The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Chronicles 29:17-19, “Now they began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they entered the porch of the LORD. Then they consecrated the house of the LORD in eight days, and finished on the sixteenth day of the first month.

18 Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the whole house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils, and the table of showbread with all of its utensils.

19 “Moreover, all the utensils which King Ahaz had discarded during his reign in his unfaithfulness, we have prepared and consecrated; and behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.”

Men and women are vastly different in many ways. For one thing, men don’t see dust; women complain that they cannot see the furniture because of the dust. In recent months, a Christian lady has been coming to clean my house. It was the first time

in my life that I heard the term “deep cleaning.” If you wipe off the kitchen counter, it is clean. How do you “deep clean” a kitchen counter? So, I find myself in school again –as a student, learning what “deep cleaning” means when applied to “dust.”

Ahaz became King of Judah when he was 20 years old. To say that he did not understand “deep cleaning” is an understatement.

In fact, Ahaz became an admirer of pagan gods and really spread “dust” everywhere! The LORD’s House was ignored and the

people became followers of pagan gods and riled the LORD considerably! In time, Ahaz died and Hezekiah, his son, became king. Some kids just have it all together! Hezekiah saw the “dust” in the LORD’s House and immediately called for a “deep cleaning.” Don’t ever let anyone tell you that pastors and deacons don’t see “dust.” Hezekiah’s spiritual leaders saw it and moved immediately to thoroughly cleanse the LORD’s House. It took them eight days.

When the cleansing was completed, these Priests and Levites came to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed (taher, purified) the whole house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils…” Naming King Ahaz as the one who neglected the LORD’s House, they indicated the depth of their cleaning when they mentioned the utensils. These had been cleansed and consecrated to the LORD like everything else.

The utensils captured my attention. Who thinks about knives and forks and spoons when it comes to cleaning the house? The lady who periodically cleans my house has never washed my eating utensils. But when the LORD cleanses, He cleanses everything! We are His utensils. We don’t amount to as much as some larger things. We just hide in the drawers of the kitchen. But His cleansing of us is thorough, whether we’re on display or not. And when company comes, and we’re needed, no one has to ask if we’re clean. They can see us sparkle in His handiwork. Furthermore, we’re important to the company. Have you ever

cried to eat chocolate cake without a fork, or eat ice cream without a spoon?

You are important to God! He wants His company to see His love and concern for them. And His use of us is one way He does it.

He cleansed you from your sin. Keep clean, so others will see His handiwork and come to Him for cleansing, too. He does “deep cleaning”; but that only has to happen once! May God cleanse, bless, and use you abundantly is my prayer.

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.”