The Grands Letter (GLJ)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D. on June 30, 2017 7:19 am (CST)Dear Grands,
2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us
an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not
at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the
things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are
eternal.”
In 1957, Billy Graham launched his first New York City crusade. But,
“tragedy” struck when the crusade director was taken ill. This was more
than a “momentary, light affliction.” Prayerfully, Billy chose Charlie Riggs
to fill the position. He said, “I don’t know if Charlie can do it; but I know
Charlie knows the LORD, and I know the LORD can do it.” Indeed He did!
The meeting lasted for 16 weeks (My longest was four.), and multiple
numbers of people came to faith in Jesus Christ! The Graham Team moved
on to San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles,
but the “things which (were) not seen” in New York were marked for eternity.
I spoke to multiple school children in Australia. On one occasion, I asked the
school principle how much time I was allotted. He replied, “I know the
importance of what you are doing here today. You take all the time you need;
I will adjust the day’s schedule accordingly. That principle had come to
faith in Christ through a Graham Crusade in Sydney–something, I’m sure Billy
himself never knew.
All of this is to say, Don’t despair when things seem to go wrong. The LORD
has an ultimate purpose that we may never know this side of Heaven. Just
know and trust that that purpose exists. Be faithful in all things. “It will be
worth it all when we see Jesus.”
We love you, and you are always in our prayers,
Nana & Dado III
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
“We never know that God is all we need
until He becomes all that we have.”