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HOW CAN I SAY TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE, “YOU WERE MADE TO LAST FOREVER”?
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Looking forward into the future, all people have eternity in their hearts according to Ecclesiastes 3:11. As the image bearers of God who made them, everyone will last (i.e. exist) forever. (Daniel 12: 2, 3; John 5:25- 29) A man approached Jesus and asked, “What I must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16) He wanted to know the details on what is up ahead and how to get there. The You Last Forever Gospel presentation taps into this key question people long to know about. (See also Romans 2:7)
Look back before a specific person was conceived and consider what God told Jeremiah the prophet. In Jeremiah 1:5, God said, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” God did not know about only Jeremiah, God knows beforehand about every person He creates. Similarly, Christians are said to be chosen individually and specifically in Christ before the foundation (creation) of the world. (Ephesians 1: 4, 5) God is unchangeable (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13: 8) and all-knowing or omniscient. (Isaiah 40; 55) Before a person is conceived he/she was in the mind of God eternally. Therefore God has always known everyone.
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LASTING (EXISTING) FOREVER AND LIVING FOREVER?
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As the image of God, every person will last or exist forever. (Revelation 20:15; John 5:25 -29) Eternal life is not defined in terms of existing forever, but in terms of having a right relationship with God. Jesus defined eternal life in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Consider the alternatives in Daniel 12: 2 “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.”
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WHAT DO THE UPPER AND LOWER ARROWS ON THE YLF CARD MEAN?
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The top arrows pointing from this world to the womb indicate that physical life and nourishment for the preborn child come from this world the baby is being prepared to enter. The bottom arrows pointing from the womb to this world indicate that the preborn baby grows and is cleansed of bodily waste during that time until birth. The cycle of the parents giving and the baby growing in response generally continues nine months until the baby is born.
The top arrows from heaven or hell indicate that everyone in this life is being fed or influenced by the eternal destiny they are being prepared to enter either by God the heavenly Father or by the Devil, the spirit of disobedience. Everyone is being fed spiritually by God the Father or by the Devil, the spiritual counterfeiter.The bottom arrows between these circles represent the responses of repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ for eternal life and heaven. The responses of sin and evil warrant hell. People generally die the way they live. (Revelation 22:11) Ephesians 2:1-10 describes the transition from spiritual death to spiritual life.
Just a baby does not reenter the womb, a person who dies does not return to this world as in reincarnation. (Luke 16: 22 -31; Hebrews 9:27) Keep in mind that Jesus did bodily resurrect at least three people in the gospels.
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SHOULD I USE THE YLF CARD FOR EVANGELISM OR DISCIPLESHIP?
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I use the card for both and am ready to do either any time. I do not need to know ahead of time whether the person is a Christian or not. Once I give the YLF card to someone, it is important for me to be silent and just let them study the card. When the recipient looks up, I ask in these or similar words, “What do you see?” or “What do you think the card means?” Based upon their answer which reflects their spiritual understanding, I either share the Gospel for initial faith, or teach for discipleship purposes.
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WHAT ARE COMMON RESPONSES TO THE YLF CARD THAT YOU HAVE SEEN?
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Nearly 100% of the time people will thank me for the card or ask me if they may keep it. Many people study the card as soon as they receive it.
This is true for people of many different backgrounds, ages, races, and nationalities.
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WHAT ELEMENTS OF A PERSON’S THINKING DOES THE YLF CARD USE?
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When a person first looks at the YLF card, they try to figure it out, so innate curiosity is at work.
Also, when we look at a map, we try to figure out where we are. The card prompts self-reflection;
we all are figuratively on the purple circle anticipating eternity. The card appeals to the visual learner and is about the
same size as a Smart Phone that people give habitual attention to. People are comfortable looking at the card and turn
it over comparing the sides trying to figure it out.
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HOW DO I GIVE OR INTRODUCE THE YLF CARD TO SOMEONE?
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Do it in a way and with words that are comfortable for you. Some questions to ask are:
1) Did anyone ever tell you, you were made to last forever? 2) Have you ever seen a You Last Forever card?
3) What do you think this means? Even if you do not say anything people will look at the card. As you use the cards,
you will have increasing freedom as I have found to offer it in many different ways and circumstances.
When I was hiking recently, I offered the YLF card as a trail map for life to other hikers. They all accepted it and thanked me.
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HOW CAN I SHARE THE YLF CONCEPTS IF I DO NOT HAVE THE YLF CARDS OR BOOKLETS?
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If you know the YLF graphic, you can draw it. Draw and label the three circles first, then draw the arrows as
you explain the paradigm to yourself (for practice) or to others. I also have used hand motions to explain YLF
as I did for a 92-year-old woman who then received eternal life from the Lord.
You can also encourage people to check out www.youlastforever.com, watch the YLF video, and tell you what they think about it.
Several people could watch the video together or download another YLF resource and discuss it.
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SHOULD I GIVE THE YLF CARD TO PEOPLE ONLY IF THERE IS TIME TO EXPLAIN IT?
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We do not know beforehand any person’s interest in the YLF card. Often when I know there is not time for
me to explain the card to the store clerk or cashier, I will suggest they watch the YLF video at www.youlastforever.com
to have the card explained to them.
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