The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Words demonstrate their own futility when we seek to express ourselves at the death of loving family members and friends. Only moments ago, I received word of the death of a dear and faithful English friend, Dr. William R. (Bill) Cooper. Bill was an indefatigable researcher, author, debater –a creationist of no mean ability. All of Cambridge Graduate School, faculty and administration, convey our sincerest condolences to Bill’s family and friends,

When death comes, it’s natural that we should seek to know where they have gone. Paul addresses this query in the words above. We are helpless to rid ourselves of sorrow, but we are certainly not to grieve, as people without hope. Death to one faithfully committed to Christ is much like sleep. When we sleep, we awaken naturally. So is it with believers: when they die, they awaken in the presence of Christ and remain with Him forever. This is our hope, our future certainty, as revealed in the Scripture.

In a time of our LORD’s own determination, He will come again from Heaven and gather all believers unto Himself. This is the Christian’s certainty. Thus, we who are His and remain alive, possess a hope that none others have. Those who precede us in physical death are now alive and in our LORD’s presence!
They are fellowshipping with the preachers and teachers and missionaries and evangelists and parents and children of the Faith that was “once delivered to the saints.” For those who love Christ Jesus are loved by Him. Thus, there is available comfort for all who know and love and wait expectantly for His Return.

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,

Matthew 24:3-14, “And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘See to it that no one misleads you.
5 For many will come in My name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and will mislead many.’
6 “And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name.
10 “And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another.
11 “And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.
12 “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
13 “But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.
14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.”

This is a long passage, and one that needs little explanation. The disciples of Jesus’ day were very much like His disciples today. They knew things were bad in their world and they asked the simple question of faith: “When will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming…?” Jesus’ reply subdivides into several clear thoughts that are and remain relevant until He comes.

1.False Claims – Men will actually claim that they themselves are the Christ (vs. 5).
2.Frightful Circumstances – vss. 6-8).
(1)There will be true wars and there will be rumours of other wars (vss. 6-7a).
(2)There will be famines and earthquakes (vss. 7b-8).
3.Fearful Conditions – Tribulations, killings, and hatred will occur toward those who believe in Christ Jesus. The world hates Jesus! And many will turn away from Him and against Christians, whom they previously condidered to be friends (vss. 9-10).
4.False Proclamations – False teachers will gain the upperhand and lead many astray. Lawlessness of all kinds will increase and the love that previously resided in many, will grow cold and completely disappear (vss. 11-12).
5.Faithful Endurance – Personal and corporate witness to the Truth of the Gospel will nevertheless abound throughout the entire world! Then the end will come! (vss. 13-14).

It might do us all well to remember Judas Iscariot. For three years, he received the clear witness from the Savior Himself. In many ways, he looked like a believer, but he forsook Jesus at the end –and for a measly thirty pieces of silver… What a price he paid!

Resist the devil! Hold fast to your faith in the LORD Jesus! Witness lovingly, but with faithful fury! The time grows shorter by the day. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus! God bless you abundantly!

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,

1 Thessalonians 1:2-5, “We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;
3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,
4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;
5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”

With all the words that course their way through our minds and thoughts, the two most often omitted are “Thank you.” Paul never lost track of the gratitude he owed to God. And in conjunction with that gratitude, he always mentioned others in his prayers.

Do you have something that is constantly on your mind? The three things that occupied Paul’s mind –at least, in this Letter to the Thessalonians— were 1) their work of faith, 2) their labor of love, and 3) their steadfastness of hope in the LORD Jesus Christ. True Christians are constantly engaged in work. We don’t always see immediate results, but we rest in faith, knowing Christ will ultimately produce the result if we don’t give up.

Patience is an extremely difficult quality of life. By nature, I am not a patient person. If I plant a seed, I want to see it bloom instantly! The planting is always in faith, but I’ve had to learn that the intended result takes time. There are some for whom I’ve prayed for years, yet they have thus far not come to faith in Christ.

We are simply to labor in love. Paul’s use of ?????, agape– the highest form of love– demonstrates his utmost sincerity! Our labor is not to hinge on the attitude of the one we love; we’re just to “keep on keeping on,” faithfully loving them through our prayers. The ultimate result lies in the Hands of Him who was nailed to the cross for our sins.

Leaving the results of our faithful, loving prayer in God’s hands demonstrates our steadfastness of hope. Hope (?????, elpis) is future certainty. That certainty does not lie in our ability; it rests solely on the LORD Jesus Christ. Exactly, how the LORD configures all of this remains a mystery beyond what He tells us. We are simply to remain faithful and labor fervently, trusting Him. The ultimate results reside in the power of the Holy Spirit. So, don’t give up! Don’t relax your prayers of love! Stay faithful! He hears your prayers and will respond in His own time and in His own 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,

Psalm 118:21-29, “I shall give thanks to Thee, for Thou hast answered me; And Thou hast become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 O LORD, do save, we beseech Thee; O LORD, we beseech Thee, do send prosperity!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and He has given us light; Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I give thanks to Thee; Thou art my God, I extol Thee.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

Have you ever had a conversation with someone and thought you understood what the other person was saying, only to discover that his meaning was totally different than what you had understood it to be? The Old Testament people sang this song thinking only of the Temple of the LORD. Jesus, on the other hand, spoke of it as referring to Himself (Luke 20:17). He indeed was the “stone which the builders (the Jews) had rejected.” However, He became the chief corner stone –the One the Father sent to be the Savior of the world.

The Jews of the Old Testament sang this psalm as a song as contemporary to their times. They sang a prophecy of the LORD Jesus Christ without knowing what it truly meant. I wonder if that’s not how we sometimes sing. We go through the motions; we mouth the words; but we fail to understand the truths of what we are singing. “This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” How could they sing of “the One who comes in the name of the LORD” without foreseeing their Messiah?

When you read “bind the festival sacrifice with cords,” think of Jesus Christ hanging nailed to the cross and giving His life’s blood for your sins! Exalt Him in your thinking! Praise Him in praise-worthy songs! Thank Him profusely for all He has done! View it as if it were for youself alone! Don’t let what He has done personally for you become lost in the glib thought that it was “for the world.” Rest assurred that if you had been the only person in the world, Jesus would still have died on that cross for you and your sins. Oh, “He is precious!” What is more, His love for you is everlasting! Just think of it – and praise Him with a life that mirrors His everlasting love!

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,

Colossians 4:2-6. “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;
4 in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.
5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.”

Great and wise men often speak with down-to-Earth simplicity. Paul does that here, as he comes to the close of his letter to the Colossian Christians. “Devote yourselves to prayer,” he says. Do so constantly! Prayer doesn’t always have to be on your knees. You can pray while driving a car. You can pray in your heart for that workman who has come to labor at your house. The LORD can “open a door” for you to speak the Word to anyone.

But, how will I do it? What if I get scrambled in my words? Don’t worry! Trust the LORD to “open a door
for His Word!” Trust Him to enable you to “make it clear.” I remember well the day I crossed the street to speak to a couple of guys seated in a truck. As I spoke, they responded with a question. I laughed as I said, “Oh, the answer to that is right here in the Bible.” Yet, as I said it, I had no idea where in the Bible!
But, I opened it faithfully, and the Scripture I needed was right there where I had turned! I was amazed!
There was that “door for the Word,” opened by the Holy Spirit of Almighty God.

Nevertheless, we’re not to be flippant in witnessing. We’re to be wise and humble. We’re to speak kindly and graciously as we witness. Our words are to be “seasoned with salt.” Salt on words makes them acceptable to our hearers, just as salt on vegetables makes them tasty. Salt is also a preservative, giving our words memory in the minds of our hearers. Whatever their immediate response, our “salty words” of witness will not be forgotten. It’s all of Him; He just allows us the privilege of being involved. When were you last involved in witnessing? Or are you one who received a witness that you simply cannot forget?

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