The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event

under heaven–

2 A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

5 A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun

embracing.

6 A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.

7 A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.”

Some things simply cannot be avoided. Good things occur and we are happy; bad things occur and

we are sad. It’s the cycle of life and it is the way of us all. It has always been that way and it will

always be that way. Yet, Solomon affirms that all of these events occur in God’s “appointed time.”

As you consider the situations listed in the verses above, match them with events in your own life.

There were times of joyous encounter! There were times of deep devastation. We often consider

such events as normal occurances; yet, the Scriptures say that the LORD is ever and always in

control and that nothing that occurs without His notice or approval.

When we were children, we were disciplined by our parents. Discipline does not always mean

punishment, yet sometimes it does. The primary meaning of the word is “training to act in accordance with rules.” When we know the rules and act in accordance with them, we gain approval. When we fail to live within the rules, we suffer punishment. Such is normal in every area of life. There are rules for

flying, for boating, for surgery, for ministry, for building, for demolition –and the list goes on and on.

Every discipline known to man has rules.

The LORD has set the rules for life and reveals them to us in the Bible. When we trust Him and learn to live by His rules, things go well. When we fail to obey, punishment is inevitable. We learn His rules by reading Scripture. What we find difficult to understand (and there are such things), He has given us

ministers, pastors, evangelists, missionaries, teachers to help us understand His way.

Get with the rules! Learn to live by faith and trust in Him! Don’t allow yourself to be troubled by the

rule-breakers among whom we live. Our LORD is not asleep, nor does He ignore the happenings

that surround us in life. He makes Himself known in the right way and at the right time. In the mean

time, He has given us His Word to be our guide. I hope and trust that you read the Bible every day!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 3:25-33, “Do not devise harm against your neighbor, while he lives in security beside you.

30 Do not contend with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy a man of violence, and do not choose any of his ways.

32 For the crooked man is an abomination to the LORD; but He is intimate with the upright.

33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.”

The Proverbs literally overflow with wisdom! They often reach right into our lives and meet needs we

never realized we had. I have truly good neighbors. Next door on either side, across the street and over the fence behind, I’ve never had a problem with any of my neighbors!

Why would anyone devise harm against people who had never devised harm against him? I don’t know, but it happens. Why would anyone argue or complain about a neighbor when he had no cause? I don’t know, but that also happens! Is it possible that what we dislike in others actually arises from within ourselves? We contend because we are not contented. When we’re troubled deeply about a matter we cannot resolve, we become discontent because of a barking dog or loud music.

The biblical directive is that we NOT become violent like a crooked or devious person, because to do so is an abomination (detestable) to the LORD, whom we are positioned to serve. We are to be different from the world! If the LORD is our security, surely He can control the uncontrollable who live beside us. And if those beside us do not conform to His standard, “the curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked”; but the LORD blesses the house of the righteous.”

Join me in praising the LORD for good neighbors! Just think how your area, town or city could be totally transformed were we to trust Him to bless them with His presence! Prayer works, folks!

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.”

Dear Grands,

Mark 10:25, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to

enter the kingdom of God.”

Kids do some strange things! When we were hardly in our teens, my “pals” and I inevitably

discovered the multiple caves that just begged to be explored. One cave, I remember so clearly,

had a very narrow opening; and even the skiniest of us had to squeeze to get through the opening. Once inside, however, there was “much” to explore.

Funny, how that cave experience came to mind when I was reading that “camel” verse in seminary.

It had always come to me just as it reads. But some “scholar” somewhere decided that there was a

very small entrance to an ancient city that required a camel’s load to be removed before he could get through the narrow entrance; so someone named it “The Needles Eye.”

Well, the Greek word for “needle” here is ???????, rhaphidos, a sewing needle; and Jesus was focusing on the difficulty for those who trust in their riches, instead of Him, to get to Heaven, through the needle’s “eye.”

Jesus often used stories in order to make His point with the multitudes. Let’s admit it: we all like stories! But how are we to understand Jesus’ meaning with the way He said it in our verse above? He was using hyperbole, a figure of speech that’s an intended exaggeration for the sake of emphasis.

What Jesus said not only applies to riches; it applies to everything except faith and trust. We must trust Jesus for salvation and Heaven! There is no other way. It’s not by having good morals, or by joining a church, or by helping the poor. It’s only by faith in Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross and arose from the dead. He alone was the Father’s sacrifice for our sins. Many may just squeeze through, but it’s still only by faith. Trust in Jesus; there is no other way.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Revelation 1:19, “Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall take place after these things.”

Have you ever wondered what is going to happen tomorrow? Do you ever arise in the morning with

concern over what might happen that very day? I’m sure we all have. What’s more, we’ve all thought

about the future –far into the future. How long will I live? How long will the world last? How long—?

You might wonder how a verse like this could be called a “key verse,” since it says so little. It is the

“key verse” because it reveals the general outline and content of the Revelation. This verse reveals the past, the present, and the future. The word Revelation in English is comprised of two segments: “reveal” and “tion,” which means “the act of.” In Greek, the word is ??????????, apokalupsis, which means the “unveiling” or the “disclosure.”

To be sure, there are things “which you have seen” that you did not understand, just as there are

things “which are,” that you do not understand; and there are things “which shall take place,” that, up to this very time, we have not understood its meaning. Is the Revelation going to tell us everything? Not everything, but as much as scholars understand and reveal; and as much as the LORD Jesus wants us to know.

One central theme must be remembered throughout: JESUS is the theme, and the Central Person

throughout the entirety of the book. Some Bibles carry a title on the first page of the Revelation that reads, “The Revelation of Saint John the Divine”; however, that designation is in error. It is “The Revelation of the LORD Jesus Christ.” He is what this book is all about, just as the entire Bible focuses ultimately on Him.

Is it any mystery, therefore, why the Bible always points people to Jesus? Have you not noticed that my emphasis is always encouraging readers to 1) stay focused on the Word; 2) stay focused on prayer; and 3) follow Christ’s directive to witness to others of His saving grace? He is what it’s all about! He is the one and only Savior! And He is the One who is Coming Again! Get ready, because just when you think you have time to prepare, He is at the door, and it’s too late!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

NOTE: Those of you who are in my Small Groups Class at Cross Church, might want to retain this outline.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Jude 1:3, “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

I won’t ask if you’ve ever started a task and then abandond it in favor of another one. It would be my guess that we’ve all done that –maybe more than once. So, it’s not surprising that we would encounter a biblical writer who did the same.

Jude was intending to write to believers about the “common salvation” they all had. I won’t speculate on what he intended to write because I simply don’t know. Nor do I know what Jude’s believer-friends needed to understand. Whatever the situation, they needed to be encouraged to “contend earnestly

for the faith.”

What we do know is that Jude sensed that these believers needed to more earnestly to “contend for the faith.” Friberg’s Analytical Greek Lexicon translates the word contend (????????????, epagonizomai) as “strenuous effort” or “struggle” on behalf of the Christian faith. That doesn’t tell us everything Jude felt those believers needed, but it does tell us that they were letting up a bit in their evangelistic endeavor.

They were a lot like us: they were just too comfortable. They had other “pressing matters” that were

demanding (and getting) their attention. Are you like that? Am I? We need to take inventory of just

how eager and enthusiastic and serious we are in reaching others for Jesus Christ! We need to remember that He is what it’s all about. We can dig deeply in the Word (and we should); we can become zealously active in the Church (and we should); we can give monitarily to home and foreign missions enterprizes (and we should). But what about our personal witness? What about our love for Him that compels us to share His salvation story?

I know we’re currently under a worldwide pandemic. But, that is all the more reason for us to reach

out to others. Some are worried beyond belief! They are facing the prospect of contamination, possibly

death. They’re thinking more seriously about eternity.

Jude was right in being concerned for the believers in his time. We should be concerned for those in

our time! Develop a strategy: use email, Gospel tracts, general conversation that includes Jesus…

It’s not yet too late, but it’s getting that way. What’s more, Jesus’ return is closer today than it was

last week. Let’s do it –for His glory!

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.”