The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts;

but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”

Today’s news report of the Florida bridge collapse says, “Officials have confirmed that six people died and 10 others have been hospitalized, two with critical injuries.” Seven military personnel have been killed in a helicopter crash in Iraq. Additionally, two Navy men were killed in jet crash Wednesday just off of Key West, Florida. These tragic injuries and death accounts give additional meaning to the phrase “the world is passing away.” When death occurs, the world of the dead has passed away.

None of us knows when the time is up for us. Those things that seem so important vanish completely. That’s

why the Apostle John warns us not to love the world or the things within it. Rather, we are to be consumed

with doing the will of God. The persons we see today, just might suddenly be subjected to a tragedy like those

in the bridge collapse. Where those people were going, what they were intending to do, we will never know. We

only know that their world has now passed away forever. We are grateful for those who quickly responded and

saved the lives of some who were injured. Just think what would happen if we were as quick to respond to

the spiritual needs of those we see who are without Christ!! Some of those responders (both professional and ordinary citizens) even put their lives at risk in the effort to save others. Do we risk our pride and time in the

effort to bring others to faith in Jesus Christ? Our encounter with others could be their last opportunity –or ours!

We love you immeasurably! And you are foremost 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.”