The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 6:17-19, “…God, desiring even more to show to the heirs

of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with

an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible

for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement

to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor

of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within

the veil…”

An oath is a declaration that what one is telling is true. God cannot lie!

Therefore, what He has told us in His Word gives us encouragement to

believe in the hope He sets before us. Hope in Greek means “future

certainty.” It is not what we mean when we say, “I sure hope it doesn’t

rain today.” God’s hope is certain, it cannot be juggled around. Paul says

that we who have trusted in Him have that hope “as an anchor of the soul.”

I recently saw a televised program about Mighty Ships. Sometimes the

water at the shore was too shallow for the ship to dock there, and it had

to anchor some distance away. At that time, the ship dropped its anchor

to keep it from drifting further out to sea. The anchor “fastened” to the

bottom of the ocean to make certain it did not drift. God’s future certainty

(our hope) is our soul’s anchor. When we focus on what God has in store

for us when He comes again, our souls (self-consciousness) are kept from

drifting away from Him or His teachings. Ever feel like your drifting? Get

back into the Word! One of the old hymns that needs reviving says:

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;

Fastened to the Rock, it cannot move;

Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

Drop anchor with us! We love you more than you know,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 4:12, “For the Word of God is living and active

and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as

far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow,

and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Nana doesn’t like needles. She winces every time she gets

a medical shot, even though she knows it’s for her good.

But it’s different with the Bible. Paul tells us that the Word

of God is alive and energetic and sharper than anything we

might imagine. Moreover, it is able to judge everything that

goes on in our minds, even the things we intend on doing,

whether they are good or bad.

Is it any wonder that the devil wants to keep everyone away

from the Scriptures? He doesn’t want the lost to be saved,

and he doesn’t want the saved to be effective in witnessing

for Christ. Pastors who leave the Word, use human sources,

and advocate humanistic activities, produce lifeless congregations

that are content with supporting the Red Cross, the Angel Tree,

and Shop With a Cop.

Are you so afraid of what the doctor might say that you

avoid him altogether? Don’t be afraid of the Bible! We need

the instruction it gives us. We need to avoid God’s judicial

sword that comes down upon the worldly. We need to love

the LORD with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. The

Bible is there for our benefit. Give it the proper place in your life!

Love and prayers always,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

2 Timothy 4:13, “When you come bring the cloak which

I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.”

Hebrews 2:1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to

what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.”

There can be no mistake but that Paul was coming to the end of

his life, when he wrote his 2nd letter to Timothy (4:6). Yet, in his last

days, he asked for a cloak, needed for warmth, and for reading

material. In the light of the Hebrews verse above, could it be that

even Paul saw the need to pay “closer attention” to the Scriptures

so as not to “drift away” from the faith?

We eat properly in order to maintain good health. We exercise

for the same reason. We review the basics of everything we’ve

learned in order to keep our minds alert. Several years ago, I met

a seminary professor in Memphis who had mastered something

like 30 languages! True! But, to keep himself from drifting away

from them (or they from him), he reviewed the basics of several

every year! Our minds are wonderful things, but they’re not

fool-proof! It is the same with our Faith. If we neglect the Bible

and prayer and the spiritual responsibilities we all have, it is

possible for us to drift away from the faith we now embrace.

We don’t lose our salvation, but it comes to mean less and less

to us, until we “feel like” we’re not even saved. Then, we begin

to doubt this and that until we look more like the world than we

do like Christ. Whoa! Get back on track! Read the Book.

Review the Basics! Fulfill your responsibilities to the LORD!

For there will come a day when you’ll be glad you did.

Our Love and Prayers always include you,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared,

bringing salvation to all men…”

This does not mean that everyone will be saved, but

that salvation is within reach of everyone who will

accept it.

12 “…instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires

and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age…”

There are some things the just ought not to be a part of

our lives, things that do not come from God. We are to have

sound minds and live like true Christians while we are here.

13 “…looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the

glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,…”

Jesus is coming soon! We don’t know the exact time of

His coming, but it is our blessed hope; and He is the glory

of His Father and ours! We want to be read for His return.

14 “…who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every

lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own

possession, zealous for good deeds…”

In Jesus’ death on the Cross, He paid the enormous price for

our sins! In His death, He made it possible for us to be purified

from the evil and filthy deeds of this world and to be His holy

possession, excited to do good deeds that glorify Him!

As we approach Resurrection Sunday, I hope you will take

the time to read what a former student (a medical doctor)

sent me. The Journal of American Medical Association

(JAMA) published it in 2013. I have attached it for you.

When you have read it, share it with your teachers and

student friends.

We love exceedingly, and pray for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

1 Timothy 6:17-19, “Instruct those who are rich in this present world

not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but

on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18Instruct them to

do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

19storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the

future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”

Only a few days ago, a man in his mid-to-late 50s jumped to his

death from the 42nd floor of a New York hotel. He was wealthy,

but he had been caught up in a money scheme that involved

several billions of dollars. During the stock market crash of 1929,

a number of wealthy men took their own lives because of their

loss of wealth. This is what Paul meant when he noted for us the

“uncertainty of riches.” Fine houses and flashy cars and the

ability to travel the world and stay in luxurious places are not

things upon which we are to “fix our hope.” We are instructed

(actually, ordered, commanded) to focus on the LORD, who

supplies (furnishes) us with all things. He wants us to enjoy them,

but our focus must be on Him, not on the things He gives us!

This life will someday come to an end for all of us. Those rich

and flashy things will be left behind. Of what real value will they

be to us then? We must look beyond “things” and see Jesus!

May the LORD bless your focus today,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas