The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 11:32-40, “And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,

33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;

36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.

37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”

Have you ever been overlooked, omitted, bypassed, or in any way mistreated by others? Probably you have, but not that anyone could observe, after reading the passage above. You may be exceedingly popular, cheering for the home team when they’re playing at home; but try cheering for them when they’re playing on a rival’s home court or field. It’s not the same!

Christians live in a fallen, sinful world. It’s not popular to cheer for Jesus in their world! He’s an offense to them! They think they’re the greatest. Jesus’ very presence says they’re not! They’re angry that He came! They’re furious! That His character, His reputation, His very demeanor, is permitted in their realm is offensive! The world will not allow that Jesus is the Creator, the Instructor, their would-be Savior! Yet He is to all who will believe Him.

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 24:4-13, “And Jesus answered and said to them, ’See to it that no one misleads you.

5 ‘For many will come in My name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and will mislead many.’ You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

10 “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

12 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.

13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

It’s no laughing matter! If you’ve been digesting the news these days, the passage above could easily be trusted to have originated in our own time. For what is occurring in our world today is an undeniable “rubber stamp” of Holy Scripture!

I recall once asking a pastor if he believed an item that was then in the news. His reply was, “I don’t believe everything I read, or everything I hear preached. I don’t even believe all that I preach!” Needless to say, I was stunned by that closing remark! Whether he meant that he could not personally account for all that was occurring in our time, or whether he did not believe all that was being revealed as foretold in the Scriptures, I cannot say; I only trust that he was joking! God’s Word is not something with which to trifle.

Face it! We are living in an era of hatred and betrayal. We are surrounded by false prophets, who are misleading many. Lawlessness is increasing; true spiritual love is fading from the scene. And time is running out! Yet, “…everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved (Acts 2:21). Let’s not kid ourselves! Let’s not take anything for granted! Let’s bow before the LORD in earnest confession of our sins. Jesus alone is our Redeemer!

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,

Psalm 37:3-9, “Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

9 For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.”

One of the most endearing passages in the whole of Scripture is contained in those seven verses above. If you remember your primary school classes in English grammar, you will undoubtedly recall that the verb is the most active, if not the most important, in the entire cadre of words. “Trust,” “Dwell,” “cultivate,” “Delight,” “give,” “commit” – and the listing of verbs in these verses goes on.

David, the shepherd, the musician, the leader, and later the king – his share of difficulties lay amid the innumerable responsibilities he carried throughout his lifetime. Nights alone in both moonlight and rain, he experienced every reality of life, each preparing him for weightier responsibilities to come.

We all face intractable difficulties in life, yet, what can we do? Look again at those challenging verbs scattered throughout this Psalm: “trust, delight, give, commit.” Not once does the author include words like frustrate, grumble, or quit. And the “rest” that he mentions relates to our restful reliance upon the LORD.

Life overflows with trials! Who needs to be reminded of that? Yet, we often need to be reminded that the LORD cares for those who are His. If you’re plagued with an avalanche of life’s multiple discouragements, take heart! Those who wait for the LORD will inherit His blessings – along with the land.” Just “trust in the LORD and do good.” He will ultimately give you showers of blessing! So many, in fact, that you will be unable to number them.

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,

Psalm 42:5-8, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.

6 O my God, my soul is in despair within me; Therefore, I remember You from the land of the Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.

8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.”

Life is filled with problems; therefore, if you are alive and able to read this letter, you have undoubtedly encountered some difficult problems over the years. Some are fiddly little things that you’ve ignored, brushed off, and forgotten. Others are more serious and sometimes tend to inflict darkness upon you. Still, they are far from a fatality. They just linger, causing little flashes of concern here and there in the interest of keeping you spiritually off-balance. What is the remedy?

The Psalmist’s first question is “Why!” Why are you troubled about anything? I knew a man who said, “Don’t tell me it doesn’t pay to worry! Nothing I ever worried about ever happened!” I suppose that’s one way to shred worry. Just ignore it. Still, worries don’t go away on their own. Like a pesky animal, they have to be defeated!

“Hope in God,” the Psalmist says. That’s how to defeat worry. Yes, and true hope begs for continuity. The Psalmist adds “praise” to the LORD to be embedded with one’s cry for help. Were a wild animal to be invading the place where you live, crying “HELP” would be of little to no value unless it were addressed to a neighbor or the police. Our focus ought always to be on the LORD! And it ought not to be only when we are in despair. “…praise Him for the help of His presence.”

I recently read a paper I had written years ago – an account of the ministry in which the LORD had led my family and me to engage. Things I had forgotten…things that He had done in and through our lives—leading, encouraging, protecting—all were supremely encouraging! I was clearly in His hands. He was directing and protecting. There was no worry, as we were all yielded to Him. There’s an old song that says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” I commend it!

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 Chronicles 15:1-7, “Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded,

2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, ‘Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.’

3 “For many days Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest and without law.

4 “But in their distress, they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and they sought Him, and He let them find Him.

5 “In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for many disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands.

6 “Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of distress.

7 “But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”

It was an era of warfare! Saul was dead. His sin against the LORD had required the LORD to take his life! Israel was, therefore, without leadership; thus, the nation turned to David, reminding him of his past victories over Israel’s enemies.

It goes without saying that there is safety in numbers. Yet, today, we must thoroughly trust in the LORD. There was no truer message than this: “If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you…be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”

It’s highly unlikely that the LORD will call upon us to engage in physical battles against other nations; however, we are required at all times to engage in battles against sin! In many respects, our battles exceed those encounters of David! What’s more, our battles occur simultaneously on multiple fronts and in the arenas of the mind and the heart!

Don’t despair! Engage in prayer! “He that is with us is yet more than he who is with them!” Be strong in the LORD! He will win against our spiritual struggles! We must just believe!

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