I should not have put him back in that