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Life Is Short, Eternity Is Forever
by Mike Gendron
We all recognize that life is short in light of eternity. We also know that death is unavoidable, but the brevity of life should not be our greatest concern. More sobering is what God's Word warns will follow: "after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27). For born-again Christians,
death is but a passage into the glorious presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. He declared victory over death for all believers when He was gloriously raised from the dead (1 Cor.15:55-57). Yet, I am often overwhelmed by the solemn reality of standing before my Lord and Savior. He is also my Creator to whom I must give an account for what I have done with the life He has given me. Oh, I know His love for me is unconditional, but the realization that I did not faithfully live every day for His glory and purpose will surely bring sorrowful tears that He will graciously wipe away (Rev. 21:4).
No one knows what tomorrow will bring. Our life is but a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away (James 4:14). Compared with the endless ages of eternity, man's average lifespan is so brief. Yet very few consider their lives from an eternal perspective. Instead they foolishly pursue a life of pleasure, prestige
, and power with little regard for what awaits them after death. The Lord Jesus Christ addressed this folly when He said, "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Mat. 16:26).
Living with an eternal perspective will motivate Christians to share the Gospel of Christ with others. Each soul we meet is an eternal being who will spend eternity either in God's presence or being tormented in the Lake of Fire. Soon after I finished seminary at the age of 44, God's Word impressed upon me a compelling truth that gave me a new purpose for living. I realized that only two things in this life are eternal: the souls of men and the Word of God. Everything else in the heavens and the earth will be burned up by fire (2 Pet. 3:10-12). By God's grace I wanted to spend my remaining years focused on the two things that will last throughout eternity.
May God help us to keep this eternal perspective firmly planted in our hearts. Let us seek after those who will never seek after the true God (Rom. 3:11). They are easy to find because there are many who are traveling the broad road that leads to destruction. Their only hope is for someone to point them to the narrow way that leads to life everlasting (Mat. 7:13-14). It will be the greatest news they will ever hear because it speaks of
the greatest gift they could ever receive! This good news is available in
our most popular Gospel tract.
Even in the midst of affliction, persecution, or mistreatment, we do not lose heart, because momentary, light affliction is achieving for us an eternal weight of glory (2 Cor 4:16-18). Let us emulate Paul who said, "In the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain" (Phil. 2:16). We have some effective
evangelism resources that will equip and encourage you as ambassadors for Christ.
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God's Sovereignty in Salvation
by John Fallahee
Have you ever
considered the numerous ways God pursues a sinner? Examine your own calling by God. What were the unique circumstances that God superintended to reach you with His saving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
If you have repented, believed, and are trusting solely in the person and work of the resurrected Christ, then you know firsthand how God rescued you from the domain of darkness and transferred you to the kingdom of His beloved Son. You are experiencing the changed life as a new creature in Christ, and the illumination of God's Word by His indwelling Holy Spirit. You are deeply thankful and filled with gratitude and peace. And because of this great and amazing love the Father has bestowed on you, not only do you commune with Him in prayer and seek to walk with Him in holiness, but you are compelled to faithfully proclaim the saving Gospel message of the once crucified, now resurrected, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
God's pursuit of you, and for that matter, any sinner, is an incredible testimony to His steadfast love, patience, and mercy.
And now as His ambassador, your efforts to love others in Christ by sharing the true Gospel are not a vain endeavor. To encourage you in your struggle to overcome any obstacles in being faithful to the Great Commission of Matthew 28:16-20, read and meditate on the following fifteen ways God sovereignly pursues sinners (there are certainly more ways than these!).
Print them here for further study.
1)
Plan of God: God foreknew, predestined, called, justified, sanctified, and will glorify His elect (Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:4, 5:27, Colossians 1:22, Jude 24)
2)
Sovereignty: God causes all things to work together (Rom. 8:28)
3)
General Revelation: God reveals Himself through His Creation (Psalm 19, Romans 1:19-20, Psalm 8:3-4, Acts 14:17)
4)
Scriptures: God has provided a written, inspired, inerrant, and trusted testimony and record (Matthew 7:24-27, 2 Timothy 3:14-17)
5)
Knowledge of God: God provides a knowledge of Him to everyone in their inner person (Romans 1:19-20)
6)
Conscience: God bestows to everyone a conscience of what is right and wrong (Romans 2:14-16, Titus 1:15)
7)
Preaching: The power of the Gospel is accomplished through the preaching of God's Word (Acts 2:14-41, Acts 17:16-34, Romans 10)
8)
Witnesses: God always provides a personal witness (Abraham, Israel, Apostles, Church)
9)
Evangelists/Missions: God gives evangelists and sends missionaries to the lost (Ephesians 4:11, Acts 15:36-41, Acts 10, Jonah, Paul, Barnabas, Phillip, Peter)
10)
Prayer: God hears our prayers (Acts 10:4)
11)
Providence: God providentially opens hearts and opens and closes doors (Acts 16:5-8; 14)
12)
Trials: God will utilize difficult circumstances for the Gospel to go forth (Philippians 1:12-14)
13)
Opposition: Although Satan, false teachers, and false prophets may spread their lies, they are limited by God in the opposition to the Gospel (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-10, 2 Tim. 3:6-9, Jude 4-5)
14)
Support: God will support missions through others and personal effort (Philippians 4:15-19, Acts 18:1-3)
15)
Love and Service in the Local Church: Elders, Deacons, and the Body support and serve the Great Commission (Acts 4:32-37, Acts 6:1-7, 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, 1 Corinthians 12-14)
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Letters from Around the World
Mike, My wife and I were both Catholics but after I started reading the Bible, I left the RCC in 2001. As I read the Bible I would show my wife amazing truths, yet she did not respond with interest, and was content with following her religion. She can't defend her church, but has a sense of security in her roles at the church and with her Catholic friends. She is totally deceived. I've tried many different ways over the last 16 years to reach her, but failed to have her see the truth of the Gospel. Other than continuing to pray for her, is there any truth I might share with her to crack her thick shell of apostasy? We are old and our time is getting short. Thank you for your amazing efforts to write such a solid book of truth. I bought Preparing for Eternity to reach her, but I find it has built up my own faith in God's Word.
J.B., Bradenton, FL.
Dear J.B.,
Not knowing the different ways you have tried to witness to your wife, I would recommend two approaches as you continue to pray. The first would be to show her that Jesus put an end to the only religion God ever ordained when He bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24). Christianity is not a religion, it is the only faith in the world that rests solely on its founder; it is a relationship with the Savior. At the moment of Christ's death the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Mat. 27:51). Everyone who believes that Christ died as their substitute now has direct access to God. The sacerdotal priesthood ended when the veil was torn open. There is no longer any need for priests offering sacrifices for sins because Jesus offered Himself once, for all sin, for all time, and there are no more offerings for sin (Hebrews 10:10, 12 14, 18). The Catholic religion and its priesthood are superfluous, unnecessary, and ungodly because there is only one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5). The second approach would be to persuade your wife to do what the apostle Paul did. He exchanged his religion for an eternal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ (Phi. 3:3-9). He exchanged his righteousness for the righteousness of Christ. He considered all of his religious activity to be rubbish in exchange for knowing Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. Anyone who desires to experience the joy of being reconciled to God must do the same. I will join you in prayer for your wife. M.G.
Mike, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your ministry which we were introduced to when you came to speak at Calvary Bible Church in Kalamazoo. It was during your message that we learned about a local pastor's idea to have a joint service with Catholics and Protestants to celebrate what he believes are common truths and work through our differences. It disturbed us greatly and my husband and I began to rely heavily on your book Preparing for Eternity and other resources. We prayed and made an appointment with this pastor. Your tracts were a huge help in our meeting with him. We were very encouraged but still praying for him and that he would cancel the event in October. Again, thank you so much for your ministry. We have dear friends who are Catholic and I feel God is using the truth of His Word in your books and videos to better equip us to speak the truth in love. Praying that we will see lives set free and transformed by His amazing grace. J. & C. B., Kalamazoo, MI
Mike, So many times I've read of Catholics accusing you of being a minimal former Catholic and not knowing the teachings of Catholicism. The Lord saved me out of the Catholic Church and my knowledge was a mix of some of Catholic teaching and superstitions. I learned more of what the Catholic Church teaches through Proclaiming The Gospel. The more I learned of its teachings, the more I learned how far removed it is from God's word. May we, who were saved from deception, persevere to contend for the faith. May we tremble in fear for our loved ones who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. May we never cease to plead for their salvation, that the Lord may grant them mercy as He granted us mercy! What a responsibility! I thank our Lord and pray for the PTG ministry, for not only boldly proclaiming the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus but for contending for the faith amidst opposition that comes in many deceitful forms. D.F., Rowlett, TX
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Ambassador Equipping Program Second Course
We are thrilled to announce the 2nd session of the 6-week
Ambassador Training Program that will encourage and equip you to evangelize Roman Catholics. The course will begin July 17th and conclude August 27th. This internet-online course includes: reading, video lectures, quizzes, and a live Q&A with Mike and John. Once you complete the course you will receive a discount on all
Proclaiming the Gospel resources. The tuition for the class is $149, but is discounted to only $65 for our e-mail subscribers.
The tuition includes the book, Preparing for Eternity.
Additionally, if you sign-up with two other people, the total tuition for all three is only $130, saving you an additional $65.
If you would like to enroll, please sign-up here. We are looking forward to joining you in your service to the Lord Jesus.
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NEW! More Video Messages Available
for Immediate Streaming 24/7
You can now stream PTG video messages by ordering them on our website. This will save you money, as each message is only $6. You can have instant access from any device. We'll be rolling out more videos in the months to come. These messages are only to be streamed and are not downloadable. The following messages are now available for streaming:
New this month:
Recently Released:
Last Days for Catholics (50 min.). Order Here for $6
Evangelicals Reversing the Reformation? (64 min.).
Order Here $6
Catholicism's Drift into Apostasy (82 min.).
Order Here for $6.
The Controversial Bread of Life (47 min.). Order Here for $6.
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Pope Does What Only God Can Do
Pope Francis, has "sainted" two of three children who purportedly saw an apparition of Mary a century ago. According to reports, an estimated 500,000 people flocked to the Fatima Sanctuary Complex where the children are buried. Some crawled the final few yards on their hands and knees. "Fatima is more than anything this mantle of light that protects us, here as in almost no other place on earth. We need but take refuge under the protection of the virgin Mary" the pope declared.
Mike's Comment: The Christian News Network interviewed Mike and his response can be read here
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Millennials Leaving Church in Record Numbers
Millennials are leaving church at record numbers and they are described as America's least religious generation. But while they may be highly skeptical of religion, they are still thirsty to find meaning in life. Studies show it isn't Jesus they're rejecting, they're rejecting churches that aren't making themselves relevant to Millennial culture. Researcher and president of LifeWay Christian Resources Thom Rainer says three things matter the most to Millennials: content, authenticity, and quality.
Read more.
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Pope Will Allow Atheists to Appoint Bishops
Pope Francis is developing more positive relations with China, however not without controversy. His agreements with Chinese leadership "means delivering the authority to appoint bishops into the hands of an atheist government." This would make the church "totally subservient to an atheist government," says Cardinal Zen.
"I would prefer no bishops," he says. "With fake bishops you are destroying the church."
Read more.
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We hope this month's newsletter challenges you to fight the good fight of faith. If we don't protect the purity and exclusivity of the Gospel, our future generations will suffer.
Mike & Jane Gendron and John Fallahee
(817) 379-5300
2829 Veranda Lane, Southlake, TX 76092
www.ProclaimingTheGospel.org
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