The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Peter 1:13-17, “And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,

14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you may be able to call these things to mind.

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased.”

When I was a small boy, I used to pray that the LORD would leave a note telling me when I was going to die. I have no idea why I prayed such a thing, unless I was coming under conviction and heading toward an acceptance of Jesus Christ as my LORD and Savior. When I came to know Him, all of that was concern vanished completely.

Simon Peter had a totally different experience. He tells us in the first two verses above that the LORD had made clear to him that his time was just about up. What would you do if the LORD said you had only two weeks to live? For one thing, you would be concerned for your friends and loved ones –especially, too, for those who do not know Jesus. Getting things in order, just as if you were moving to a new house or leaving for an extended vacation, would be your focus.

Peter’s concern was for those to whom he was writing. He wants them to remember what he has taught them, so that they would not be deceived by those who would come along to take his place. “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales,” he said. Instead, “we made known to you the power and coming of our LORD Jesus Christ…” Furthermore, we actually witnessed His power and heard the Father say, “This is My beloved Son with Whom I am well-pleased.”

What the world needs today is to heed the words of our LORD Jesus Christ. Yet, the citizens of the world will never know Him unless we share His witness. We need kids, who mind their parents; and parents, who love and intelligently guide their children. How else can children properly learn to be parents, unless they have a good example? We don’t really need to be concerned about when we are going to die; we need to be concerned about when we’re going to start living so as to glorify God!

Are you a godly parent? Are you training your children in the way of the LORD? Are you a child, living with your parents? Is your behavior such that shows Christ to them?

There’s a short two-line verse that sums it all up:

Only one life; it will soon be passed;

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

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.”