The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

II Peter 3:3-9, “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,

4 and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.’

5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the Word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

7 But by His Word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 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.

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard the expression: “There’s nothing new under the sun.” Although not Scripture per se, that statement undoubtedly would fit snugly into the passage above; for that passage reminds us that “…all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation,” and mockery is but one of the elements that replicates itself throughout the ages: “Where is the promise of His coming?”

Stated clearly, the question expresses latent belief, and with unmistakable reassurance, that Jesus will return. Death, according to the stated Word above, is clearly not the will of the LORD for any man, woman, or child of an understandable age. Eternal destruction, however, is inevitable unless the person repents of sin and trusts in Jesus as Savior!

The LORD is quick to announce His plan of salvation; yet, He is patient in waiting for a human response. Just don’t delay too long. Time inevitably will close around us. Today is the day of salvation! Do not harden your heart!

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,

Numbers 32:20-23, “So Moses said to them, ‘If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war,

21 and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven His enemies out from before Him,

22 and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the LORD and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the LORD.

23 ‘But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.’”

Israel had come a long way. Everyone was understandably tired. Now, the congregation stood before the River Jordan. Crossing the Jordan meant entering the Promised Land! But Moses had a problem. The sons of Reuben and Gad found the land this side of the River quite suitable for their needs; and they did not want to cross over and live on the other side of the river.

Moses ultimately allowed them to settle where they wanted; however, he required that they fight with their brothers to gain the Promised Land. Once they had conquered their enemies, they could return and settle where they wished. Moses’ words, however, were strong and serious: “But if you do not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure that your sin will find you out.”

Moses may not have been thinking beyond the situation that concerned them just at that time; however, his words have resounded clearly without fail throughout the centuries: “Be sure your sin will find you out!” It’s an indisputable maxim.

Each of us comes to grips with situations where wrong seems the simplest way. Scores of excuses flood our minds. What will it hurt? Who will know? And even if they do know, who would really care? It won’t hurt anyone. Numerous individuals have reckoned they could “scam the system” without being caught. Yet, there’s an “All-Seeing Eye” that is watching! And eventually, sin always finds us out! “One who walks in integrity walks securely, but one who perverts his ways will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9).

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,

Leviticus 19:15-18, “’You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.

16 ‘You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the LORD.

17 ‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him.

18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.”

It was like yesterday, although I was a small boy. I came home furious, vowing that I would never play again with my neighbor across the street! He used bad language, and I would have nothing to do with him ever again!

I think I’ve shared this with you previously, but it corresponds equally well with the Scripture above. Although the above passage is taken from the Old Testament, holding grudges is equally sinful and as unnecessary for today’s environment as it was when Leviticus was written.

I’m sure I’ve done things over the years for which some still hold me accountable. None of us live lives of perfection; still, the grudge-holder is more the victim than the ones who are accused. Sin is sin, whoever commits it; and sin can be sin in both directions.

The Scripture is clear that one “…may surely reprove…” another, but is warned against incurring sin by holding a grudge. Both parties should repent. There should be no harboring of ill will against anyone by a true believer in Jesus Christ.

It’s hard for any of us to admit to having sinned. We may try by arguing that the sin was “the other person’s fault.” But unless we release the hardness we hold against that other person, we only continue to do harm to ourselves. “…You, LORD, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all who call upon You” (Psalm 86:5). May I be the one to issue that call.

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 29:10-14, “For thus says the LORD, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.

11 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

12 ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

13 ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

14 ‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’”

Have you ever been in trouble? I mean serious trouble – trouble that you yourself caused? Legal trouble! If so, you have a small, bitter taste of what Israel experienced when she forsook the leadership of the LORD! Israel had fallen into the hands of the Babylonians, and the situation was as far from pleasant as one could ever imagine! Israel was even deceived by prophets whom they had been taught to believe!

They had forsaken the LORD, but He had not forsaken them. It’s like a parent-child relationship. The child strays from the teaching of the parent and plunges himself into a heap of trouble. Yet, the parent, never forsaking the child completely, allows him to suffer until he realizes he has listened to the wrong “leadership.”

In Israel’s case, the LORD sent Israel into Babylonian exile for 70 years! Yet, He never abandoned them completely! They were His people; they needed to learn that He was their Master! Haven’t you dealt similarly with your children? We all need to learn that “we can’t do wrong and get by!” Sin pays wages, too! Yet, they are long and harsh until we learn.

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Let’s learn His plans while there is still hope! 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,

Ephesians 6:13-20, “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,

15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;

16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

There’s a lot that goes into sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ! It’s not a wimpy type of work. You have to always be on guard and steadfastly resistant to all evil that comes your way. You must be alert and prepared at all times to share the Good News of Jesus while simultaneously shielding yourself with faith against the arrows of opposition that come against you from areas you could never imagine!

Within the resistance required, you must be consistently, prayerfully focused and guided by the Holy Spirit. You can never relax offensively or defensively because Satanic opposition never relaxes. It’s a constant battle, day and night. Satan feeds you wrong and disguised information in the effort to forestall your thrusts of Biblical truth. Oh, the battle is hardly for the weak of mind or weak of heart!

Still, you are a born-again believer – a fearless foe of the Great Deceiver! You are undefeatable as long as you stick with Biblical Truth and counteract evil with the Word of the Living God! One day, the LORD will reward your faithfulness with “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!” The battle will then be credited to the LORD Jesus Christ and viewed by all as more than worth 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