The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 John 3:1-3, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.

3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Titles and possessions that are given out of a sense of necessity are worth little. But what makes them worthwhile and precious is that they are bestwed out of love. When we conscientiously confess and turn away from sin and its devastating activities and acknowledge openly that we accept Jesus Christ as LORD of our lives, we truly become “children of God.” And that is a cherished title!

Children don’t always know what their parents are planning. Neither do we as God’s children know all He has planned for us. What we do know comes to us from the Bible. John writes that Jesus is going to appear physically to us, and in that moment, we will become like Him. Exactly how we will be like Him, we are not told. It’s one of those “parent- things”: children are only given a hint until the right time comes.

“Okay, it’s time for your aunt and uncle to arrive. Wash your hands and face, and dust off

your clothes. Do you think we want them to believe we’re a bunch of ragamuffins?”

Something like that was what I recall my mother saying when relatives were nearly here. That’s what John meant when he said, “…everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” The word hope (elpis) is so important! It means “future certainty.”

Are you certain of Jesus’ Coming? Do you believe what the Scriptures say about His coming again for His children? If you do, then you will seek to “clean up your act” before He arrives. Doing good does not make us His children. We are His children because we have believed upon Jesus, who died and arose from the dead. Being and doing good is what we want to do because we are His children! Our goodness is not measured against others; it’s measured against Him! He is our standard. We love Him because He first loved us.

He is coming! Are you really ready to meet Him? If you or someone you know needs

help, please feel free to write me at the email address below.

Our prayers are that we all may be prepared,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”