My friend Dr. Erwin Lutzer says, “You can be wrong about social security, be wrong about baseball, be wrong about your career choice, but don’t be wrong about where you will spend eternity.”
Our purpose as followers of Christ is to help people know the good news of Jesus. We must provide others the answer to the question, “How can you be sure you will spend eternity with God?”
As we continue to face the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our daily headlines update us to the number of people who have been infected and have died. Each person’s life matters. God died for every single person in the world, including you and me and every person we love.
Yet many of our loved ones, coworkers, friends, and neighbors face great uncertainty regarding what will happen to them after this life. We want to tell them about the hope of Jesus, but often don’t know where to begin.
To help, I have asked Dr. Erwin Lutzer to join me for our next TV series “How You Can Be Sure You Will Spend Eternity with God.” As the pastor of the historic Moody Church in Chicago for over three decades, he offers caring and insightful answers to this issue. We address questions such as:
- Will good deeds help me get into heaven?
- Who goes to heaven and who doesn’t?
- What role do I have in my own salvation?
- Can I lose my salvation if I commit a serious sin?
- Is it wrong to doubt my salvation, and what should I do if I doubt?
Dr. Lutzer takes many scriptural teachings and combines them into clear, cohesive truths. The result is a concise, biblical answer about how to be saved and be sure you are saved. It is straight gospel—applicable to the skeptic, newly saved, and long-time believer alike.
Our series includes two parts featuring six television programs. In Part 1, Erwin notes, “This is the most important topic that anyone could ever consider…time is short, and eternity is very long. It’s endless. And the moment that you die, you will either be in a place where you will see nothing but beauty and holiness and be welcomed, or you will be in a place of darkness and abandonment.”
Most people say they believe in God, yet are uncertain whether they will spend eternity with Him. We each seek assurance that God will accept us. In August’s TV series, we will discuss the vital teachings the Bible offers. You’ll be encouraged and equipped to better know the Lord and to share Him with others.
In Part 2 of this series, Dr. Lutzer begins with important information about “The Gift God Says We Can’t Live Without.” Next, we address the topic “The Miracle Everyone Needs” (“You must be born again.”) We also discuss the concept of being held in God’s hands and answer the question, “How can I know for sure I am saved?”
We conclude with addressing “The doubts believers have,” including how these doubts can drive us to better grow in our faith. My prayer is that these vital topics will help you better understand God’s loving gift of salvation in ways that will encourage you to confidently serve Him in the days ahead.
In addition, I want to share with you a copy of Erwin’s bestselling book Eternity with God. Serving as the basis for our TV programs, this book makes a great gift to share with friends and family, as well as a great study tool for you.
Our Resources This Month
This month, we are making all of these resources available for your gift of $90 or more. This includes the six television programs on Blu-ray and DVD, as well as Erwin’s book Eternity with God. Additional copies can be requested at a reduced rate to use as gifts for others. Please see the enclosed card for details.
Audio Bibles Continue to Change Lives
I also want to take a moment to thank you and our other ministry friends for your gifts during our series with Morgan Jackson. I wondered if we should ask for your help during this time of pandemic. But God burdened me to go forward with these programs, and you graciously helped. Thank you for providing audio Proclaimers for those who have never heard the gospel!
Our partners at Faith Comes By Hearing are also very thankful for your love and concern for the countries we shared on television. There is such a great need in these countries for additional audio Proclaimers. Requests are quickly coming in from new believers in listening groups that are rapidly expanding.
While we are still awaiting the most current numbers of people reached during our latest programs, I believe we have reached close to 4 million people in 40 countries or more that have now joined audio Bible listening groups!
And remember, it is estimated that 50 percent of those in listening groups will come to faith in Christ, which means about 2 million new believers have put their faith in the Lord Jesus in the last 3 years. Plus, all 4 million are being discipled as they listen through the entire New Testament.
Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
Since 70 percent of the world’s people live in oral cultures and 50 percent do not read at a functional level, the only way many of today’s unreached people will ever hear the gospel is through an audio Bible. And you have helped us do that.
Today, Faith Comes By Hearing offers Scripture in 1,356 languages! God’s Word can be heard by more than 6 billion people. 4,000 languages still need audio Bibles, but we are already seeing God’s Word go throughout the world.
As you look at the stories of how God has changed the lives of many people through audio Bibles, do you ever wonder what it would be like if you lived in a place where you had never heard about Jesus? What if you were unable to read the Bible and knew nothing about God’s Word or the gospel?
Then imagine, one day God’s Word begins playing—in your own language—for the first time! It would be like a person wandering in the desert with nothing to drink and suddenly coming upon refreshing cool water. It would bring you unspeakable joy as you hear God loves you and the Lord Jesus Christ is willing to forgive your sins, stay with you throughout your life, and take you to heaven forever when you die.
This is what takes place every day as we partner together to bring audio Bibles to those who have never heard the gospel. Whether in the mountains of Peru, the cities of India, the Philippines, Nigeria, the countries of Southeast Asia, or the thousands of refugees in Uganda, Africa, God is transforming lives for eternity as you provide audio Bibles to share His Word.
In a very real way, you are a missionary with us in this outreach. It’s not only the field worker in a land far away bringing the gospel—you are operating from the location where God has placed you to bring salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life to people who have never heard.
The words of Jesus come to mind when I think of you today:
Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?” And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:37-40)
My prayer is that through your loving gifts we will soon reach over four million people who will join audio Bible listening groups around the world. God has mightily worked through you and other friends to reach these people, but there are still so many who have yet to hear.
It is not too late to help. If God leads you to give a gift, there is still time. You may call us any day, 24 hours a day, at 1-800-805-3030, or you may go to our website at jashow.org where we have a secure place for you to give.
Thank you for your prayers and support during this time. Just know that God is at work through you in a very powerful way.
We love and appreciate you. You are in our prayers each day. We look forward to how God works through our ministry together in the days to come.
For those still waiting to hear,
John and Darlene