The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Micah 6:6-8, “With what shall I come to the LORD and bow myself before the God
on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves?
7 Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin
of my soul?
8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you,
but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Have you ever counted the innumberable things for which you are held accountable?
If you have an automobile, you are accountable for procuring a license for owning
the car. You also need a license that shows you know how to safely operate that car?
If you have health insurance, there are factors your must supply to procure a health
card. If you own a house, you are required to pay an annual tax for owining it. If you
live in a neighborhood, you are doubtlessly required to upkeep your property to the
level of your neighbors.

There are spiritual requirements, too. Living justly is one of those requirements. I
have neighbors, who are honest, and since honesty is a spiritually required factor,
I am required to be honest in my dealing with my neighbors.

My neighbors are kind. I was teasing one of them, who was treating his grass with
fertilizer. He seriously offered to treat my grass as well. What a kind offer!

Still, the LORD goes further in that He requires that we “walk humbly” with Him.
There are eight distinct dictionary meanings for the word “humble.” Being humble
requires that we refrain from arrogance and possession of a feeling of superiority to
others. Rather, we are to believe ourselves to be of less value than that of others.

The English word “humble” comes to us from the Latin word humilis, meaning
“insignificant.” Except for the LORD’s view, that is precisely what we are: insignificant!
Yet, it’s when we are nothing, that we become something to Him and are wrapped in
His incalculable love. Think about all of that! It all appies to you –and to me!

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,

Genesis 19:15-22, “When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, ‘Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.’ But he hesitated. So, the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city.
17 When they had brought them outside, one said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away.”
18 But Lot said to them, “Oh no, my lords!”
19 “Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die…” Now, Lot presumes to take charge. How like that we are!
20 Now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) that my life may be saved.”
21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this request also, not to overthrow the town of which you have spoken.
22 “Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore, the name of the town was called Zoar (“insignificance”).”

What would you do if your house were collapsing around you? If would seem your best
opportunity for safety would be to get out! What would you do if a medic urged you to get
into the ambulance for an fast and vital trip to the nearest hospital? Again, it would seem best
if you were to follow his advice and get in the ambulance.

Abraham had been pleading with God for the release of Lot, his wife, and two daughters.
Lot, however, elects to argue with the angel about leaving! Where is he to go if he leaves?
We’re too often much like Lot. We know initially what we’re doing is wrong; the LORD has
Impressed upon us that we are wrong; yet, we continue to argue and debate with Almighty
God! How absolutely stupid is that?

This is one of those instances where I would argue that Lot brought it on himself. Faithfully, however, the LORD persevers, and instructs the angel clearly that Lot and his family must leave Sodom! Still, consistantly wrong and persistantly hesitant, Lot argues with the angel!

How many times must the LORD give orders to Lot? (How many times does He have to give orders to you and me?) When will we learn: 1) that the LORD is always right, and 2) that He
always has our best interest at heart? Think about it before you take that next step –whatever it is!

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,

Genesis 19:14-17, “Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, and said, ‘Up, get out of this place, for the LORD will destroy the city.’ But
he appeared to his sons-in-law to be jesting.
15 When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, ‘Up, take your wife and your
two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.’
16 But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands
of his two daughters, for the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought
him out, and put him outside the city.
17 When they had brought them outside, one said, ‘Escape for your life! Do not look
behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you
will be swept away.’”

What would you do if someone cried “FIRE”! Get out quickly”? Would your first thought
be that it was indeed urgent to depart. or that someone was simply joking? Which option
would you assess to be the wiser? It would seem more intelligent to flee the place that
was said to be on fire, would it not, than to stay behind and possibly lose your life?

Obviously, Lot had lost what faith he previously had; otherwise, he would not have
“hesitated” to follow the angelic directive. It was Solomon, also, who said, “There is an appointed time for everything; and there is a time for every event under heaven– a time
to give birth and a time to die (Eccl. 3:1-2). That is precisely what occurs when we allow
the principles and attitudes of spiritually lost persons to override the Biblical principles we were taught as children.

No, I don’t know the motivations of those who warn us of “dangerous things around the
corner.” Still, it makes sense to follow whatever argues for the preservation of life. Living without the sensitivity of what is more important, however, reveals severe weakness, to
say the least.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of
the devil” (Eph. 6:10-11). Considering wisdom from Godly people, who lived before us, is
the commencement of a safe and productive Christ-like life!

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,

Genesis 18:26-33, “So the LORD said, ‘If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city,
then I will spare the whole place on their account.’
27 And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although
I am but dust and ashes.
28 “Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because
of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
29 He spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said,
“I will not do it on account of the forty.”
30 Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are
found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are
found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.”
32 Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.”
33 As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD departed, and Abraham returned to his place.”

Do parents bargain? I don’t believe I ever thought of it just that way, but I learned as a
mere kid not to give up –at least, not easily. Years later, when positions were changed,
I thought back and realized what my parents must have been thinking when I challenged
them like my kids were now challenging me.

Maybe it’s not best to use the word “challenge” with respect to Almighty God. To do that
seems to put us both on the same level, when certainly we are not! No one has the
“footing” required when we use the word “level’ with respect to a mere man and his God.
I am certain Abraham thought of that much quicker than you or I. God doesn’t play games!

Abraham, however, was thinking of Lot and his family over there in Sodom. The LORD was
the only One who could rescue them. Abraham had to put everything before the LORD!
He commenced slowly:

“Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city
because of five?” It seemed a reasonable request.

The LORD replied, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

Whew! “Suppose forty are found there?” Abraham said cautiously.

And again the LORD said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.”

With things going so well between them, Abraham remained in a de-escalating position and
worked his bargain with the LORD down to ten. Can you imagine doing such a thing? No?
We do it all the time! God is not unreasonable! But, He is ultimately in charge! He knew from
the beginning exactly how many “righteous” people resided in the City of Sodom.

We simply can’t play games with God –and win! He knows from eternity past, who will and
when we will attempt to bargain with Him over an infinite number of things! Just be smart!
Don’t get cute with God! Had Abraham not been in righteous standing before the LORD,
He would never have allowed the bargaining to even commence. What does that say about
us? Think about 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,

Genesis 18:22-26, “Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham
was still standing before the LORD.
23 Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24 “Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare
the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?
25 “Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous
and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?”
26 So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place
on their account.”

May I say without being trite that this passage reminds me of the kids’ game we all used to play. Oh, don’t you remember? It was called “Hide and Seek.”

No, I am not being crass or flippant in any way. I am simply seeing a balance in what the
LORD says and the game we all used to play.

Of course, the LORD had hidden nothing from Abraham, nor does He intend to do so.
Abraham has become great, as well as the human leader of “a great and mighty nation.”
Further, it is the LORD’s stated intention that he will become the father of many nations.
He has been Divinely chosen to model the way of the LORD to the other nations of the
earth.

Abraham is the LORD’s chosen that he might “keep the way of the LORD”; and this
Abraham does as the LORD leads and teaches him along the way. Yet, the cry of the
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah is exceedingly great! Their cry is the cry of sin and the
remorse that sin brings. Is it a real cry? What is the nature of the cry? The LORD
determines to inspect the cry and see if the sin is so great!

To understand the cry of a city is to understand the cry of its people. Thus, the LORD
executes an internal inspection to determine the nature and the seriousness of the cry.
He does the same with us –both as a nation and as individuals within the nation. What
will He discover in your life? What will He discover in mine? –or in our nations’?

If your guess is the same as mine, His discovery will not be pleasant. We have broken
virtually all of His commandments. He have scoffed at His Word, the Holy Bible; we have laughed at His directives for our lives. It is as if we believed ourselves to actually be God!
We have derided all of His insturctions; yet, He is now personally en route for His Official
Inspection!

“Oh, but that Inspection,” you say, “just regards God’s inspection of the cities of Sodom
and Gomorrah.” Yet, it is emblamatic of where we are in His world today! Read His
inspection with “fear and trembling.” Can our world be cleaned up in time for His Return?
It is doubtful. See what you think –even more, what you can do to rectify our world in
time for His Coming!

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