The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 4:15-18, “For all things are for your sakes, that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Do you recall when Paul said, “All things are yours…”? It was back in First Corinthians 3:21. Well, he is repeating himself with a slight variation. The Corinthians could well stand some repetition. And the same is true of us, if we’re honest about it. Paul is emphasizing affliction that all believers receive if they stand firmly for the LORD Jesus Christ. It occurs in schools at every level; it occurs in the workplace; it occurs in the church. It even occurs in the political arena. Imagine! But, it always occurs to our advantage! That’s what he says. Because when we are belittled and battered because of our faith, the LORD Himself is glorified.

So, don’t let such things bother you. Yes, you may weary mentally because of some taunting; but it is all abounding to the glory of Almighty God! Just think of the Apostle Paul himself. He was 100 percent against the Church before he was saved. Then he turned the compass and was 100 percent for what he had been against. God turns things around!

Besides, the ridicule and pressure we receive is nothing when compared with Paul and others in Christian history. They “experienced mockings and scourgings…, chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground” (Heb. 11:36-38).

Imagine people being lost at sea. It is night; the waves are high and heavy; the waters are cold and frigid. Those in life boats experience only the immediacy of the tragedy around them. But LOOK!! There’s a small, flickering light, barely visible in the far distance. Those people may not be able to control all that swrils about them, but they can hold out hope for rescue, because that light gives them hope.

So it is with us. We cannot always change the attacks and turbulence that surrounds us; but, we can hold onto hope for rescue that is signaled by that distant light. “The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Keep your chin up! Keep trusting in the LORD. “All things are yours” when you are secured in Him!

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.”