The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven–
2 A time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; a time to be silent and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.
9 a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.
11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.”

What time is it? Careful notation of the positives v. negatives in the verses above will reveal which are valued above the others. For example, verse two reads first: “A time to give birth and a time to die…” Birth is positive; death is negative. A “time to plant” is positive; “a time to uproot what is planted” is negative.

Yet, in verses three and four, the negatives are first. Notice that “kill” and “tear down” (v. 3) are negatives, while “heal” and “build up” are positives. Then, there is a reversal in vv. 4-5, where the negatives come first. To the Hebrews those things that are more important are generally mentioned first. Yet, further down, verse 8 tells us that love is superior to hate; yet, there is always a time for war and for peace.

What time is it in your life? For some readers, it is certainly time to seek
the LORD. Is this the time the LORD has for you to come to Him? to be safe and secure in His love? Believe me, dear friend, there is no better time! Just ask Him to forgive your sins and save your soul. There is no greater security than the LORD’s; and He should be first on your list.
I pray He is.

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