The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ezekiel 43:2-3, “…behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.
3 And it was like the appearance of the vision which I saw, like the vision which I saw when He came to destroy the city. And the visions were like the vision which I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face.”

The theme of the Book of Ezekiel is “The goodness and severity of God.” In these two verses we have an example of both. It’s also interesting to notice that the glory of God that Ezekiel saw came from the east. The word “east” is mentioned 23 times in all of Scripture, while the word “west” is mentioned but 10 times. More interesting still is the fact that when “east” and “west” are both contained in the same sentence, “east” is always mentioned ahead of “west.”

Ezekiel was like Jeremiah in that he was spiritually strong in the LORD. Yet, when Ezekiel saw the LORD, even in a vision, he “fell on (his) face” in an attitude of humility and reverence. Humility and spiritual reverence are what seem to be missing today. We are surrounded and submerged in pride. We acknowledge the LORD as responsible, but avow that without us, things would not have gone as well as they did. Shame on us!

Notice that Ezekiel “fell on (his) face” in worship of the LORD. When we come to the end of ourselves, and faithfully acknowledge the LORD’s Hand in the beneficence we receive, we will also find Him aboundantly pouring out extended blessings on us, as well. To God be the glory! Great things He has done!

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,

Lamentations 3:22-26, The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
24 ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I have hope in Him.’
25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.
26 It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the LORD.”

“Big boys don’t cry.” I can remember my mother saying that to me when I was a child. I certainly wasn’t a “big boy,” but I was crying; and she was attempting to coax me into a good mood. With Jeremiah, however, it was different. He was an adult when he wrote Lamentations, and he already possessed a reputation for wisdom, courage and godliness.

Jeremiah viewed the LORD as loving and compassionate. Whatever life’s situations brought him, he greeted the LORD as faithful each day. Jeremiah opens his very soul when he counts the LORD as his faithful Companion. Walking alone in life is often lonely, yet the LORD fills every life of His human companions with hope!

Further, “the LORD is good to those who wait for Him.” Far too often, we seek Him in our lonely state, but lose patience when He does not smother us with His immediate presence. No thinking child would expect his parent to visit comfort and strength upon him continuously. But a child doesn’t stop to think. He lacks patience and expects everything to be at his disposal immediately. That’s why Jeremiah urges us to be patient and wait silently for the salvific blessings of the LORD. Practice being a “big Christian!” Don’t cry! Don’t be discouraged! Trust the LORD to be all you need Him to be, but allow Him to do it in His time.

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,

Jeremiah 3:12-13, “Go and proclaim these words toward the north and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD; ‘I will not look upon you in anger. For I am gracious,’ declares the LORD; ‘I will not be angry forever.
13 ‘Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the LORD your God and have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,’ declares the LORD.’”

Have you ever disobeyed a direct order and done it so viciously that you honestly believed you could never return and face those whom you had disobeyed? “I was so wrong and so disgustingly vile that I could never return, much less could I face those to whom I had showed such excessive anger.” Well, maybe you have a memory of such temperament. Have you ever viewed it as having been toward God?

Jeremiah views the LORD as gracious and forgiving. The LORD will not react in anger. He is gracious and loving even to a faithless and iniquitous people. But what are we to do regarding our transgressions against Him? Acknowledge them as having been wrong. He promises that He will not be angry forever.

Such a directive has often been offered from the LORD. Yet, as mankind moves through the centuries, our sins seem to grow worse. What was once known only in brothels seems now a regular occurrence in some churches. How much will God take before His wrath overflows on us? We must turn from sin and learn to obey His voice. And like a loving parent, He promises that He will not be angry forever.

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,

Isaiah 1:18-20, “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.
19 ‘If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land;
20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.’ Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

I’ve made up my mind! I know what I’m going to do! Has anyone ever said that to you, or have you ever said that to someone? The chances are, you have experienced both at some remote time in your life. I cannot recall ever having someone threaten to take his own life. But, I have experienced some who have become so frustrated with their life situations that they don’t know where to turn for help.

In our verses above, the LORD reveals to the prophet Isaiah that His Jewish people were in serious rebellion against Him. They had provoked Him to anger; yet, before the LORD pours out His wrath upon His people, He appeals to them through the prophet. “Let’s reason together,” says the LORD. Think this thing through. Sin can be forgiven. Lives stained with scarlet can be washed “as white as snow.” It all depends on whether you are willing to trust Him and become obedient.

The sins that brought about this dilemma started with the LORD’s people; so the forgiveness of the LORD requires a change of man’s mind. It’s called repentance. Refusal, invites disaster from their enemies. It’s much the same with us: we have sinned against the LORD. Now, we must sincerely repent (change our minds and our life’s direction) and ask forgiveness from the LORD God. We can either be “willing and obedient” or “be devoured” by our enemies.

Make the smart move: turn from sin and throw yourself on the mercy of the LORD in Heaven. Why? because then we “shall eat the good of the land,” which means the LORD will bless His people. And when His people mind Him, honor and glory are bestowed upon the LORD. Give this some serious thought and let it apply to your own life. You’ll be glad you did!

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,

Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the afterlife) where you are going.”
Our world has experienced the ultimate dichotomy: Man, the paramount figure in God’s Creation has severed himself from Wisdom, the supremely Divine principle of all time.
?Take, for example, the man who hooked the bumper of his pickup to an Automatic Teller Machine. He was going to abscond with the machine and all its money. But as he sped away, the bumper ripped from the truck, leaving behind the license tag to be discovered by the police. They did.
?Then, there was a man who intended to rob a confectionary. He entered the store bare-faced. Then, after everyone had seen him, he donned a ski-mask and announced, “This is a ‘stickup!”
?Or take the girl who entered a convenience store under the pretext of asking for a job. She then robbed the store, discarding her resume as she left. Yes, you’re right; it contained her full name and address.
In the first edition of his American Dictionary of the English Language (1828), Noah Webster, who, incidentally, was a committed believer in Jesus Christ, defines “wisdom” as,
The right use or exercise of knowledge…. the knowledge and fear of God and sincere and uniform obedience to His commands. This is the wisdom which is from Above.
Yet, long, long before Webster, the wisest of all Old Testament saints said “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Pro 4:7). Add to wisdom and understanding the activity of your hands. That’s right! Do what you know to be right! Do it in faith; do it love; do it for the glory of our LORD Jesus Christ.
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