The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 17:22-31, “And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are
very religious in all respects.
23 “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this
inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.
24 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in
temples made with hands;
25 neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and
breath and all things;
26 and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their
appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation,
27 that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each
one of us;
28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His
offspring.’
29 “Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an
image formed by the art and thought of man.
30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should
repent,
31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has
appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

This Scripture passage is rather long, but I wanted you to grasp as much of this momentous occasion as possible. Paul’s message on Mars Hill, delivered amid the surroundings of Athens’ magnificent structures, is itself an oratorical masterpiece. He never chides them or ridicules their idols of worship. Rather, he warmly acknowledges their religious awareness, while simultaneously exalting the LORD Jesus Christ as Creator and Controller of all things.

Think about that for a moment. He could have ridiculed as thoroughly nonsensical all of those stone idols. He could have chided them for believing in such lifeless imitations of non-existent deities. Rather, he segued into the Truth with love instead of with ridicule. Think of this when you have opportunity to share Christ with someone. Instead of ridiculing their tattoos, as lifeless imitations of nonsense, tell them how you were tattooed in your heart by the LORD Jesus Christ. Yes, it may shock them at first mention, but you will have channeled a way by which they could commence thinking of the LORD.

Paul’s concluding emphasis foretells man’s need to repent because the LORD has “fixed a day in which He will judge the world.” If you were going to court on a serious charge and had the opportunity to admit to wrong and forego imprisonment, wouldn’t it make sense to confess and avoid the punishment? That’s what everyone is ultimately facing: standing before the LORD when He asks, “What did you do concerning my Son Jesus?”

Those of us who now speak for Him have ourselves faced that question. We have believed and been born-again.
We have been received a spiritual release from the LORD. Now, we speak to you as Paul spoke to those in ancient Athens, where “some men joined him and believed” (v. 34). Will you believe and join with them and with us? I am praying that you will.

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