The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 13:3-13, “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

9 “But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.

10 “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

11 “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.

12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.

13 “You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

In one sense, times haven’t changed that much. The disciples in Jesus’ day were concerned about world events and proceeded to inquire of Him what would ultimately take place. If our newscasts are any indication, we’re just as concerned as Jesus’ followers were in their day.

The key for us is the same as it was for them: “…be on your guard…” Times are going to get tougher than they are now. Count on it! But what can we do? Christ addresses this in the verses above: “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.” That is our responsibility now! Not only are missionaries to carry the Gospel in a person-to-person fashion, but radio, television, and the Internet are instruments for sharing Jesus Christ – and often in the language of those we wish to reach.

“But I don’t know their language!” you say. Now, we have AI (Artificial Intelligence) to translate what we want to share in the language of those with whom we want to share it. We need to be careful, however, and clear in sharing. Our language must be precise and devoid of hackneyed phrases and clichés. In many instances, we have access to the Scriptures in the very languages of those we’re seeking to reach. The Internet provides us with numerous tools we’ve never previously possessed. We have every tool we need for sharing the Good News of the LORD Jesus Christ with those of other languages. We are clearly without excuse! God bless you!

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,

Luke 12:39-44, “…be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

40 “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

41 Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?

43 “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.

44 “Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”

“I’m going to lunch now. Watch over things here in the store until I return. I’ll not be long.”

What was your first thought when someone suddenly made you responsible for something of considerable value? Depending on your age at the time, it just might have given you considerable fright. None of this probably ever entered the boss’s mind when he hired you as a salesman in the store. You’ll just have to be calm and trust that nothing beyond your ability to handle will be required until he returns.

Peter must have felt something like that when Jesus said, “…be ready; for the Son of Man is coming (and) at an hour that you do not expect.” Peter’s reply demonstrates his surprise: “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone…?” Poor Peter. He was too used to fishing, and fish never startled him like this.

Does Jesus’ statement startle you? It does if you’re not an alert “faithful and sensible steward.” There is no calculable time given to us whereby we can know when the LORD is returning. Of course, things are getting worse day by day; still, how bad are times to get before He comes? The best we can say is “just be ready!” Live carefully, faithfully, lovingly! Every day brings us one day closer. Then one day He will come! We sure want to be ready! And we want our loved ones to be ready, too. We had better help them to prepare. Keep looking UP! He could come today!!!

“Blessed is that slave whom his Master finds so doing when He comes.”

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,

John 8:31-36, “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ 33 They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, “You will become free?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 “So, if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

“Freedom” is a strange and, in many ways, an incalculable word. It certainly does not mean that any and everyone is “totally and thoroughly free” to be and do anything and everything that comes to mind! Where this is practiced, chaos inevitably reigns! Thus, when Jesus said, “…the truth will make you free,” the implication that Abraham’s descendants were not free did not sit well with His audience.

You may recall my mention in a previous Grands Letter that, as a very young student, I was once under the tutelage of a nice lady who said to our class, “Today we’re going to do just as we please—so long as we please to do what is right.” That is very close to what Jesus said to the Jews who had heard Him say, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.”

We might say that “freedom” comes caged at various levels. The owner of a business is totally free to roam about as he pleases, saying and doing whatever he wants. His manager, however, is free only within certain limits related to his instructions from the owner. Laborers, who fall under the jurisdiction of the manager, have even less freedom, yet they are part of the overall company.

Freedom in Jesus’ view is that those who are committed to Him are the only ones who are truly free from sin’s ultimate enslavement. Think of this as a small boy who is permitted to play in his own backyard but forbidden to play in the yard of a neighbor. His freedom is limited. So is ours!

Freedom is granted only to born-again believers, and then, only as the Lord Jesus allows.

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 140:6-13, “I said to the LORD, ‘You are my God; Give ear, O LORD, to the voice of my supplications.

7 “O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.

8 “Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; Do not promote his evil device, that they not be exalted. Selah.

9 “As for the head of those who surround me, may the mischief of their lips cover them.

10 “May burning coals fall upon them; may they be cast into the fire, Into deep pits from which they cannot rise.

11 “May a slanderer not be established in the earth; may evil hunt the violent man speedily.”

12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted and justice for the poor.

13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.”

Have you ever found yourself in such dire need that you literally cried out loud to the LORD in desperation? I’m sure you have. David was not a timid lad. Almost any selection of his writings in Scripture will attest to that. Yet look at what is shared above: he has experienced his “day of battle,” and the vicious slander of at least one evil human tongue. Yet, he himself was human; and every human being has a limit for terror.

The psalmist’s confidence of protection lies in the very “presence” of the LORD. You’ve been there! The darkening clouds of uncertainty billowed about you, producing fear, the likes of which prompted the question: “Where is the LORD, and is He capable of extricating you from the frightful, forthcoming dilemma in which you find yourself? And just when you were about to surrender and let go of the ropes, Jesus Himself emerged from spiritual warmth as your Precious and Ready Redeemer!

No, “God is not mocked!” (Rom. 6:7); He is always timely, possessing full and effective recourse that simultaneously locates and extricates the desperate. Trust Him! He never fails!

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,

1 Samuel 8:1-7, “And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel.

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.

3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah;

5 and they said to him, ‘Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.’

6 But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ And Samuel prayed to the LORD.

7 The LORD said to Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.’”

Now, read that first verse one more time. “…Samuel was old…” More often than not, older men (and women) make decisions that could bear greater scrutiny before they are issued. The older we become, the less care we often give to important details.

Samuel was old; thus, his supervision of his sons was considerably less than when he was younger. Old men tire more easily. Recuperation comes with greater demand—at least, it seems that way. Thus, Samuel’s sons escaped the oversight and direction they had received when they were young. Samuel had long been their spiritual guide; yet, because his sons were not living up to his standards, the people suggested he appoint a king to rule over them. Samuel, however, was not persuaded and wisely sought counsel from the LORD.

We’re often caught in similar situations. People who have lived under human supervision come to view themselves as competent to rule themselves. It is then that we must seek the LORD’s guidance and abide by His will. In Samuel’s case, the LORD reveals that the people had rejected Him, and he should “listen to the voice of the people.” In effect, the LORD is leaving them to their own devices. How sad that ultimately turns out to be!

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