The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 7:8-10, “For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it– for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while–

9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.

10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

Do you have any regrets in your life? I do. I regret not having kept up with the piano. With parents who were musically gifted, I fell naturally into music. I played and sang into my teenage years when college and “extra-curricular” activities nudged me somewhat away from music. I never reached the genius level of my sister, Carol. She still plays; but I live in the regret that I omitted that talent for the want of what I then deemed something “better.”

I have always enjoyed reading. However, my regret lies in those neglected areas of that discipline. With the help of the Internet, I have now acquired some of those neglected books and am seeking to make up for lost time. How I would have utilized that knowledge in previous years! But, alas, those days will never come again – at least, they will be absent of the opportunities that I have missed.

Regret causes sorrow at both ends of any conversation. We may think we are important; yet, others may have a different idea about us. Make today your first day of communication with an old friend. Neither of you will ever regret it.

Why not telephone someone today – someone with whom you’ve not spoken for some time? The chances are they will be delighted to hear from you! Ask questions that pertain to them. Don’t talk about yourself. They’ll ask about you. Then you can say what you please. Have a great time! Your own day will be better for it; and so will theirs!

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,

Revelation 2:1-7, “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

2 “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false,

3 and you have perseverance, and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary.

4 ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place– unless you repent.’

6 “Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans which I also hate.”

7 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’”

The word is clear and unmistakable. It’s an arrest that needs no additional evidence than that which the eye has observed and the accusation that has been pronounced. Such neither fails to test nor casts the flimsiest doubt upon those who live by trust in the LORD.

This is a clear and unmistakable truth regarding the Ephesian Church and those whose lives show a similar pattern. Commendable are their deeds and endurance; yet, while they labored valiantly and tirelessly, exalting the name and person of the LORD Jesus Christ, they forgot and left their first love.

This scenario occurs in numerous churches today. Born of a valiant fervor, they tirelessly spread the truth and love of the LORD! Joy is then quietly smothered by sin, as it allows sin to creep in and control. Yet, before we chastise and criticize those churches, we must thoroughly examine our lives and our church. Dare I ask if you like what you found?

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,

Genesis 18:25-33, “Far be it from Thee to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from Thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?”

26 So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.”

27 And Abraham answered and said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.

28 “Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, wilt Thou destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

29 And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.”

30 Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

31 And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.”

32 Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.”

33 And as soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD departed; and Abraham returned to his place.”

Have you ever thought that you could “out-talk” the LORD? I know some preachers who apparently believe they can. Have you ever thought you could bargain with the LORD and win? Well, I’ve never personally known that to be successful. It seems both dangerous and futile to me. Yet, I suppose each of us has, at some time, sought to persuade the LORD to come our way.

There are some decidedly spiritual aspects that must be “in place,” if any facet of such can be successful. Examining the life of Abraham finds him abiding in the way of the LORD. Any child of a wise and loving parent knows that “minding” is key to obtaining future freedoms.

What has the LORD commissioned you to be beyond being a true and faithful servant? “Being” supersedes “doing.” How clearly and often my mother used to say, “Well, if you do what I’ve told you, we’ll see about it.” Are you doing what He has told you to do? Are you reading the Bible? Are you faithfully praying? Do others know you as a true and faithful witness for the LORD? Okay, now we’ll see about those things you’ve asked.

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,

Romans 14:7-12, “For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, ‘As I LIVE,’ SAYS THE LORD, ‘EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.’ 12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”

Death is a human reality. Of course, other living creatures also die; but, for the most part, human death is what primarily concerns us.

I have witnessed a lot of deaths in my lifetime. I’ve preached what seems like an enormous number of funerals. Some were the relatives of people I had never known; others were friends and relatives. It’s always sorrowful to lose those whom we’ve loved.

If there is joy—any joy in death, and there is some, it is usually due to either one’s personal encounter with the decedent or simply the gratitude that he is now free from the anguish of pain and suffering.

Yet, death is not the end. The Word of God, through the learned apostle, tells us that “we will all stand before the judgment seat of God and give an account of all that we have done and left undone! That will be an unprecedented day! Our hearts and minds will be devoid of excuses for how we have lived and the things we have done and left undone.

Yet, in His graciousness, He will allow us to bow before Him and give praise for all He is and has done! It will be a glorious day. Everything depends on how we arrange 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,

Isaiah 1:16-20, “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil,

17 Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.

19 “If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land.

20 “But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Although I did not always obey by doing what others instructed me to do, I was always aware of what they meant for me to understand. Isaiah demanded both. In these seven imperatives, the prophet lists three positive actions related to his hearers’ preparation of themselves. The initial directive was: “wash yourselves!” The inference is that they were not clean. One has to be clean in order to cleanse what is filthy.

The prophet also demanded that the Israelites abolish, once and for all, every evil activity from their lives. Further, they were to determine never to engage in such nefarious things again! It was not a suggestion; it was intentional; a seriously heavy demand.

The prophet’s directive speaks well to us today. Our activities, our responsibilities, our intentions require that we divest ourselves of every evil that resides within us and pledge to terminate it forever. Evil and good are never compatible!

Further, we must learn to always do good. Justice will then emerge as we chastise those who are harsh in their dealings with the helpless. Still, should we fail to do what is right, we will surely receive divine vengeance from the LORD. May we always be attentive to His Word; and may He ever be gracious and merciful to us as we learn.

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