Eric Casagrande / Genelyn Novabos

“Left Behind” Letters - Part 2

About a week ago, someone from another Christian website read my article, entitled: “Left Behind Letters“. They seemed to be a little unclear as to the importance of sharing the Lord Jesus Christ with the lost, before the rapture. I have listed her comments below (in blue), as well as my replies to her (in red).

For reasons of privacy, I will only refer to the lady by her first name.

_________________________________________________

I want to thank Vonda for her very kind letter of last Saturday, and would like to spend a few minutes in responding to it.

First of all, you have to understand where I’m coming from. I do have a massive passion for sharing / teaching on God’s incredible love for man, as shown in the person of Jesus Christ. I’ve also been known to phone some of my team members in the Philippines, and suddenly break out into a sermon about a recent revelation from God, concerning the Gospel of Grace.

Forget about a nuclear Iran, because for me, Jesus Christ is ‘da bomb!

Now on to Vonda’s comments, followed by my replies.

Vonda’s Comment:

Just felt I would like to comment on Eric’s post, regarding the folly of leaving behind a letter.

My Reply:

Friend, I never said it was folly / foolish to create a left-behind letter.

What my article does suggest, is that it would be somewhat short-sighted if that was going to be your only witness of Jesus Christ to the lost – if you are using it as a means to get around the task of having to share the Lord Jesus Christ face-to-face with people, in the here and now.

Vonda’s Comment:

Eric, I wonder what you think about the unknown-to-you people who would probably break and enter your home to loot for food in desperation?

My Reply:

You raise a very good question!

Evaggelion Ministries is very active (both here in Canada, as well as in the Philippines), in assisting both the hungry and homeless. It has always been our policy to share the love of God – as shown through the person of Jesus Christ – with all peoples, of all cultures and all languages, in a practical way.

During the process, we also give a personal witness of Jesus Christ, so that we can feed their spirit as well as their body. In my upcoming trip (Mid-June) to the Philippines, we plan on visiting the Culion Island Leper Colony to pray for, and share Jesus with the people. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do!

Vonda’s Comment:

I have been preparing a stash of food and water in hopes (belief in God to direct) that the person who finds it is desperately looking for food, and maybe has not taken the mark of the beast.

Don’t you think it an added blessing to find not only the food and water but some Godly advice?

My Reply:

See above concerning our Ministry’s position in reaching out to the lost, and helping the homeless and destitute, in the here and now. Our desire to be immediately active, is based on both a passion for the lost, as well as 1 John 3: 17 which states:

“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his

brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him,

how does the love of God abide in him?“

Friend, if you have a burden for reaching stangers who are hungry and lost, then simply go out on the streets. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to give witness of Jesus Christ, and to feed the hungry. You can also visit the local jail and hospitals. Believe me, there is no shortage of hungry and spiritually dead people around you.

These people need both practical help, and to be introduced to the Lord Jesus Christ right now - not after the rapture (whenever that takes place).

Vonda’s Comment:

Take care in your judgment of people’s decisions – I personally have felt led to prepare this food, and believe in my heart that God has a plan for it, for someone specific to find it. I can tell you, it will not be family or friends as I live a very long way away from both.

My Reply:

Friend, I can assure you that nobody involved with Evaggelion Ministries is in the habit of judging people, or pointing the finger – not for any reason.

A little earlier, you asked me what I had personally thought about a given issue. Well it really doesn’t matter what I think about anything. In truth, the only thing which does matter, is what the Bible has to say on it. Allow me to share a handful of verses related to the timing of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the lost.

Here is what Jesus said in Matthew 28: 18-20 about it:

“And Jesus came and spoke unto them,

saying, All power is given unto me in

heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Teaching them to observe all things

whatsoever I have commanded you:

and lo, I am with you always, even

unto the end of the world. Amen.“

Here is what Jesus said in Mark 16: 15, 20 about it:

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,

and preach the gospel to every creature.

And they went forth and preached everywhere,

the Lord working with them, and confirming the

word with signs following. Amen.“

Here is what Jesus said in Luke 24: 46-48 about it:

“And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and

thus it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to

rise from the dead the third day;

And that repentance and remission of sins

should be preached in His name among

all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

And ye are witnesses of these things.“

Here is what Jesus said in Acts 1: 7-8 about this issue:

“And he said unto them, It is not for you to

know the times or the seasons, which

the Father has put in His own power.

But you shall receive power, after that the

Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you

shall be witnesses unto me both in

Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,

and unto the uttermost part of the earth.“

Here is what Paul had to say in Romans 10: 14, about it:

“How can they [ the lost ] believe of whom

they have not heard, and how shall they

hear without a preacher?“

Here is what Paul had to say in 2 Timothy 4: 1-2, about it:

“I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus

Christ, who shall judge the quick and the

dead at his appearing and his kingdom.

Preach the word, be instant in season and out

of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all

long suffering and doctrine.“

Here is what Paul has to say in 2 Corinthians 6: 2, about it:

“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted,

and in the day of salvation I have succoured thee:

behold now is the accepted time; behold now

is the day of Salvation.“

Here is what Paul has to say in 1 Corinthians 9: 16, about it:

“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to

glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe

is unto me if I preach not the gospel.“

Here is what Paul has to say in 1 Timothy 2: 3-4, about it:

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight

of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to

come unto the knowledge of the truth.“

Here is what Peter has to say in 2 Peter 3: 9 about it:

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,

as some men count slackness; but is

long suffering to us-ward, not willing that

any should perish, but that all should

come to repentance.“

For the sake of time and bandwidth, I’ll leave the other forty verses out.

It’s rather obvious, according to the Word of God, that when someone becomes born-again, and receives a revelation of Jesus Christ, they are specifically told to share that Good News with other people without delay.

Nowhere in the Bible are we instructed to remain silent about witnessing to the lost, until after the rapture. This is not what God says in His Word.

This is not my opinion, friend – this is what God says Himself.

Now if someone is both sharing Jesus Christ with the lost right now, and leaving those left-behind letters … no problem. This is in alignment with God’s Word.

But if someone is not actively sharing Jesus with the lost right now … and if they are only planning on waiting until after the rapture to do so – this is very clearly not a plan that is coming from God. It doesn’t line up with His Word, and is simply the product of the individual’s imagination.

I do hope that I was able to help you in some way. Once again, thank you so much for your input, friend.

Preaching the Fantastic News of Jesus Christ,

Eric Casagrande ssss ssss ssss ssss ssss ssss ssss ssss ssss ssss ssss Evaggelion Ministries

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Eric Casagrande / Genelyn Novabos

“Left Behind” Letters - Part 2

For reasons of privacy, I will only refer to the lady by her first name.

I want to thank Vonda for her very kind letter of last Saturday, and would like to spend a few minutes in responding to it.

Forget about a nuclear Iran, because for me, Jesus Christ is ‘da bomb!

Now on to Vonda’s comments, followed by my replies.

Vonda’s Comment:

Just felt I would like to comment on Eric’s post, regarding the folly of leaving behind a letter.

My Reply:

Friend, I never said it was folly / foolish to create a left-behind letter.

What my article does suggest, is that it would be somewhat short-sighted if that was going to be your only witness of Jesus Christ to the lost – if you are using it as a means to get around the task of having to share the Lord Jesus Christ face-to-face with people, in the here and now.

Vonda’s Comment:

Eric, I wonder what you think about the unknown-to-you people who would probably break and enter your home to loot for food in desperation?

My Reply:

You raise a very good question!

Vonda’s Comment:

I have been preparing a stash of food and water in hopes (belief in God to direct) that the person who finds it is desperately looking for food, and maybe has not taken the mark of the beast.

Don’t you think it an added blessing to find not only the food and water but some Godly advice?

My Reply:

See above concerning our Ministry’s position in reaching out to the lost, and helping the homeless and destitute, in the here and now. Our desire to be immediately active, is based on both a passion for the lost, as well as 1 John 3: 17 which states:

“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his

brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him,

how does the love of God abide in him?“

These people need both practical help, and to be introduced to the Lord Jesus Christ right now - not after the rapture (whenever that takes place).

Vonda’s Comment:

Take care in your judgment of people’s decisions – I personally have felt led to prepare this food, and believe in my heart that God has a plan for it, for someone specific to find it. I can tell you, it will not be family or friends as I live a very long way away from both.

My Reply:

Friend, I can assure you that nobody involved with Evaggelion Ministries is in the habit of judging people, or pointing the finger – not for any reason.

Here is what Jesus said in Matthew 28: 18-20 about it:

“And Jesus came and spoke unto them,

saying, All power is given unto me in

heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Teaching them to observe all things

whatsoever I have commanded you:

and lo, I am with you always, even

unto the end of the world. Amen.“

Here is what Jesus said in Mark 16: 15, 20 about it:

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,

and preach the gospel to every creature.

And they went forth and preached everywhere,

the Lord working with them, and confirming the

word with signs following. Amen.“

Here is what Jesus said in Luke 24: 46-48 about it:

“And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and

thus it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to

rise from the dead the third day;

And that repentance and remission of sins

should be preached in His name among

all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

And ye are witnesses of these things.“

Here is what Jesus said in Acts 1: 7-8 about this issue:

“And he said unto them, It is not for you to

know the times or the seasons, which

the Father has put in His own power.

But you shall receive power, after that the

Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you

shall be witnesses unto me both in

Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,

and unto the uttermost part of the earth.“

Here is what Paul had to say in Romans 10: 14, about it:

“How can they [ the lost ] believe of whom

they have not heard, and how shall they

hear without a preacher?“

Here is what Paul had to say in 2 Timothy 4: 1-2, about it:

“I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus

Christ, who shall judge the quick and the

dead at his appearing and his kingdom.

Preach the word, be instant in season and out

of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all

long suffering and doctrine.“

Here is what Paul has to say in 2 Corinthians 6: 2, about it:

“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted,

and in the day of salvation I have succoured thee:

behold now is the accepted time; behold now

is the day of Salvation.“

Here is what Paul has to say in 1 Corinthians 9: 16, about it:

“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to