ETERNAL DESTINY
PASTOR WAYNE WRITES:
July 4, 2026
Dear HBC Family and Friends,
The Bible teaches that our physical death is not the end—it is the doorway to everlasting life. However, our eternal destiny is not determined after death; it is determined before it.
The bodies of those who received God’s gift of salvation through their expressed faith in Jesus Christ will be raised from their graves, or raptured from the earth, to spend eternity with the One who saved them. In contrast, those who reject Him will face eternal separation from God.
This sobering truth should move us to examine our hearts today. Since salvation is found in Christ alone, the invitation of the gospel is still open to all who will repent and believe. Scripture declares, “Now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Pastor J.C. Ryle once said, “You will spend eternity in the condition in which you die. If you die in Christ, you’ll spend eternity in Him. If you die outside of Christ, then you’ll spend eternity outside of Him. There will be no second chance or rehabilitation, or escape route from hell.”
The title of this sermon is: “I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body.” Please review the attached study guide, reflect on its message, and share it with those you would like to spend eternity with. In addition, we invite you to take this opportunity to engage more deeply with your faith.
- The sermon may be viewed at theheritagechurch.org
- Join us on Sunday at 10:00 AM for the live stream and participate in the worship service.
- The sermon will be available on our website and YouTube.
- The YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com@heritagebaptistchurchperry
- Thank you for your continued support. Please share this email with anyone you think might find it helpful for their spiritual growth.
Pastor Wayne and the whole Heritage Family!
Wayne J. and Linda J. Edwards
PO Box 766
Perry, GA 31069
706-599-3966
wnledwards@gmail.com
THE WATCHMEN’S REPORT
News Stories that Connect with Biblical Prophecy
By Wayne J. Edwards, June 24, 2026
My Fellow Watchmen,
As the story goes, in 1787, as Benjamin Franklin was leaving the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, a woman asked him, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin immediately replied: “A republic, if you can keep it.” What Franklin meant by that statement was that the newly formed government of the people, by the people, and for the people, was a fragile experiment, and it still is. Franklin warned that the survival of the only form of government designed to protect the people’s freedom depends on the people’s active vigilance and diligent participation.
Now, most of the folks under 50 may not know the difference between a “republic” and a “democracy.” While a democracy derives its power from the people, i.e., majority rule, a republic is a representative democracy governed by a constitution and the rule of law. Contrary to the “surface” understandings of those terms, a republic relies on established legal frameworks, such as the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, to PROTECT the rights of minorities against the unchecked will of the people. In effect, under the republican form of government, citizens elect representatives who are bound by a foundational charter that protects the inalienable rights of all citizens. In other words, rather than the public voting on every law or policy that is proposed, those we elect are to represent their constituents.
The three greatest threats against our republic today are:
· An uninformed public – the news media is not reporting the news; they are supporting and promoting their biased agenda, whether liberal or conservative
· The rise of Islam – political Islam and Sharia law are incompatible with the U.S. Constitution.
· The rise of democratic socialism – government-controlled industries and central economic planning is incompatible with free-market capitalism, upon which a constitutional republic is built. However, a growing majority of young adults are now demanding democratic socialism.
Franklin cautioned that the people are always prone to demand more from their government than is good for them, which threatens to unbalance or corrupt the system over time.
Happy 4th of July! Happy Independence Day! Please forward these news stories to those you think may be interested!
Pastor Wayne
Wayne J. and Linda J. Edwards
PO Box 766
Perry, GA 31069
706-599-3966
wnledwards@gmail.com