The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Jude 1:5-7, “Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.

6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.

7 Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example, in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”

There’s an old saying that says, “You can’t do wrong and get by.” Unquestionably, Jude never heard that saying because it is drawn from the lyrics of a song by Lethal Ellis. Just the same, Jude

Is warning his readers (and that’s you, unless you skipped the verses above) of the judgment that falls on false teachers. He cites three historical situations.

Situation One: the people Moses led out of Egypt. They were freed from the tyranny of Egypt, but they started to grumble about a host of things. What did the LORD do to them? He let the grumblers die off in the wilderness. They never knew the blessings of Canaan! Think about that for a minute.

If you focus on what you don’t have, you may just miss the greater good the LORD had in store for you.

Situation Two: the angels that were godly until they elected to give up the reason for which they were created and followed Lucifer (Satan, the devil) in his rebellion against God. There’s a lot we may never know about how all of this took place, but one thing is clear: they are now kept in “eternal
bonds under darkness” as they await the great day of judgment! Again, there’s a lot we don’t know about angels, but they made a wrong choice and are paying for it throughout eternity. Think about that for a minute.

Situation Three: The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were once areas of rich, fertile soil. Lot saw the advantage when he and Abram decided to divide their families and flocks. But, Lot’s choice was a bad one. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were given over to the filthiest of lifestyles. Their ways affected Lot’s family to the point that his daughters became immoral with their own father. The cities were so decadent that God gave them up and, as with the angels, they are “undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”

If these three situations don’t convince you that there is a wrong road and that you just might be on it, you’re already in trouble. Only today one of our neighboring cities called out their emergency rescue unit. A boy had fallen out of his small boat and into the lake. He was rescued in time. His life was saved. But, what about you? Are your drowning in sin and need to be rescued? The LORD can deal with that and bring you to safety. Just remember: Eternal is a time without an end.

We love and pray for you daily,

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.”