The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Joel 2:15-18, “Blow a trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,
16 gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room and the bride out of her bridal chamber.
17 Let the priests, the LORD’S ministers, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, ‘Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your inheritance a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they among the peoples say, ‘Where is their God?’”
18 Then the LORD will be zealous for His land and will have pity on His people.”

This past week a serious report of what was called “grapefruit-sized hail” fell on some areas of northern Texas, resulting in considerable destruction. Many communities now possess huge siren-alarms that warn people of serious weather that is threatening destruction and death to residents of their area. Those who ignore such warnings, do so at the risk of their own peril.

Not all warnings, however, are concerned with physical destruction or death. The Scriptures warn people of the failure to take notice of the LORD. James says, “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” (Jas. 4:17). And the wages of that sin is death, too! –spiritual death for eternity.

“Heeding a warning” means taking shelter in a place that will sufficiently protect human life. The same is true with spiritual life. Our Scripture above assures us that the LORD “will have pity on His people.” God is real and He will protect those whom He loves.

At the same time, we must use good judgment and follow His instructions. Ignoring the possibility of death is not “good judgment.” We know that instinctly. That’s why we rush to the Emergency Room of the nearest hospital when we are “attacked” with something we don’t understand. ER doctors are there to help; but they don’t chase us down to see if we have need of their expertise!

The LORD works somewhat the same way. He is always present to help us, and He has just what we need; but we must seek Him out and follow the instructions He gives us. He urges us to repent of our sin and trust Him to be our Savior! We’ve all sinned –no question of that! We must simply ask His forgiveness of our sin, and believe that He will forgive us.

There is no life anywhere that can compare with His! What’s more, the price is simply the yieldedness of our lives to Him! “Thank you, LORD, for saving my soul!” May all who read these lines know You or come to know You. The siren is sounding. Time is ever short.

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