The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 11:1-3; 39-40, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

2 For by it the men of old gained approval (???????? martureo, bore witness).

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word (???? rhema, spoken word) of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”

39 And all these, having gained approval (borne witness) through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”

Hebrews 11 is called the “faith chapter,” simply because it emphasizes people who lived by faith. I counted 16. How many do you count? Oh, you will have to use your Bible to find all of them.

I could go through this list of people and point out sins in most of their lives as well as the faith which the Scriptures assign to them. In other words, they were, for the most part, just ordinary people; but they believed God and followed His instructions. I should also point out that Joseph was the purest in the list; he was more like Jesus than anyone in the Old Testament Scriptures.

Yet, with all that God promised them and with all the Apostle’s praise of them, we have been promised something better. Are you living by faith? I’m honestly endeavoring to do so. I know I don’t come up to the standard of the men in Hebrews 11, but I’m honestly trying to live by faith. I hope you are, too.

Recently, I watch some Track and Field sports on television. I noticed the runners. They kept looking straight ahead. Other runners would edge up on the leader, but they kept looking ahead. Wherever they were in the race, they would not allow themselves to be distracted by other runners or anything outside of the race. Each one focused on the prize. What was it? It was being acclaimed the winner!

One day, Jesus will announce the winners in Life’s Race. If you’re going to win, you have to keep your eyes looking ahead, your mind focused on the prize! We’re all in training now, even as we’re racing. Keep the faith! Don’t give up! Stay focused! Stay in God’s Word and in prayer. The finish line is not far away. You can do it! The LORD is always available to help!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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.”