The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

II Chronicles 34:14-21, “When they were bringing out the money which had been brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.
15 Hilkiah responded and said to Shaphan the scribe, ‘I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.’ And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.
16 Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported further word to the king, saying, “Everything that was entrusted to your servants they are doing.
17 ‘They have also emptied out the money which was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hands of the supervisors and the workmen.”
18 Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.’
And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
19 When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.
20 Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,
21 ‘Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book which has been found; for great is the wrath of the LORD which is poured out on us because our fathers have not observed the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book.’”

You may truly have no interested at all in how I fill my days. I do have a lot of interests; however, one of the foremost is: Reading!

For years, a ten-volume set of Six Thousand Years of History has wept dust, awaiting my attention. But, the muIti-volume set of Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire has been left weeping even longer. Gibbon’s work is over 3,000 pages, and I sincerely doubt that I have eight more years by which to absorb the riches of this ancient document.

Times have changed in many ways; the people of those times have not! What is virtually unbelievable is how the LORD possesses patience with His creation. What Congress is battling today comes close to equaling the experiences of the ancient Romans! As troubling as our current situation is, it is not as novel as you might think! Everyone is his own number one!

Josiah reigned 39 years as king in Jerusalem! As they were doing some
housecleaning, a priest by the name of Hilkiah “found the book of the law of the LORD given by Moses!” Talk about a prize discovery! Worse, however, was the message contained in that book:

“…great is the wrath of the LORD which is poured out on
us because our fathers have not observed the word of the
LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book” (v. 21b).

Currently, we have some born-again men in our Congress, who are battling for truth and justice, as demanded by the LORD’s Book! They
have been elected to represent us; so, we should support them in our prayers. Could II Chronicles 34:24 be a warning directly pointed to us?

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 125:1-5, “Those who trust in the LORD are as Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds
His people from this time forth and forever.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land of the righteous, so that the righteous will not put forth their hands to do
wrong.
4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good and to those who are
upright in their hearts.
5 But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways, the LORD
will lead them away with the doers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.”

These five verses constitute the whole of the 125th Psalm. The chapter commences with a sound encouragement for those who trust the LORD; and it closes with an admonition against following the crocked ways of
evil doers.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians pushes the same thought to the Christians
in Corinth. He writes, “…he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality” (Col. 3:25).

Throughout the Scriptures, the LORD is always teaching His people to
live holy lives and be honest in all their dealings with others. Sometimes,
we see others doing wrong and are tempted to engage in the same
nefarious activities. Even as a child, I remember asking, “If he can do it,
why can’t I?” My mother’s response was always the same: “…because
what he’s doing is not right, that’s why!”

Sin always carries a penalty. It may appear that those commiting sin are
getting away without a penalty. But mark the surety of the Word of God:
“they cannot do wrong and get by”; be sure their sin will find them out.

The Old Testament sets forth the LORD’s laws that exist for man’s
benefit. Whether man keeps those laws, we may never know. What we
do know is that the LORD keeps His Word. We may never know how
the LORD deals with some law-breakers, but we can rest assured that
He does! Even a child’s song instructs us:

Be careful little tongue, what you say;
Be careful little tongue, what you say;
For the Father up Above is looking down in love;
Be careful little tongue what you say.

God bless you – and do be careful! We will give an account –even
for every idle word.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
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,

I Corinthians 1:11-18, “…I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.
12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, ‘I am of Paul,’ and ‘I of Apollos,’ and ‘I of Cephas,’ and ‘I of Christ.’
13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name.
16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other.
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness
of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us
who are being saved it is the power of God.”

We have three very fine preachers in the church I attend. They have different styles,
but they believe and preach the same Gospel. There may be some within the church
who would rate one above the others; however, I have yet to hear anyone say that.
After all, we are there for the Word, not for the preacher!

The Apostle Paul identified some differences within the Corinthian congregation. The differences there, however, had to do with doctrine, specifically with baptism. Some
registered their baptism as “better,” because they were baptized by Paul. Others
viewed Apollos as better, and still others held Cephas (Peter) higher.

The only factor that could possibly render one’s baptism as superior would
be that it was administered based upon the proper condition of one’s heart.
And even then, it has no spiritual superiority over the baptism of another.

Paul bowed out of the contention by saying that the LORD had not called him
to baptize, but to preach the Gospel.

I had an exciting experience when I served for a brief time as interim pastor
of Central Baptist Church in Sydney, Australia. The woman was a middle-aged
Aboriginal, and the water in the baptistry was so low, that I had some difficulty
immersing her in the water. Still, she was in no way excited that an American
preacher baptized her; she had accepted the LORD Jesus as her Savior and
was obeying what she knew to be pleasing to Him! Baptism should always be
viewed as an act of spiritual obedience to the LORD Jesus Christ.

One note of sure caution: whatever takes place in a church will be held in
opposition by someone. I remember too well an irate lady guiding me into the
church basement and expounding quite negatively that someone had brought Vacation Bible School material in a Beer box container!

As with Paul, that was out of my line.

The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us
who are saved, it is the power of God. Are you saved? If you’re alive, it’s
not too late. But someday soon, it will be. Please put first things first. It’s
all to your advantage. Jesus died on the cross 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

Dear Grands,

John 14:1-12, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
4 “And you know the way where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father ‘?
10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.
11 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”

Conservative theologians are in solid agreement that the next spectacular event
that will come to pass is the Rapture of the Church. Absolutely nothing stands
between where we are now and the Rapture. There are several exciting events
that will emerge following the Rapture, but nothing appears on the Biblical agenda
between today and the Rapture!

With that in mind, I have elected to share a small schematic below that will give you
an introduction that many theologians believe it will all take place. Just bear in mind
that the LORD alone knows exactly how it will all fall out. Schematics, like the one
below, go back many (sometimes hundreds of) years as they follow the Scriptures.

One exciting factor that comes before the Rapture is that the Father has given us the
opportunity to share the LORD Jesus with others. You can easily forward these
GRANDS LETTERS to others, as the LORD leads you. It will be a “wake-up!” call to
some; to others, it will be something new. We all just need to be ready because when
the Rapture takes place, it will be too late for those who have not trusted Jesus Christ.
Prayer and witnessing must be our theme! May 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,

Psalm 119:1-15, “How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart.
3 They also do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways.
4 You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be ashamed when I look upon all Your commandments.
7 I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn
Your righteous judgments.”
8 I shall keep Your statutes; Do not forsake me utterly!”
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according
to Your word.
10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.”

It would seem to be the normal characteristic of most people to plead “blameless” when confronted and charged with a breach of the law. However, if the truth be told, most of those charged are true violators.

The psalmist’s cry is that those who “walk in the law of the LORD” are guiltless. They live by the LORD’s precepts contained in the Holy Scriptures. Further, it is the LORD’s will that we all diligently keep his laws.

The psalmist anticipates the day when all mankind will stand before the LORD and give account of every thought and action that was contrary to His divine will. The guilty will stand in shame! Those who have obeyed, will be rewarded for their obedience.

The psalmist also allows that he will “keep (the LORD’s) statutes.” How
about you? Are you walking in the way of the LORD? Are you tuned into His will for your life? Have you determined to keep your way pure before Him? His Word is the key to living in the purity of life.

There is so much to be gained by being obedient! There is very much to be lost through disobedience! Therefore, it is to our advantage to forsake the wrong paths and follow those that are right.

Our natural bent is away from the LORD; yet, we can become what He wills us to be, if we follow the clear teaching of His Word. How do we do that? We meditate slowly and daily on His precepts and then follow His commands. Endeavor to do it this week, and just see how different life can be!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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

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