Saint Innocent of Moscow (Veniaminov) explained to his parishioners how to find the way toThe Kingdom of Heaven, in parables.
Imagine that, unexpectedly, you suddenly find yourself the sole heir of a wealthy distant relative. Before his death, this relative bequeathed to you his luxurious dacha on the top of a picturesque mountain.
Loving his solitude, this relative did not build a road to his dacha, but rather walked there himself along a path. To help you take possession of the dacha, he left you a map of the mountain, marking the necessary path on it. Thus, to reach the bequeathed dacha, you must follow the path marked by your loving relative.
Something similar must be done for us who wish to reach the heavenly abode prepared for us by the Lord Jesus Christ. We must thoroughly understand the path that leads there, how not to lose our way, what to beware of, and so on.
Our map is the Holy Scriptures and Orthodox books; the foresters are the shepherds of the Church, whose duty it is to assist the faithful and guide them toward paradise. Provisions are God's grace, strengthening our spiritual strength.
Perhaps in places the path leading to paradise will prove narrow, overgrown with bushes, and difficult to navigate, while other paths will seem wider and more comfortable. But it's best not to trust appearances. The Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles repeatedly warned that only one path, the one indicated in the Gospel, leads to the Kingdom of Heaven.
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