The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 10:36-39, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
38 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.
39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”

The LORD God possesses a will for everyone who has repented of sin and trusted Him for forgiveness. He continues to love and cherish those who are His by means of that faithful trust.

At the same time, trusting Christ does not expunge the believer’s need of His closeness. The LORD continues to shelter the believer just as He did Daniel and his three Jewish companions in Old Testament times.

Simultaneously, and notwithstanding the LORD’s protection, it is each believer’s responsibility to maintain a close, loving relationship with Him. It is the Apostle Paul’s contention that believers are not to be like those who “shrink back to destruction,” but like those “who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”

All that is to say, “If you (or I) were to be arrested for being a Christian, would there be sufficient evidence to convict us?” The LORD acknowledges His love as sufficient for us. Yet, will our love for Him be sufficient for the hour of temptation?

We are all the children of our earthly fathers, whether they are alive or deceased. Some of us are by faith the sons and daughters of the LORD Jesus Christ. May we ever and always be and do that which honors Him. That honor commences with our faith and yieldedness to Him. Are you yielded to Him? If not,
why not? You have everything to gain, if you are!

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,

Revelation 21:1-7, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
7 “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”

We are quickly coming to the terminal point of A.D. 2022. Quite a number of good things have occurred throughout the world this year; and quite a number of devastating things have occurred, also.

What the Apostle John has in mind –beyond what he labels for us– the LORD Himself only knows. Still, John seems excited about “a new heaven and a new earth.” Quite a few of us are excited about it, too!

The earth, as we know it, will be thoroughly changed! There will be no sea; and the Holy City of New Jerusalem will descend from the sky, like a bride gorgeously adorned for the wedding with her husband. Then, the voice of the LORD Himself will say, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

If you are wondering whether I am anticipating all of this to come in A.D. 2023, I am indeed! Why should I not? Every person on this Globe, who has confessed and been forgiven of his sin, knows the LORD Jesus Christ as his Savior! Every believer should be living in anticipation of this gargantuan event!

In addition to the LORD living among us, He will erase all mourning and pain. In exchange, He will give to those who are His own, that eternal water of life that Jesus Christ gave to that woman at Jacob’s well (Jn. 4:6).

There’s a hymn by Will Thompson that says,

“There’s a Great Day coming;
A Great Day coming;
There’s a Great Day coming, by and by;
When the saints and the sinners shall be
parted right and left;
Are you ready for that day to come?”

If you’re not ready for His Coming, you can prepare right now. Just faithfully pray and tell the LORD Jesus that you are sorry for your sin. Ask Him to forgive you; and trust Him to do what He says He will. At that point, you belong to Him –and He belongs to you! Don’t forget to say “Thank You!” Believe me, you will forever be blessed!

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 12:1-4, “Righteous are You, O LORD, that I would plead my case with You; Indeed I would discuss matters of justice with You: Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?
2 You have planted them, they have also taken root; they grow, they have even produced fruit. You are near to their lips, but far from their mind.
3 But You know me, O LORD; You see me; and You examine my heart’s attitude toward You. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter and set them apart for a day of carnage!
4 How long is the land to mourn and the vegetation of the countryside to wither? For the wickedness of those who dwell in it, animals and birds have been snatched away, because men have said, ‘He will not see our latter ending.’”

If you’re ever inclined to believe that the times in which we live are unique, you haven’t read carefully the history of the past. Solomon was right when he said, “So there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9). Where men in the past used swords, men of our times use weapons that are even more fearsome.

“Let’s talk about justice,” Jeremiah says.“Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?” Personally, I’ve asked the LORD about things like that in the past. It’s like two schoolboys pleading their case with the Teacher: “How come Billy gets to do it when I cannot?” Where is justice?

The passage above seems to excuse the offender; still, there is no injustice with the LORD! He will adjudicate everything fully and fairly in His time. He is not fooled by man’s devices. It will all come out in fairness in the end. “…the way of the wicked will perish” (Psa. 1:6b).

The conclusion speaks to both the just and the unjust. The unjust thinks he will escape the judgment of Almighty God. The just wonders if any justice will come from God. Yet, we may be certain that the Ruler who assesses all things will be just. We would all do well to live so as not to have to face Him in Court with unconfessed sin.

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,

Luke 2:8-11, “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”

There is no doubt that the shepherds, who first heard the angel’s voice, were Jewish. Yet, there is absolutely no doubt that the message was ultimately intended “for all the people.”

It’s for you! It’s for me! Salvation is the LORD’s Gift –first to the Jewish people—yet, ultimately to all, who will believe upon Him.
The angel that appeared was accompanied with a multitude of
the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men
with whom He is pleased” (Lk. 2:14).

Much of our world lies in disarray! Turmoil rages among nations! Some have intentionally misled all mankind, crying “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace” (Ezk. 13:10).

Those of us who have been led to faith in Jesus Christ now have the responsibility to share His salvation with others! There are but a dozen more days left before CHRISTmas Day! What a joy Christ will bring to those who receive Him as their LORD and their Savior!

Linked at the bottom of this Grands Letter is a Gospel Tract
that will acquaint others with God’s Plan of Salvation. Please
feel free to use it to share Christ Jesus with your friends and
acquaintences. The more joy we share, the more truly joyful
our sorry world will become.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need
until He becomes all that we have.”
– Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 16:16-20, “How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who watches his way preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.”

Someone once asked me how I decide what verses to use in these daily Grands Letters. In one sense, it’s quite easy in that there are multiple passages in the Bible from which one can choose.

On the other hand, it is difficult in that the LORD always makes the final decision. In other words, I pray and simply trust the LORD to direct me in the process.

Looking at the text above, most of us would probably choose gold or silver over wisdom. Look what we could buy with that money! At the same time, look how hard it would be to obtain and use wisdom. Yes, wisdom might assist us in finding gold, but the gold might make us forever resistant to wisdom.

When I think of how pride destroys, I’m always reminded of an instance that stumbled a young preacher I once knew. We were in college and he had been selected to preach in a church on a given Wednesday night. Virtually, all of the students had gone to hear him. He was firey and got off to a good start. Then his humility gave way to pride and he looked at the clock on the wall and said, “Wow, only five minutes gone! We’re really movin’ now!”

At that point, everything went flat. He forgot where he was in his message. He stumbled mentally as he fought furiously to get back on track. Yet, it was all to no avail. A haughty spirit named “pride” had made its way into his message and the LORD had moved off of the stage.

How very important it is that we always give attention to the Word. “He who watches his way preserves his life.” Remember, in all that we do to trust faithfully in the LORD! He has saved us for His purpose. The Message is His and His alone! We are simply privileged to share it with others. Keep a good lookout! There are scores of people who need to know Him! What about you?

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