The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 1:26-32, “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

“Just go ahead; just go ahead and do it!” These are not words of true allowance. They are words of disciplinary allowance. They are the words of an exasperated parent, whose child has begged and begged to do something the wise parent had previously and numerously forbidden. From the parent’s point of view, what the child will learn by disobedience will now be the better teacher.

I understand quite well what I’ve just written in that previous paragraph. It’s a comment on a personal experience of many years ago. Thus, when I read what God’s Word says in the verses above, I understand that He knows what I will ultimately escape by obeying His voice.

Yet, those of whom Paul wrote had to learn everything the hard way. Reading Paul’s words above seem strangely similar to reading the daily newspaper or hearing a current newscast. We have abandoned everything that is “natural,” and substituted language and activities that suit and depict the raucous lifestyle of this generation. We know better; we simply do what we please, anyway. There is no thought about what it will cost.

I have decided not to elaborate on the meanings of the coarse thoughts, words, and attitudes depicted above. Rather, I will remind the reader of these lines that “God is not mocked; whatever one sows, he will ultimately reap” (Gal. 6:7). Yes, God is a loving God; and as a loving parent weeps over the necessity of punishing a wayward child, God also weeps as He punishes. Yet, to fail to “train up a child in the way he should go” (Prov. 22:6), is not the method of a loving and just parent. Nor is it the way of the LORD.

The neglect to meet out justice only encourages the proliferation of wickedness. And God, who is just will not forget. A nation that runs wild and evil without restraint, such as we have today, requires the justice of Almighty God! Even His patience has a limitation. Pray for our nation! Practice personal, godly living! We cannot do wrong and get by!

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