The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 11:13-16, “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”

Hebrews 11 is the “faith chapter” of the Bible. In earlier verses, Paul has noted numerous people, who

believed in the LORD and His promises, but died without seeing them fulfilled. What is remarkable of

those people is that they confessed that they were foreigners and just travelers here on Earth. They were

indeed true human beings, but they were looking for a promised land.

Nana and I have lived in many places over our lifetime. Some were better than others. My pick in southeast

Asia is Singapore; in Europe, Switzerland, although we only travelled through those countries. With all the

desirable aspects of many countries, we always longed to return to the United States.

Every Sunday we pass by a house we once looked to purchase. I remember the young lady who lived

there saying her family was moving to a larger house less than a block away. It was easy to see that she

was eager to move to that “better” house. When we’re focused on earthly things, we always look for better

things –a bigger house, a newer car, more and better electronics, money!! –and the list goes on and on. But the home for which those Hebrews 11 people sought was not earthly; it was heavenly! God had “prepared a

city for them.” And so He has for us! I guess everyone longs for better things. But they don’t have to be

earthly things. In fact, they ought not to be! We should set our sights on the life in Glory! In Heaven we will

have abilities that supersede our imagination! We will communicate by thought instead of cellphones. We

will not need to research anything –we will just know it! We will want for nothing, except to praise the LORD

for all He is and has done! Travel will be instantaneous! Think! and you are there!

Young people grapple with such thoughts. But the longer you live and the older you become, the more

your focus is on Eternity. Jesus Christ is coming again to take us to His Eternal City! Be prepared, and

tell your friends. He could come at any moment.

We love you all and we continually pray for you,

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.”