The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 6:13-17, “Then God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.’
14 “Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch.
15 “This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
16 “You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.
17 “Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish.’”

The enormous difficulties our nation is currently facing has prompted not a few to announce their belief that the end of the world is coming. It’s not easy to make such a prediction because
our world has suffered more enormous difficulties than one could easily resurrect. I came into
this world just short of World War II. Adults of that time had much the same thought as those
who are today predicting the world’s end.

We must not become so focused on the evil that encompasses us, that we lose spiritual perspective on everything! We must look to Holy Scripture for what the LORD says.

Yes, He is coming! Still, the exactness of that time, He reserves unto Himself. Noah faced the
same situation in his day. He was ordered to prepare the Ark for the safety of his household.
But, he was not told when the flood was coming! That’s the lesson we need to learn. The
corruption that is being unearthed at the highest levels of our government is indeed greater
than history reveals of previous immoralities. And it is in such a time as these that He will
come! Yet, we are instructed to be ready!

Those of us who are ready are responsible to awaken those who are asleep to the LORD’s
warning: “”Violence will not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise. No longer will you have the sun for light by day, nor for brightness will the moon give you light; but you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, and your God for your glory” (Isa. 60:18-19).

Corruption in government is present throughout the world! Jesus’ Coming will rescue His
people from all sin and despair. Evil will ultimately be eradicated completely, along with all who are complicit in sin. The big question is: Are you ready to replace your sin with His Love and Grace? It’s the only way to truly 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,

Exodus 18:21-23, “”Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who
fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over
them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
22 “Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they
will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So, it will be easier
for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
23 “If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and
all these people also will go to their place in peace.”

Were we to apply these wise words of Jethro to Moses today, we would do well to find
even a few “able men who fear God, men of truth…those who hate dishonest gain.” Were
we, by chance, to find some, they are to “fear God,” be “men of truth,” men who “hate dishonest gain,” and men who were capable of leading thousands.”

There are, of course, those who pretend to be what they are not. When Constantine of
ancient Rome died, there was a herd of harsh family and servants, who vied for the
possessions, title, and even leadership of the nation. Even at a Church dinner, some will
feign passing up the most desirable piece of chocolate cake — until no one is looking!

True honesty emerges from humility. But when the “name of the game” is “snatch & grab,”
we look in vain for an honest player. Jethro was right, to be sure. He evidently had never
played with the “big boys.” In the LORD’s realm, they are called “truthful, honest men,”
and they were ultimately elevated to leadership among the LORD’s people.

There are numerous individuals today, who want to be leaders. There are fewer, however,
who are qualified to be such. Leadership comes from His appointment, not from contest.
Those who self-qualify are seldom truly able. Those who are prayerful, then lead through
spiritual prayerfulness. And it is through that prayerfulness that the LORD demonstrates
those He wants to lead.

Be willing to be a good and close follower of Jesus. The closer you are to Him, the more
qualified you become for wider and deeper leadership. Some are seeking leaders they can
follow; and they will always be found in the “spiritual dependency” group.

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,

Exodux 33:12-16, “Then Moses said to the LORD, ‘See, You say to me, “Bring up
this people!” But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, “I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.”
13 “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people.”
14 And He said, ‘My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.’
15 Then he said to Him, ‘If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up
from here.
16 ‘For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people?
Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from
all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?’”

There are a number of ways a person can be known. One can be known by the
company he keeps. One can be known by the language he uses. It’s not even
whether our physical features favor those who have given us birth; it’s a matter of
whether our behavior reveals that we have absorbed those with whom we are
keeping company.

Moses originally doubted whether he was capable of accomplishing what the LORD
intended for him to do. Ultimately, he resigned himself and the task to the LORD.
He had to come to the place where he recognized that it was not whether he could
accomplish the LORD’s task, but whether the LORD could accomplish it with him
in the way.

Don’t we resemble Moses more than we admit? When the LORD gives us a task,
Instead of just trusting Him and forgeing ahead, we take a long a look at all of the
difficulties and want to resign altogether. “Send somebody else,” we say. “I’m not
up to Your task. I don’t know enough Bible. I get tounge-tied and don’t know what
to say.

I had a friend in Australia — a one-time German soldier, yes, an unwilling Nazi –
who came to know Christ through an elderly woman who stu..t..ter…ed. Don’t tell
the LORD His business. He knows who’s who and what’s what. Just trust Him to
use you as He wants. In the end, you will thank and praise Him for what He has
done! 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,

Matthew 5:27-33, “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’;
28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30 “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.
31 “It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’;
32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’”

These words of our LORD Jesus Christ are quite pointed and intended for us all. They
are not words that are easy on our ears or on our eyes. It is indeed difficult for us to
even imagine such to be true in the lives of those that we love. Nevertheless, we are
to accept Jesus’ words as directed at us, not merely at others. His intention is obviously
a display of the sinfulness of all human hearts.

What makes this even more difficult is the fact that we all (you who are reading and I
who am writing) have here within been accused of immoral attitudes as well as activities.
Christ commences these accusations by noting the external activity of the human eye. Undoubtedly, the lustful observation of the eyes leads eventually to the physical activity
of adultery. Jesus’ forthright remedy is to savagely sever either the hand or the eye
rather than suffer being cast into hell.

Divorce, too, is unacceptable in His sight. He does not pause to consider who in the
marital relationship was right and who was wrong, He only allows that divorce of the
union of two persons is unacceptable, just as it is for either to then remarry another, so
long as the original party still lives.

It is the clear understanding of this Biblical position that ultimately led to the phrase “’till
death do us part” in the wedding ceremony. In all of the Scripture, the validity of these situations is clearly stated. It is also a prohibition to make any “false vows” (vs. 33). The
LORD takes seriously the attitudes that precede and accompany the union of His people.
May we always live by His standards, knowing that He will always provide for the needs
of those who love Him.

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,

Matthew 5:16-20, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

There is an old Johnny Mercer – Pied Pipers’ song that contained the following lyrics:

Accentuate the positive;
Eliminate the negative;
Latch on to the affirmative;
And don’t mess with Mister In Between.

I haven’t heard those lyrics for years or the music that enveloped them. Yet, as I thought
of the Matthew passage above, that old song came to mind. Verses 16 and 17 are positives. We are to let our light shine – not that others might glorify us, but that they might glorify our LORD Jesus Christ. Is He being glorified by your demeanor? by your language? by your
associations?

There is coming a day (vs. 18) when all that the LORD has constructed will be destroyed (eliminated). The heavens and the earth and all that is in them will be divinely destroyed; and in their place everything will be newly constructed.

The Commandments of the LORD are also to be obeyed! When we ignore or discard the LORD’s teachings, by default, we encourage others to ignore them, too. We learn, then we teach –sometimes intentionally, sometimes by default. Nevertheless, it is teaching, and we will be held accountable for ourselves and for others.

The scribes and the Pharisees taught people; and they are to be held accountable for their teachings. What we possess from the LORD and from His Word far surpasses what the scribes and Pharisees taught. Yet, if we neglect to teach what the LORD taught us, we are sure to be held accountable!

Get into the Word! Read and study it daily! Share it and its principles with others. Reach out and make a difference in someone else’s life. That brings glory to our LORD Jesus!

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