Announcer:
IS HEAVEN A REAL PLACE?
WHAT WILL OUR BODIES
LOOK LIKE?
WILL WE BE MARRIED?
>> THAT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HEAVEN;
THAT HEAVEN IS UP THERE
IN OUTER SPACE SOMEWHERE.
REVELATION 21 SAYS: AND I SAW
A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH
AND I SAW THE
NEW JERUSALEM COMING DOWN
OUT OF HEAVEN
TO EARTH.
THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR MAJOR
PLACE OF DWELLING RIGHT HERE.
AND TO ME,
THAT'S EXCITING!
Announcer: COMING UP
ON LIFE TODAY,
PASTOR ROBERT JEFFRESS ANSWERS COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT HEAVEN.
♪
James: THANK ALL OF YOU!
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY.
I'M JAMES ROBISON;
BETTY AND I ARE THRILLED
TO HAVE DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS.
HE IS NOT ONLY ONE OF
OUR FAVORITE PEOPLE ON
THIS EARTH, AND ONE OF
OUR FAVORITE PREACHERS,
BUT HE PASTORS ONE OF
OUR FAVORITE CHURCHES.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF YOU
DON'T KNOW ABOUT
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH DALLAS
LET ME JUST TELL YOU
THE IMPACT AND IMPRINT
OF ALMIGHTY GOD LEFT
ON PLANET EARTH THROUGH
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
IS ETERNAL.
THE IMPACT THEY HAD
ON MY LIFE, BEGINNING WHEN
I WAS A VERY YOUNG MAN,
AND DR. CRISWELL ASKED ME
TO START PREACHING THERE.
YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS
BUT HE ASKED ME TO PREACH
THERE EVERY OFF SUNDAY
I HAD AS A CRUSADE PREACHER.
HE WAS ALWAYS THERE AND
ALWAYS LISTENING TO ME.
I EVEN HAD HIM GO SIT
OUT FRONT WHERE I COULD
PREACH STRAIGHT TO HIM
AND HE JUST LOVED IT.
"I LOVE IT. I LOVE YOU."
HE WAS CRANKING IT UP.
BUT THIS CHURCH, I WANT
TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU,
YOU REALLY HAVE BLESSED
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
BILLY GRAHAM WAS A MEMBER
THERE WHEN I WAS
PREACHING THERE.
MY HOW YOU'VE BLESSED HIM.
WHAT A TREASURE HE'S BEEN.
WHAT A TREASURE YOU ARE.
I LOVE YOUR NEW FACILITY.
I LOVE THE PASTOR THAT
YOU'RE SENDING OUT WITH
A MESSAGE THAT'S BEING HEARD
LIKE A CLEAR, CLARION CALL
TO CALL PEOPLE BACK TO
GOD'S WORD AND HIS TRUTH.
THIS BOOK, PERFECT ENDING,
IT'S NOT AN ESCAPE PLAN.
IT REALLY IS CLEAR INSIGHT
INTO WHY THINGS MATTER
AND WHY THEY SHOULD EXCITE US.
THE PERFECT ENDING;
IT IS A BOOK OF PROPHECY BUT
IT IS FULL OF WISDOM.
IT'S NOT FOOLISH DIALOGUE
AND DEBATE.
IT IS WELL WRITTEN BY
A TRUE BIBLE SCHOLAR
WHO LOVES EVERYBODY AND
HE WANTS US TO BE A FAMILY.
WOULD YOU WELCOME
DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS
TO LIFE TODAY?
Robert: THANK YOU SO MUCH,
JAMES.
BETTY, GREAT TO SEE YOU!
THANK YOU.
James: I KNOW YOU ARE
READY TO GO.
HE CAME TO ME AND SAID,
"I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, ASK ME
THIS, THIS, THIS, AND THIS."
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT --
HE'S RIGHT!
IF HE COULD INTERVIEW
HIMSELF IT WOULD BE BETTER!
BUT JUST LISTEN TO THIS.
I WANT TO SEE IF HE CAN
GET THROUGH ALL THIS:
WHY DID YOU WRITE THE BOOK?
HEAVEN'S NOT THE SAME
FOR EVERYONE.
THERE ARE DEGREES.
WHAT IS HEAVEN GOING
TO BE LIKE?
WHAT ARE WE GOING
TO BE DOING IN HEAVEN?
HOW CAN ONE BE SURE
THEY'RE GOING TO HEAVEN?
I CAN'T BEAT THAT.
SO JUST TAKE NUMBER ONE
AND TAKE OFF, DOC!
THAT IS GREAT STUFF.
[Laughter]
Robert: WELL, THANKS
FOR HAVING ME.
AND BY THE WAY, I WAS
A TEENAGER SITTING IN
THE BALCONY OF THE
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN DALLAS
WHEN YOU WERE PREACHING
DURING THOSE YEARS DOWN THERE
AND YOU INSPIRED ME THEN,
AND YOU AND BETTY DO NOW.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT
YOU MEAN TO THIS WORLD.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WONDER ABOUT
WHY A BOOK ON BIBLE PROPHECY?
BECAUSE FRANKLY, IT IS
OUT OF VOGUE RIGHT NOW;
A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T TALKING
ABOUT BIBLE PROPHECY.
SOME PEOPLE THINK
IT IS TOO CONFUSING
TO UNDERSTAND.
THEY THINK YOU HAVE
TO HAVE A PH.D. IN THEOLOGY
OR AT LEAST BE PROFICIENT
AT TEA LEAF READING IN ORDER
TO UNDERSTAND THE END TIMES.
[Laughter]
THERE ARE CHRISTIANS WHO REACH
FOR A TYLENOL BOTTLE WHENEVER
THEIR READ-THROUGH-THE-BIBLE
PLAN LANDS IN REVELATION.
THEY THINK OH, NO!
THIS IS JUST TOO COMPLICATED!
AND YET GOD PUT SO MUCH
INFORMATION IN THE BIBLE
ABOUT THE FUTURE.
FOR EVERY ONE PROMISE ABOUT
THE FIRST COMING OF CHRIST,
THERE ARE EIGHT PROPHECIES
ABOUT THE SECOND COMING
OF CHRIST.
NO, WE CAN'T KNOW THE WHEN.
I'M NOT HAROLD CAMPING
REINCARNATED, ONE OF
THESE GUYS TRYING TO SET
THE DATES OF THE RAPTURE BUT
I THINK GOD DOES WANT US
TO UNDERSTAND.
THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE
OUT THERE WHO SAY, "WELL,
WHY SHOULD I STUDY PROPHECY?
IT'S SO IRRELEVANT
TO MY EVERYDAY LIFE."
I MAY BE TALKING OUT THERE
TO A WOMAN RIGHT NOW
WHO SAID, "I'M NOT NEARLY
AS CONCERNED WITH THE BEAST
IN REVELATION 13 AS I AM
THE BEAST I'M MARRIED TO
RIGHT NOW AND HOW I'M GOING
TO GET ALONG WITH HIM."
PEOPLE THINK
IT IS NOT RELEVANT.
BUT THE FACT IS, THE BIBLE
NEVER DIVORCES THE TRUTH
OF CHRIST'S FUTURE RETURN
WITH OUR PRESENT
RESPONSIBILITY.
IF THERE REALLY IS GOING TO BE
A RAPTURE WHEN CHRISTIANS
ARE CAUGHT UP TO MEET
THE LORD IN THE AIR AND
WE LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND,
SHOULDN'T THAT CAUSE US
TO HOLD OUR POSSESSIONS
A LITTLE MORE LOOSELY
RIGHT NOW?
James: ABSOLUTELY!
Robert: IF THERE REALLY IS
GOING TO BE A GREAT
WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
LIKE REVELATION 20 PROPHESIES,
WHEN ALL UNBELIEVERS WILL
BE JUDGED AND SENTENCED
TO AN ETERNITY IN HELL,
SHOULDN'T THAT BE
AN INCENTIVE FOR US RIGHT NOW
TO SHARE CHRIST
WITH EVERYONE WE KNOW?
AND IF THERE REALLY IS
A JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
WHERE WE AS CHRISTIANS
ARE GOING TO APPEAR
AND BE EVALUATED
AND BE REWARDED FOR WHAT
WE'VE DONE OR HAVEN'T DONE,
SHOULDN'T THAT MAKE US HAVE
A GOD-CENTERED LIFE
RIGHT NOW?
JAMES AND BETTY, I HEAR
ALL THE TIME PEOPLE SAY,
"SOME CHRISTIANS ARE
SO HEAVENLY-MINDED
THEY'RE NO EARTHLY GOOD."
I'VE NEVER MET A CHRISTIAN
LIKE THAT.
MOST OF THE CHRISTIANS
I DEAL WITH, THE PROBLEM
I DEAL WITH IN MY OWN LIFE
IS BEING SO EARTHLY-MINDED
I'M NO HEAVENLY GOOD.
GOD WANTS US TO THINK
ABOUT THE FUTURE,
NOT AS AN ESCAPE.
I THINK ABOUT C.S. LEWIS
AND I WRITE IN MY BOOK
A QUOTE OF LEWIS'.
HE SAID, "HISTORY HAS SHOWN
THAT THE CHRISTIANS WHO
MAKE THE MOST DIFFERENCE
IN THIS WORLD ARE THE ONES
WHO THINK MOST ABOUT
THE SECOND WORLD,
AND THE NEXT WORLD."
AND THAT'S WHY I WROTE
PERFECT ENDING.
James: THEY ACTUALLY THINK
IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY.
Robert: THAT'S RIGHT!
THEY HAVE AN ETERNAL MINDSET.
THE SUBTITLE
OF PERFECT ENDING IS:
WHY YOUR ETERNAL FUTURE
MATTERS TODAY.
BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS NOT
JUST A BOOK OF INFORMATION,
IT IS A BOOK ABOUT
TRANSFORMATION;
HOW THE TRUTH OF CHRIST'S
SECOND COMING OUGHT TO
IMPACT YOUR LIFE.
BUT YOU KNOW I'D SAY TO
PEOPLE WATCHING RIGHT NOW,
THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE TOO
AND THAT IS, WHAT WE DO
TODAY MATTERS FOR ETERNITY.
I'M TALKING OUT THERE
RIGHT NOW TO A MOM
WHO HAS A HOUSE FULL
OF PRESCHOOLERS AND YOU'RE
WONDERING, CAN I STAND THIS
ANY LONGER?
HOW MUCH LONGER
IS THIS GOING TO GO ON?
WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY
REALLY DOES MATTER
FOR ETERNITY.
THERE ARE SOME OF YOU
RIGHT NOW WHO ARE IN
A DIFFICULT MARRIAGE
AND YOU'RE REALLY WONDERING,
AM I GOING TO STAY IN THIS
MARRIAGE OR AM I GOING TO DO
THE EASY THING AND LEAVE?
WELL, THE TRUTH IS,
OBEYING CHRIST AND DOING
THE HARD THING HAS ETERNAL
CONSEQUENCES AND THAT'S
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IN
PERFECT ENDING, TALK ABOUT
WHY THE FUTURE REALLY MAKES
A DIFFERENCE TODAY.
James: IT DOES!
YOU ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT
THAT WE WILL HAVE REWARDS.
I FIND IN MY OWN LIFE THAT
WHEN I BLESS SOMEONE
I GET AN IMMEASURABLE,
INDESCRIBABLE BLESSING
OUT OF IT.
TO SERVE OTHERS REALLY IS
THE GREATEST WORK, AS FAR
AS KINGDOM WORK, AND I GET
A BLESSING OUT OF THAT.
BUT YOU WERE POINTING OUT
VERY CLEARLY THAT THERE
ACTUALLY WILL BE SOME REWARDS
IN HEAVEN AND THAT
SHOULD EXCITE PEOPLE?
Robert: THAT'S RIGHT!
ONE OF THE GREATEST LIES
ABOUT HEAVEN IS THAT IT IS
GOING TO BE THE SAME
FOR EVERYBODY.
NO, IT'S NOT.
IT'S NOT THE ULTIMATE
IN SOCIALISM WHERE EVERYBODY
GETS THE SAME THING.
THERE ARE DEGREES
OF HEAVEN.
THE FACT IS, OUR GOOD WORKS
DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
TO SECURE OUR SALVATION
BUT AFTER WE'RE SAVED
THEY HAVE A GREAT DEAL TO SAY
ABOUT OUR ETERNITY.
PAUL SAID IN 2 CORINTHIANS 5,
AND HE WAS TALKING
TO CHRISTIANS, HE SAID,
"WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE
THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST,
THAT EACH ONE OF US MAY
BE REWARDED FOR WHAT WE'VE
DONE IN THE BODY, WHETHER
IT BE GOOD OR WORTHLESS."
AND THE BIBLE SAYS WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE OUR LIFE
EVALUATED,
FIRST CORINTHIANS 3 SAYS:
IT WILL BE THE FIRE OF GOD'S
JUDGMENT THAT WILL DETERMINE
WHETHER OUR LIFE HAS BEEN
WOOD, HAY, OR STRAW,
OR GOLD, SILVER,
AND PRECIOUS STONES.
IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT
THE PERSON WHOSE LIFE
IS JUDGED TO BE WORTHLESS,
HE WILL SUFFER LOSS,
EVEN THOUGH HE HIMSELF
WILL BE SAVED.
PEOPLE ASK ME ALL THE TIME,
"ARE YOU SAYING PEOPLE
CAN ACTUALLY HAVE REGRET
IN HEAVEN?" YES!
THE BIBLE SAYS PEOPLE WILL
SUFFER REAL MEASURABLE LOSS
WHEN THEY SEE WHAT COULD
HAVE BEEN THEIRS HAD THEY
BEEN MORE FAITHFUL TO CHRIST.
PEOPLE SAY, "WELL, HOW CAN
YOU HAVE INEXPRESSIBLE JOY
IN HEAVEN AND ALSO REGRET
IN HEAVEN?"
I LIKE TO USE THIS
ILLUSTRATION.
IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE ASLEEP
ONE NIGHT.
SUDDENLY YOU SMELL SMOKE
IN YOUR HOUSE.
YOU REALIZE YOUR HOUSE
IS ON FIRE; YOU GRAB
YOUR MATE, HOPEFULLY,
[Laughter]
AND YOU GROPE THROUGH
THE SMOKE AND YOU KICK OUT
A WINDOW AND YOU JUMP OUT
THE WINDOW.
YOU'RE STANDING THERE ON
YOUR FRONT LAWN WATCHING
YOUR HOUSE GO UP IN FLAMES.
WHAT IS GOING TO BE
YOUR FEELING RIGHT THEN?
CERTAINLY THERE'S GOING
TO BE JOY THAT YOU ESCAPED
THE FLAMES AND THAT
YOU'RE ALIVE.
BUT THERE IS ALSO GOING
TO BE A SADNESS AS YOU SEE
EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BURNED UP.
THAT'S GOING TO BE TRUE
IN HEAVEN.
THE FACT IS, WHATEVER
THESE REWARDS ARE, I THINK
THEY'RE SPECIAL PRAISE
FROM THE MASTER WE'RE GOING
TO RECEIVE IF WE EARN REWARDS.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
SPECIAL PRIVILEGES IN HEAVEN
THAT THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT.
IT'S GOING TO BE SPECIAL
POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY
THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
WHATEVER THESE REWARDS ARE,
THE BIBLE SAYS,
THEY'RE WORTH WORKING FOR.
AGAIN, TO THOSE OF YOU
WATCHING RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO BE A PASTOR,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE
A WORLD FAMOUS EVANGELIST
OR TELEVISION PERSONALITIES
ON CHRISTIAN TELEVISION
TO EARN REWARDS.
YOU KNOW A.W. TOZER SAID,
"IT IS NOT WHAT A PERSON DOES
THAT DETERMINES WHETHER
HIS WORK IS SACRED OR SECULAR,
IT IS WHY HE OR SHE DOES IT."
AND WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING
OUT THERE, IF IT IS DOING IT
FOR THE LORD, THERE ARE
GOING TO BE REWARDS
IN HEAVEN FOR YOU.
James: I FEEL LIKE I DO THAT.
I'M MOTIVATED TO BLESS OTHERS
AND BLESS THE LORD.
LET'S TOUCH SOME OF
THESE OTHERS NOW.
I WANT TO BE SURE YOU DON'T
FORGET YOUR OUTLINE BECAUSE
WE'VE GOT IT WRITTEN DOWN.
YOU SAID, "WHAT'S IT GOING
TO BE LIKE?"
THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS
YOU WANTED ME TO ASK.
Robert: YEAH, ONE OF THESE
THINGS I DO IN THE BOOK,
PERFECT ENDING, THE LAST
CHAPTER I TALK ABOUT HEAVEN
AND I KNOW HEAVEN IS
ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL TO YOU
ALL RIGHT NOW AS ROBIN
IS ALREADY THERE AND YOU ALL
ARE GOING TO BE THERE SOON
TO SEE HER AGAIN.
BUT I ANSWER THE TEN MOST
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT HEAVEN.
NOW THERE'S A LOT
OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE
ABOUT HEAVEN.
AND LET'S FACE IT, THE BIBLE
DOESN'T TELL US EVERYTHING
ABOUT HEAVEN.
THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS
THAT ARE UNANSWERED.
PEOPLE ASK ME, "WHY IS THAT?"
AND MOMS WHO ARE WATCHING
CAN UNDERSTAND THIS.
IMAGINE YOU SEAT YOUR CHILD
AT DINNER AND YOU PUT
A PLATE IN FRONT OF THE CHILD
WITH ROAST BEEF AND CARROTS
AND SPINACH BUT OVER
TO THE SIDE IS A BOWL
OF BLUE BELL ICE CREAM
WITH CHOCOLATE SYRUP ON.
YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO HAVE
A HARD TIME CONCENTRATING
ON THE MEAL WITHOUT
GOING STRAIGHT TO DESSERT.
I REALLY THINK IF WE KNEW
WHAT REALLY AWAITED US
IN HEAVEN, WE'D HAVE A HARD
TIME PREACHING SERMONS
OR DOING THESE TELEVISION
PROGRAMS.
I MEAN WE'D WANT TO END IT ALL
AND GET TO OUR REWARD.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHY
GOD HASN'T REVEALED EVERYTHING
BUT HE'S TOLD US JUST ENOUGH
TO WHET OUR APPETITES.
I REALLY BELIEVE INSTEAD
OF DEPENDING ON EXTRA
BIBLICAL INFORMATION ABOUT
HEAVEN, WE OUGHT TO SEE
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS.
AND THERE ARE SOME AMAZING
THINGS, THESE TEN QUESTIONS
PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT HEAVEN.
ANY OF THEM STRIKE YOU
THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
ABOUT HEAVEN, JAMES?
James: NO, YOU GO AHEAD
AND TAKE OFF ON IT.
I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU SAY
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT
THE ONES ARE THAT
YOU TOUCHED ON THAT YOU KNOW
YOU'VE HEARD.
Robert: SOME OF THE PEOPLE
ASK ME, THEY HAVE REALLY
DEEP THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS
LIKE, "ARE MY PETS GOING
TO BE IN HEAVEN?"
THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.
James: ME AND RANDY ALCORN
THINK THEY WILL BE.
SO IF YOU NEED A LITTLE HELP
ON THAT, RANDY AND I WILL
HELP YOU.
WE'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE WHO
THINK IF THEIR PETS ARE
THERE, WE AIN'T GOING.
Robert: OTHER PEOPLE WONDER
IF THERE'S GOING TO BE
MARRIAGE IN HEAVEN,
AND I HAVE SOME CHURCH MEMBERS
WHO ARE MORE UPSET THAT
THEIR PETS AREN'T GOING
TO BE IN HEAVEN THAN
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE
MARRIED IN HEAVEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE
FOR YOU OR NOT.
[Laughter]
THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT, FOR
EXAMPLE, MARRIAGE IN HEAVEN,
LUKE 20, NO WE'RE NOT GOING
TO BE MARRIED IN HEAVEN.
James: WILL I KNOW HER?
Robert: YES, YOU'LL KNOW HER.
THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION.
SO GET ALONG --
KEEP GETTING ALONG BECAUSE
IT'S GOING TO MAKE
AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE.
James: WELL, IT'S GOING
TO BE -- AND I THINK YOU
POINT THIS OUT AND I THINK
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT --
IT'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT
LIKE EARTH BECAUSE IT
WILL BE A NEW EARTH.
IT'S NOT LIKE GOD MADE
A MISTAKE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Robert: THAT'S ONE OF THE
GREATEST MISCONCEPTIONS
ABOUT HEAVEN; THAT HEAVEN
IS UP THERE IN OUTER SPACE
SOMEWHERE.
THE FACT IS, AFTER THIS
PRESENT HEAVEN AND EARTH
ARE DESTROYED, REVELATION 21
SAYS: AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN
AND A NEW EARTH,
AND I SAW THE NEW JERUSALEM
COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN
TO EARTH.
WE'RE NOT FLOATING AROUND
UP THERE.
IT'S GOING TO BE OUR MAIN
DWELLING PLACE, IS GOING TO
BE THIS NEW RECREATED EARTH
JUST LIKE GOD INTENDED IT.
IT IS EDEN RESTORED.
THAT'S GOING TO BE
OUR MAJOR PLACE OF DWELLING
RIGHT HERE.
AND TO ME THAT'S EXCITING.
I DON'T HAVE TO DREAD
SOME OTHER...
James: AND NO MOSQUITOES!
I PROMISE!
[Laughter]
LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
NOW WHAT ARE WE GOING
TO DO UP THERE?
IS IT JUST GOING TO PLAY
A HARP AND SING
AND WEAR A HALO?
Robert: OF COURSE,
NON-CHRISTIANS HAVE THE IDEA
OF FLOATING ON A CLOUD,
PLUCKING THE HARP.
BUT EVEN CHRISTIANS HAVE
THE HEART IDEA THAT WELL,
IT'S JUST GOING TO BE
A 24/7 WORSHIP SERVICE.
IT'S JUST GOING TO BE
CHURCH 24/7.
TO SOME PEOPLE, THAT SOUNDS
MORE LIKE HELL THAN
IT DOES HEAVEN.
[Laughter]
LET'S BE HONEST, I'M NOT
TRYING TO BE SACRILEGIOUS;
WE ARE GOING TO BE
WORSHIPPING GOD.
REVELATION TALKS ABOUT
PURE UNADULTERATED WORSHIP
OF GOD BUT THAT'S
NOT ALL WE'RE DOING.
SEE, WE WERE CREATED
TO DO MORE THAN WORSHIP.
WE WERE CREATED TO WORK
AS WELL.
GOD MADE US IN HIS IMAGE.
GOD IS A WORKER.
HE CREATED US TO BE WORKERS.
REMEMBER ADAM AND EVE?
BEFORE THE FALL THEY WORKED.
GOD SAID, "YOU ARE
TO CULTIVATE THE EARTH
AND TO KEEP IT."
NOW THEY WORSHIPPED GOD
WHILE THEY WERE DOING IT,
BUT THEY ALSO WORKED.
IT'S GOING TO BE THAT
SAME WAY FOR US.
NOW I KNOW SOME OF
OUR AUDIENCE ARE PROBABLY
THINKING RIGHT NOW,
ETERNITY OF WORKING?
THAT SOUNDS LIKE HELL TO ME!
WHAT ABOUT MY 401K PLAN
AND RETIREMENT AND THEN
YOU'RE TELLING ME I GIVE IT
ALL UP AND GO BACK
TO WORK AGAIN.
THINK ABOUT THIS, THE REASON
WE DON'T ENJOY WORK
EVEN THOUGH WE WERE CREATED
TO WORK IS BECAUSE WE HAVE
BODIES THAT GET TIRED,
WE HAVE STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS
WITH OTHER PEOPLE,
WE HAVE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
TO DEAL WITH;
ALL THOSE THINGS ARE
GOING TO BE REMOVED.
WE'RE GOING TO ENJOY WORK
AND ACCOMPLISHMENT
LIKE GOD MEANT US TO DO.
AGAIN, THIS IS A LITTLE
BIT OF CONJECTURE ON MY PART
BUT I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED
IF OUR WORK IN HEAVEN
DOESN'T MIRROR SOMETHING THAT
WE'VE DONE HERE ON EARTH.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK, WELL,
THIS WORLD, THERE'S A GREAT
DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN
OUR LIFE ON EARTH
AND OUR LIFE IN HEAVEN.
GOD SEES OUR LIFE
AS A CONTINUUM.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
OUR FRIEND, RANDY ALCORN.
HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW EARTH
IS A RUNNING START EITHER
INTO HEAVEN OR INTO HELL."
THE FACT IS, I THINK
THERE IS A CONTINUUM BETWEEN
LIFE HERE AND...
Betty: BECAUSE GOD GAVE US
ALL DIFFERENT GIFTS,
WHY WOULD THAT DIMINISH?
Robert: THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
YOU ASKED ABOUT PEOPLE KNOWING
ONE ANOTHER IN HEAVEN.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT
OUR BODIES ARE GOING TO BE
LIKE IN HEAVEN, JUST LOOK
AT LUKE 24 AND JESUS'
RESURRECTED BODY.
THE BIBLE SAYS JESUS WAS
THE PROTOTYPE, PROTOTYPOS
IN GREEK, HE WAS THE FIRST
OF THOSE WHO WILL BE RAISED
FROM THE DEAD.
HIS BODY WAS A PROTOTYPE
OF WHAT OUR BODIES ARE
GOING TO BE LIKE.
JESUS WAS RECOGNIZABLE
TO HIS DISCIPLES, LUKE 24.
HE CERTAINLY HAD A BODY
THAT WAS SUPERIOR
TO HIS EARTHLY BODY.
HE COULD GO THROUGH DOORS
AND DO ALL THIS SORT OF THING.
BUT HIS BODY WAS SIMILAR
TO HIS PRESENT BODY BECAUSE
PEOPLE RECOGNIZED HIM,
HE WAS ABLE TO EAT,
HIS DISCIPLES WATCHED HIM
PACK DOWN A BIG MEAL OF FISH.
AND ISN'T THAT GREAT NEWS
TO KNOW WE'RE GOING TO EAT
IN HEAVEN?
THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST NEWS
SOME PEOPLE HAVE HEARD
ALL DAY ON THIS PROGRAM.
BUT OUR BODIES ARE GOING
TO RESEMBLE BUT THEY'RE
GOING TO BE SUPERIOR
TO OUR EARTHLY BODIES.
James: I THINK THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING, THAT
DR. JEFFRESS MAKES CLEAR,
THE WAY TO HEAVEN AND
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY,
THE WAY THE TRUTH
AND THE LIFE; "NO ONE COMES
TO THE FATHER," JESUS SAID,
"BUT BY ME, JESUS."
DO YOU KNOW JESUS?
THAT'S THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
HE SAYS, "CALL UPON ME.
ASK. YOU WILL RECEIVE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BEG."
WOULD YOU SAY, "LORD JESUS
COME INTO MY LIFE?
GIVE ME NEW LIFE.
I WANT TO LOSE MY LIFE
IN YOUR PURPOSE
AND YOUR WILL."
"THEREIN YOU WILL FIND IT."
FATHER, I PRAY FOR EVERY
PERSON WATCHING RIGHT NOW.
YOU'VE TOUCHED HEARTS.
MEN ARE EXCITED AND INTERESTED
ABOUT WHAT DR. JEFFRESS
HAS SHARED.
I PRAY THEY'LL MEET
THE JESUS HE'S LIFTED UP,
BECOME EXCITED ABOUT THE
FUTURE HE HAS PREPARED
FOR THEM, AND TRUST THE LORD
JESUS TODAY, RIGHT WHERE
THEY ARE.
I PRAY THAT FOR THEM,
IN JESUS' NAME.
IF YOU'VE GIVEN YOUR LIFE
TO CHRIST RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE,
YOU CALL, SOMEONE WILL PRAY
WITH YOU OR YOU CAN ASK THEM
A QUESTION.
THEY WILL BE HAPPY
TO PRAY ALONG WITH YOU.
WE WANT TO SEND THIS
WONDERFUL BOOK TO EVERY ONE
OF YOU WHO WILL DO SOMETHING
WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER.
DR. JEFFRESS, I WANT TO ASK
EVERYONE WATCHING TO
HELP US GIVE SOMEONE A CUP
OF WATER IN JESUS' NAME.
WE TELL OUR VIEWERS,
"WE DON'T SELL GIFTS --
WE DON'T SELL THINGS,
THEY'RE GIFTS."
BUT WE ASK PEOPLE
TO MAKE A GIFT
AND WE WANT TO GIVE THEM
SOMETHING TO INSPIRE THEM.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
I WANT OUR VIEWERS AND
ALL OF US SITTING HERE
IN THE STUDIO, I WANT YOU
TO LOOK AND LISTEN.
SEE IF YOU HEAR GOD
PROMPTING YOU TO DO
SOMETHING -- SOMETHING
VERY SIGNIFICANT --
SOMETHING VERY ETERNAL.
PLEASE WATCH.
Announcer:
SHE MOVED SO SLOWLY.
NO, SHE HARDLY
MOVED AT ALL.
AND NO TEARS FELL
BECAUSE THAT WELL
HAD RUN DRY.
WHILE NO PICTURE
OF HEALTH,
ROEN HAS BEEN
DRAINED OF LIFE --
THE KIND OF LIFE FOUND
IN YOUR ROLE AS A MOTHER.
DEATH CAME.
IT TOOK
FROM ROEN
BUT THEN IT TOOK
AGAIN AND AGAIN
... AND AGAIN.
Announcer:
IN THIS HEAT,
THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN SURVIVE ONLY A FEW DAYS WITHOUT WATER.
THOUGH THIS WATER
MIGHT EXTEND A LIFE,
IT EVENTUALLY
TAKES IT,
ESPECIALLY CHILDREN
BECAUSE THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM
IS TOO WEAK FOR THAT FIGHT.
Announcer:
TRAUMA HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL
BUT BECAUSE THE WATER
WHICH TOOK HER CHILDREN
IS STILL
THEIR ONLY SOURCE,
ROEN KNOWS THAT
UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE
TO PROVIDE CLEAN WATER
AT ANY MOMENT SHE COULD
LOSE ALL THAT REMAINS.
James: OUR BEAUTIFUL
DAUGHTERS, SEVERAL
OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN BORN
WITH BEAUTIFUL BLACK EYES
LIKE THAT LITTLE GIRL.
AND WHEN BETTY AND I SAW
ROEN AND HEARD HER STORY
WE IMMEDIATELY DRILLED
A WELL IN HER VILLAGE.
BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER
AREAS RIGHT THERE WITH HER
WHERE WE NEED TO DRILL
ANOTHER ONE.
BUT I WANTED TO TELL ROEN
AND THAT LITTLE GIRL
WITH THOSE BIG BLACK EYES,
HONEY, GOD CARES
AND CARES THROUGH US
AND SHARES THROUGH US.
NOW, BETTY AND I JOYFULLY,
FROM THE TIME WE STARTED
DRILLING WATER WELLS,
ASKED GOD TO ALWAYS
LET US DRILL THEM.
AND RIGHT NOW IT'S GONE UP
FROM WHEN IT STARTED --
$3600 WHEN WE STARTED --
$4800, COULD GO HIGHER.
I PRAY GOD WILL ALWAYS LET US
AND ENABLE US TO DO IT.
BUT WE'RE ASKING YOU
TO DO ALL YOU CAN
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE GOD
HAS SHOWN US THE PLACES
TO DRILL 500 WELLS.
WE'RE CONVINCED
THE WATER IS THERE.
SOMETIMES A BORE HOLE
WILL TELL YOU,
BUT WE KNOW WE CAN DO IT
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP
TO DO IT.
LET'S DO IT TOGETHER.
AND HELP THE MISSIONARIES
THAT HAVE POINTED US
TO THE PLACE.
BETTY, I BELIEVE GOD IS GOING
TO ANSWER THE HEART CRY
OF MANY MOTHERS LIKE THAT
IN BEHALF OF THEIR CHILDREN.
Betty: I DO TOO, JAMES.
I THINK YOU'RE A PART
OF THAT ANSWER.
YOU'RE A PART OF REACHING OUT
AND GIVING THEM HOPE.
A MOTHER KNOWS
WHAT'S KILLING HER BABIES
BUT WHAT IS SHE TO DO?
THAT IS THE ONLY SOURCE
OF WATER THEY HAVE.
AND IT MIGHT GET THEM BY
FOR A FEW DAYS
JUST SO IT WILL QUENCH
THEIR THIRST FOR A MOMENT
BUT IT'S KILLING THEM INSIDE.
SO PLEASE HELP US REACH OUT
AS MAYBE YOU'VE DONE
MANY TIMES BEFORE.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ASKING
BECAUSE THE NEEDS ARE THERE.
SO PLEASE JOIN WITH US
AND LET'S GET SOME
FRESH WATER FOR THEM.
James: BETTY, WE NOT ONLY
DO ASK BECAUSE THE NEED'S
THERE BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE
THE ANSWER TO THE NEED.
THERE ARE A LOT OF NEEDS
THAT WE REALLY DON'T KNOW;
THERE ARE DISEASES
THAT WE'RE STILL BATTLING.
THAT'S WHY BETTY
AND I SUPPORT ST. JUDE'S
AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE TRYING TO FIND
A WAY AND A CURE
AND HELP THOSE WHO NEED HELP.
WELL, WE HAVE THE ANSWER
TO THIS NEED,
IT'S FRESH WATER.
ALL WE NEED
IS THE RESOURCE TO DO IT
AND THAT'S YOUR SUPPORT.
WOULD YOU RIGHT NOW
DIAL THAT NUMBER?
IT'S A LIFELINE.
WOULD YOU REACH OUT AND TOUCH
SOMEONE WITH LOVE, LITERALLY?
DIAL THE NUMBER,
TAKE YOUR BANKCARD,
USE IT LIKE A CHECK.
THAT'S HOW YOU SHOULD
ALWAYS USE THEM.
IF YOU WRITE A CHECK,
MAKE IT TO LIFE,
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GIVING.
IF YOU WANT TO GO ONLINE,
LIFETODAY.ORG AND YOU CAN GIVE
THE GIFT IMMEDIATELY THERE,
BUT PLEASE, TODAY, MAKE
THAT LIFE-GIVING CALL.
PLEASE BE AN ANSWER
TO A BROKEN HEART
LIKE YOU'VE JUST HEARD
AND HEAL THAT HURT AND SAVE
THOSE CHILDREN'S LIVES.
WE'RE GOING TO POINT THEM
TO THE LOVE OF GOD THAT
LED US TO GIVE THEM WATER.
WE HAVE SOME
BEAUTIFUL SPECIAL GIFTS
TO INSPIRE YOU AND BLESS YOU
TO SAY THANK YOU.
BUT WE'RE ASKING YOU
RIGHT NOW, PLEASE,
GO TO THE PHONE OR GO ONLINE
AND MAKE THE LARGEST GIFT
YOU POSSIBLY CAN.
IF YOU GET A BUSY,
BE DETERMINED, BE PERSISTENT,
BECAUSE YOU'RE AN ANSWER
TO SOMEONE'S PRAYER
WHEN YOU MAKE THAT CALL.
THANK YOU FOR DOING IT.
Announcer: EVERY DAY
CHILDREN OF ALL AGES
ARE FORCED TO MAKE
A DREADFUL CHOICE:
DRINK FILTHY POLLUTED WATER FILLED WITH DEADLY DISEASE
OR DIE
FROM THIRST.
NO CHILD SHOULD EVER BE
FACED WITH THIS DECISION!
THE GOOD NEWS IS
THERE IS A SOLUTION.
MISSION: WATER FOR LIFE
IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE
LIFE-SAVING DEMONSTRATIONS
OF GOD'S LOVE
YOU COULD EVER
BE A PART OF.
SUFFERING CAN END
BECAUSE CLEAN WATER
CHANGES EVERYTHING.
WITH YOUR GIFT TODAY,
YOU CAN HELP ESTABLISH
AND DRILL 500 NEW WATER WELLS FOR REMOTE VILLAGES
IMPACTING
OVER 20 NATIONS.
YOUR GIFT OF $24
WILL HELP PROVIDE
CLEAN WATER
FOR FIVE PEOPLE.
A GIFT OF $48 WILL HELP
PROVIDE FOR 10 PEOPLE.
$72 WILL IMPACT
15 PEOPLE!
AND $144 WILL HELP PROVIDE
FRESH CLEAN DISEASE-FREE WATER
FOR 30 PEOPLE
FOR A LIFETIME!
WITH YOUR GIFT,
BE SURE TO REQUEST
THE NEW CHILDREN
AT THE WELL INTERACTIVE BOOK
TO HELP YOUR LITTLE ONES UNDERSTAND THE BLESSING
OF CLEAN WATER,
AS WELL AS
THE WOMEN AT THE WELL
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
WITH 32 REFRESHING DEVOTIONALS FOR YOUR QUIET TIME.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $100 OR MORE
YOU MAY REQUEST THIS
BEAUTIFUL LEATHER JOURNAL
TO HELP CAPTURE YOUR
PERSONAL TIMES WITH GOD.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1200
TO HELP PROVIDE WATER
FOR 250 PEOPLE
OR A GIFT
OF $4800
TO HELP SPONSOR
A COMPLETE WELL
AND YOU MAY REQUEST
OUR COMMEMORATIVE SCULPTURE
GLASS STATUE
"THE BLESSING."
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE
YOUR SECURE GIFT ONLINE TODAY!
James: IT BREAKS MY HEART
TO THINK ABOUT LITTLE CHILDREN
LIKE THIS, SO PRECIOUS,
COMING HERE AND LIVING
ON THE SIDE OF A DUMP.
THIS IS WHERE THEY GET WATER
AND IT'S DISEASED-RIDDEN.
Betty: IT'S JUST WATER
THAT CAN KILL THEM!
THEY DRINK IT,
THEY SWIM IN IT,
AND EVERYTHING ALIVE
WALKS THROUGH IT.
WE NEED
TO HELP THEM!
James: IT'S REALLY
PRETTY SIMPLE BUT
IT TAKES ALL OF US DOING
OUR PART, JOINING TOGETHER
TO GIVE NOT ONLY A CUP
OF WATER, AS JESUS SAID,
BUT A WELL OF WATER.
I PRAY YOU'LL MAKE THAT
LIFE-GIVING CALL TODAY.
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES
IN SO MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD
WILL RECEIVE A CHANCE AT LIFE
BECAUSE OF THE LOVE OF GOD
SHARED THROUGH YOU.
James: I HOPE WE'RE ABLE
TO SEND THIS TO EVERY ONE OF
YOU BECAUSE YOU GIVE A WELL,
OR YOU MAKE A GIFT OF $1200
OR MORE TOWARD ONE BECAUSE
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOU
THIS BEAUTIFUL COLLECTIBLE
-- THIS BEAUTIFUL,
BEAUTIFUL ART PIECE
THAT WILL REFLECT THE LIGHT,
LITERALLY, THAT RADIATES
AS A RESULT OF IT.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO SEND
THE PERFECT ENDING BOOK:
WHY YOUR ETERNAL FUTURE
MATTERS.
THIS IS FABULOUS.
I WANT YOU TO HAVE IT;
YOU MAKE A GIFT, ANY SIZE.
I WANT TO SAY TO
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AGAIN,
NOW HEAR ME -- THANKS FOR
CALLING ROBERT JEFFRESS,
ONE OF YOUR OWN WHO GREW UP
DISCIPLED IN YOUR CHURCH.
I'M GLAD I PREACHED AND
HE HEARD ME, AND PERHAPS
HE WAS ENCOURAGED
AT SOME POINT.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME PREACH.
LISTEN -- THANKS FOR
SHARING HIM WITH CHURCHES
AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.
BLESS YOU,
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
WOULD YOU SAY THANKS
TO DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS
FOR BEING WITH US?
Robert: THANKS, JAMES!
THANK YOU, BETTY.
GOD BLESS YOU!
James: THANK ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH
FOR HELPING US GIVE
EVEN MORE THAN A CUP OF WATER.
THANKS FOR IT!
♪
♪
♪
♪
Announcer: NEXT WEEK, IN 1994
GEORGE DENNEHY NEARLY DIED
IN A ROMANIAN ORPHANAGE BECAUSE
HE WAS BORN WITHOUT ARMS.
NOW HE SHARES GOD'S LOVE
THROUGH MUSIC.