The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 10:1-4, “Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over
unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and
Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus,
and Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.”

These verses may not immediately strike you as exciting. Still, note in verse one what
Jesus gave his disciples! He gave them “authority!” Isn’t that what everyone wants
today? Politically, that’s true. Yet, Jesus’ gift of authority was greater than political
authority. He gave them authority over “disease and every kind of sickness.”

Think of what that would be like!! Diseases, virtually beclouding our world –some of
which have yet even to be identified— and you have power and authority over them! You
could travel the world and heal diseases that threaten to wipe out entire groups of people!
What a blessing their healing would be! What an opening for the Gospel of Jesus!

In verse two, Jesus gave the world the names of those to whom he gave this authority over
diseases! Yes, Matthew is physically writing this Gospel, and is including the name of the traitor,
Judas Iscariot, with the names of Jesus’ true and trusted disciples. Would you want your name
to be listed with that of Judas Iscariot? a traitor!?

Jesus’ love excels all human love! I have four great-grandkids. I love them and am exceedingly
proud of each of them! Yet, the love that Jesus has for Judas Iscariot excels my love for my
great-grands! There’s no way any of us can ever love like Jesus loves! And with all the wrong
we’ve done in our lives, He still loves us and died on the cross for our sins!

William Runyan and Wendell Loveless wrote the song, O, What Love!

Wonderful it is that Jesus cares for me;
Coming from His home on high;
Into pain and sorrow, poverty and woe,
On Calvary’s cruel cross for me to die.

Oh, what love, that He should die for me!
Saving grace thus to supply for me;
Oh, what love! Oh, what love!
Evermore I’ll sing it—Oh, what love!

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 1:6-12, “There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even
to those who believe in His name…”

Some years ago in Australia (I don’t remember how it all came about), but George Galieh, my
friend, and I went down one mile into a working mine. Yes, we had lights with us, but when we
were at the bottom, the lights were turned off in order for us to “see” the darkness. Believe me,
you don’t see the darkness! You don’t see anything!

That’s precisely how it is with spiritual darkness. You don’t see it. It’s there, but you don’t want
to believe it. That’s when and why the LORD God provides us with One we can see. Jesus is not
only there, He’s the Light that shows us the way out of our spiritual darkness and into His Spiritual
Light.

“For many days Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest
and without law. But in their distress, they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and
they sought Him, and He let them find Him” (2 Chron. 15:3-4).

I possess several “flashlights.” You doubtlessly do, also. When you need to “see in the dark,” you
utilize one of your “lights.” But, just when you need them, you discover the light will not work.
Examination shows that the batteries are dead, making the flashlight of no benefit whatsoever!

The LORD is the power (battery) within the Light! He has given us His Word, the Holy Scriptures.
He enables us to see and understand. Further, He has sent ministers to us to explain His Word,
much like He sent the Apostle Paul and others. Their calling is auspicious. Our responsibility is to
hear what they say and study the Scriptures as He has given them.

There is coming a day of judgment, somewhat like we had in school. If you’re ready, all
will be well; if not, you will fail the test. It’s the last test. There is no other. Please, do be ready!!

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 1:1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has
come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

I have numerous bookcases that are filled to the max with books I have purchased over the years.
I also have a distinct memory of the persons who have built those cases. Surely, you don’t believe
that they simply “appeared” one morning as I entered my study. No, my bookcases have a beginning
point of origin, and the same may be said of the books that occupy their shelves.

The same may be said of our individual lives. There was a time when we did not exist. Then, there
was a time when we began to be known and were expected to be born into life. The same may be
said of everything we see of life that surrounds us –everything, except the Word, that is, the LORD
God Himself. It was He who made all that we see and all that we don’t see.

We are alive and enabled to view all that the LORD has created. We cannot view what He has
concealed from our view, but what we can see enables us to believe what we cannot see.
The LORD is the Light and through Him we are enabled to know what we cannot physically view.

It is by means of the word “Light,” that we are enabled to know what cannot be seen without Him.
Note, too, that it is the Light that dispels Darkness. Darkness is totally unable to expel Light! We
are to live in His Light. We come to know and understand because of the Light. Darkness
penetrates nothing. Light penetrates darkness!

Things that “hide” themselves in the darkness come into view when light is cast upon them. Thus,
when we live in the Light, we live in obedience to the LORD. The darkness is the realm of the
Evil One! Darkness overcomes nothing! Light reveals everything. Pray and consciously live in the
Light! It is our living in the Light that ultimately brings glory to the LORD.

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,

1 Peter 1:3-9, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

Of all the beneficial aspects of life –and there are many— the most blessed is that of the “living hope” we
obtain from our LORD Jesus Christ. Had Christ Jesus not risen from the dead, we would be forever deprived of even the slightest hope of eternal life with Him in Heaven.

Simon Peter tells us that this life is the divine inheritance of all who have believed in Him. What’s more, we need have no fear of losing that inheritance, since it is divinely guarded and preserved for those who are themselves protected by His power.

His protection is additional proof of our faith in Him as our LORD and Savior. Our praise, our glory, and our honor of Him are all further proofs of our love and trust in His eternal protection.

Do you have that kind of trust in the LORD Jesus Christ? It is available to you and to all, who know Him as their Savior and LORD. It is my prayer that you know Him. You can trust Him! Don’t neglect to do it.

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 3:1-7, “Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from
God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot
see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second
time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God.
6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”

Controversy rages today over whether a newly-born baby should, under virtually any conditions, be aborted. Liberals view life as optional, except where their own lives are involved. It’s a serious issue that
has worked itself into the “moral equivalence” thought of who has the right to die when he or she could otherwise live.

Nicodemus, a distinguished ruler of the Jewish people, decided to put the question to Jesus. Thus, it was Jesus who gave him the answer saying, “…unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” The mention of the phrase “born again” prompted Nicodemus’ response, asking how could one possibly be born a second time?

Jesus reply noted that there were two possible births. One was the human, physical birth; the other was the spiritual birth. Jesus then followed up his mention of “born of water” by saying, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh…” The first birth is natural; the second is spiritual. And He insisted on mankind being “born” in the spiritual sense of the word.

The truly essential question is: Have you been born again? It is not whether you are a member of a particular church, or have been baptized by full immersion in water. It is whether you have confessed your sins to the LORD Jesus Christ, asked His forgiveness, and trusted His Word, as stated in the Scriptures. This, and this alone, is what constitutes a person a true Christian!

When you have received Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, He becomes Lord of your life and effects control of everything you do. He will reveal more and more of Himself from the Bible, and the Holy Spirit will take up residency in your heart and life, showing you the way to live as stated in the Bible. You will receive added instruction from a Biblical pastor and/or true Christian friends. It’s a whole new life! And it’s your’s by faith alone!

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