The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 8:1-4, “But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided.
2 Also the fountains of the deep and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained;
3 and the water receded steadily from the earth, and at the end of one hundred and fifty days the water decreased.
4 In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat.”

Remembrance is a strange thing. I was reading a science paper today when I recalled a friend from many years ago, talking about the speed of light. Things we encounter often trigger remembrances. Sometimes they are are delightful; sometimes they’re not. But non-the less, they are remembrances.

The word “remember” (????? zakar ) occurs 242 times in the Old Testament, and 64 times (???????? mimnesko) in the New Testament. What is interesting is that the first reference to the word “remember” relates to God remembering Noah and those who were with him in the ark. Sin had pervaded the Earth and the LORD destroyed it all –all, except the Noahic family and the animals that accompanied them.

Yet, the God who destroys is simultaneously the God who saves. He never forgets; and in the midst of His legitimate anger over sin, He is remembering and loving. It is the same with us today. Things we want to forget, He never forgets. The LORD is omniscient, all knowing. Yet, He is willing to forgive our sins if we will simply acknowledge them and ask His forgiveness.

Why would God ever neglect to forgive us when it cost Him His Son’s death on the cross? He forgives us because He loves us. Few if any of our own children ever behaved exactly as we had taught them. Punishment for bad behavior was administered in order that they might remember to do well; but punishment was never without love and purpose. So it is with God. He forgives because He loves; but He wants to know that we are sorry for our sin and are sincere in asking His forgiveness.

Things in our nation and world are worse today than I can ever recall. We could well be living in the last days. The Rapture (the “catching away” of born-again believers) has no signal to warn of it’s coming. It will simply come when the LORD desires it. Thus, the key question is: are you ready for Him to come? Confess your sins to Him today and ask Him to cleanse and save you. His Word says that He will not ignore the prayer of a sincere believer. Just don’t trust that somehow you can beat the speed of His light!

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