The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 10:32-39, “But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33 partly, by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners, and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one.

35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 37 For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. 38 But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”

This is a longer-than-usual passage, but it is necessary in order that we might grasp the full understanding.

Paul is writing to Christian Jews, who had accepted Jesus Christ as their Messiah. What is said of them

parallels what is true of us. The unbelieving Jews ridiculed Jesus; and in the same way, they ridiculed those

who believed Him. So it is with us. If we are not ridiculed for our own beliefs, we are ridiculed for our association with others, who are Christians. What do we do? “Don’t throw away your confidence!” Confidence in Christ Jesus produces the endurance we need. In the proper time –“in a very little while”– we will be rewarded.

JD (my oldest grandson) and I discussed briefly the Second Coming of Christ the other day. He accurately

pointed out that for many generations people have been confident of the LORD’s return; yet, He has not

returned. JD believes, as I do, that Jesus will come for His Church in what is called the Rapture –the “sudden snatching away” of all believers, who will rise to meet Him in the air. The rather difficult point is that virtually every generation of believers has looked for His return, but not seen it. It is precisely at this point that Paul says,

“Don’t throw away your confidence!”

If we lose confidence in the truth regarding His Coming, our lives will give way to the ways and things of the world. “But, why does he say, ‘For yet in a very little while’?” It is because what he says is meant for every generation. And every generation of believers must believe that Jesus’ Coming is very, very near. Think about it! What if Jesus were coming today? Would that make any difference in how you live? in your attitude toward others? in the way you think and behave? To be sure it would! And Paul knew that as he wrote what the Holy Spirit directed. And it’s there for us to believe! He could come today!

We continue to love and pray for you every, single day,

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.”