The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 5:5-11, “Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.

6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord–

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight–

8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.”

Championship soccer has been all over television recently. It’s amazing how many nations are involved in this sport. It’s equally amazing how often the highly-rated teams fall behind and lose the game. I can recall only once being involved. I was in school and had never before even heard of the game. (Still, that was many years ago.)

Anyone who has played physical games knows how important preparation is! Of course, the coach has familiarized himself with the opposing team, and he has prepared a game strategy he trusts will defeat them. Still, “strategy” truly begins when the players are physically prepared.

The Apostle Paul reveals his strategy for all believers when he says that the LORD has “…prepared us for this very purpose…” Then he subsequently states “…we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” That may come as a shock to some believers. Yet, as with everything, “the call to produce is the call to prepare.”

Just think of the multiple opportunities you and I have had to share our faith in Jesus Christ. With some, we were openly bold; with others, we slipped cowardly to the rear of the group, thinking we would “allow others” to share the faith with the ones needing salvation. Someday we will stand before the LORD and give an account of our stewardship. Now is the time to prepare!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Jeremiah 31:33-37, “’But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’

34 “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

35 Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name:

36 “If this fixed order departs from before Me,” declares the LORD, “then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever.”

37 Thus says the LORD, ‘If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,’ declares the LORD.”

These words, spoken by the LORD through the prophet Jeremiah, comprise a covenantal promise to the nation of Israel. Here, they are ensconced as a promise; simultaneously, this promise serves as a warning: if, however, the fixed order departs from before the LORD, “the offspring of Israel will have ceased from being a nation before Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Curiously, as I watched the celebration of America’s th birthday, I absorbed with internal joy the accomplishments of the nation throughout those many years. Once the joyous celebration had concluded, there was a shooting that resulted in death, all within Washington, D.C. Hopefully, that is not an indication of what will reoccur once the celebratory lights have gone off.

The LORD’s clearly pronounced threat is a divine warning: we cannot simply “appear” to embrace the LORD Jesus as our Savior and then forsake Him and return to our sinful way of living. No, we are to “forsake everything and follow Him exclusively!”

Precisely, where are you right now? Have you professed faith in the LORD Jesus Christ? Or are you one of those who “intends to do so someday?” “Today is the day of salvation” (Isa. 49:8)!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Matthew 1:18-21, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21 ‘She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’”

It seemed appropriate, as we celebrated our nation’s birth, to call to remembrance the One who engineered and brought that nation into fruition: our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. For had there been no Savior, there would surely have been no United States of America. Those brave souls who dared to risk their lives to an uncertain sea and to an uncertain vessel that was forced once to return for repair, as they ventured to freedom, seeking both worship and governance according to the Word of God, without fear of human reprisal.

Little did that small, courageous band know, nor could it have conceived, that it would one day, some 250 years later, be remembered as human suffrage both sown and grown into the foremost incentivized pursuit of freedom the world has ever known!

Yet, it now remains for those who have inherited this earthly freedom to protect and defend and hand it on to another forthcoming generation until the Chief Designer returns for His own! For on that day, those who are His will be removed for a Supreme Homecoming far above the heavens, where they will dwell forever with their Eternal Redeemer, the LORD Jesus Christ.

Are you one of those who will be included in Jesus’ retrieval? You can be; but you must hurry!

For no one but He knows when that day will arrive. Just be ready! The trip will be worth it all!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

2 Peter 3:8-12, “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!”

Things are not always what they seem to be. Sometimes they’re better; sometimes they’re not! It all depends upon the context in which one is speaking. Peter is telling us in the verses above that with the LORD, every day is the same. God does not reckon time as we do. By that I mean, He certainly knows what time means to us; He is simply not governed by its brevities or its extremities.

On the other hand, we mortals live by the clock! The Bible teaches us that “There is an appointed time for everything… a time for every event under heaven…” (Eccl. 3:1-2). I can almost hear my mother’s voice saying, “Alright, it’s time for bed.” You’ve heard a voice saying that, too! Solomon’s list of innumerable times supports the contention that mankind has always lived by the clock.

Living by the clock, however, assures us that we’re on time for every necessary event in life. We also need to be well prepared for the life events we encounter incidentally. Most especially, we should be prepared for the Coming of the LORD. Without question, we will one day meet Him! We should encourage others to be ready to meet Him, also. His Coming will be sudden and unannounced. There will be no time to prepare; making it mandatory that we be prepared!

Knowing Jesus as your Savior and LORD is vital for today and for eternity! Now, you know why your mother insisted that you get to bed on time!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Psalms 10:8-13, “Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

7 He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; Who makes lightnings for the rain, Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.

8 He smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.

9 He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh and all his servants.

10 He smote many nations and slew mighty kings,

11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan;

12 And He gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to Israel His people.

13 Your name, O LORD, is everlasting, Your remembrance, O LORD, throughout all generations.”

Multiple things occur in life for which there appears to be neither reason nor human origin. Yet, the Psalmist tells us that the LORD is the One who orders them all.

What child is there who has wondered and asked for answers for which neither parents nor teachers could respond with satisfaction? Science has delved deeply into multiple mysteries of life, yet without clear and satisfactory resolutions.

How did the world begin? How will it end? What is the purpose of life? How are we to know whether we are satisfactorily fulfilling the reason we are here?

When “push comes to shove,” the only answer is the LORD. He is our Maker. He originated the plan for life; and He alone controls the whole of the universe and all that lives and thrives therein! His will is set forth in His Word, Holy Scripture. And He has preserved it as His instruction for all mankind.

Do you read the Bible daily? Do you read it meaningfully? Do you evaluate the things you do in the light of your understanding of the Word? One day, we will all give an account of how we have lived. It is my prayer that my life will have been lived for His glory. I pray that for you, too.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom