What Is the Ultimate Goal for our Teenagers?

As a youth pastor, this is a question I must ask myself over and over again? Focus can sometimes get placed upon that which is non-essential and forgetting that which is most important. There are a lot of valid and noble goals that we have for our teens in our churches, families, and community: To be drug free. To be alcohol free. To be pure until marriage. To be a faithful and life-long church member. To memorize Scripture. To witness to others at school. To bring friends to youth group. But are any of these the ultimate goal? NO. Our teens need to know that Jesus declared, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me (John 14:6)." If they can leave from under our leadership or parenting and never hear this truth, the ultimate goal for our teenagers is lost. There are too many people satisfied with telling our teens that Jesus is only one of many ways to heaven, but Jesus left no room for this to be true. Narrow-minded thinking? Of course it is, but so is the fact that there is only one TRUE answer on a multiple choice question in school. No matter how much I debated with the teacher, the TRUTH remained that there was only one right answer. Jesus said it Himself in Matthew 7:14, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." I am determined, by God's grace, to stand unashamed and uncompromising on this truth: that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. And WITH LOVE, proclaim this truth and demonstrate it to all I come in contact with. And I pray, by God's grace and for the sake of our teens and children alike, that you would commit to this as well.