The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Joel 2:1-13. “Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; surely it is near,
2 A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, so there is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it to the years of many generations.
3 A fire consumes before them And behind them a flame burns. The land is like the Garden of Eden before them but a desolate wilderness behind them, and nothing at all escapes them.
4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like war horses, so they run.
5 With a noise as of chariots they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble, like a mighty people arranged for battle.
6 Before them the people are in anguish; all faces turn pale.
7 They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like soldiers; and they each march in line, nor do they deviate from their paths.
8 They do not crowd each other, they march everyone in his path; when they burst through the defenses, they do not break ranks.
9 They rush on the city, they run on the wall; they climb into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief.
10 Before them the earth quakes, The heavens tremble, the sun and the moon grow dark and the stars lose their brightness.
11 The LORD utters His voice before His army; surely His camp is very great, for strong is he who carries out His word. The day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome, and who can endure it?
12 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning;
13 And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.”

If I were to continue to open my comments with notations of my childhood, I would undoubtedly run the risk of your believing that I was indeed a mischievous child. Well, I was sometimes mischievous –just not all of the time!

Still, I have to wonder if my notice of the nefarious occurrences in our nation and world is aided in any way by the learning (or lack of it) I had as a child.

The Book of Joel is listed among the prophecies of the Old Testament. And those very prophecies, if not fulfilled in biblical eras, are destined yet to be fulfilled in our own time. Their position and appearance are as biblically accurate as was the Crucifixion and Resurrection of our LORD Jesus Christ.

“Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants
of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; Surely it is near” (vs.1).

Years ago, when my wife and I lived in the St. Louis area, the pastor of one of the downtown churches preached every Sunday evening on the Second Coming of the LORD Jesus Christ. Yes, and he drew crowds! Yet, as I revisit that era in my mind, there was nothing of the open criminal activity like we are experiencing today. Over the years, I’ve attended numerous court sessions; but they were virtually a children’s playtime when compared with what we’re experiencing in our courts today.

The church I attend has numerous groups that minister to men and women who are incarcerated in county facilities. Recent reports were most encouraging concerning the numbers who received Jesus Christ as their Savior. Still, it’s a small, small group when compared with the hundreds and thousands
who are imprisoned throughout the nation and the enormous number that ought to be!

“They’re getting away with their crime!” some shout. Yes, but there is a day coming when they and we all will be called to answer to the LORD for our sins. And the sins of the multitudes that have never ever engaged in “criminal activity” will be rounded up and incarcerated by the Strong Hand of Almighty God!

No guilty party will escape. From the lowliest undisciplined child who never heard of God except in vile,
blasphemous language, to the highest ranking official in the government of the most powerful nation on
Earth – each will be brought before the LORD in His Court of Divine Justice.

Yet, for the righteous, there’s a GREAT DAY COMING! Jesus will reign! And they who know Him will reign with Him! Where are you on God’s List? He has two lists: 1) those who are repentant and belong
to Him; and 2) those who neglect or refuse Him. Don’t miss the Good List! Those on that List are praying for 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