The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 5:22-27, “Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he
became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters.
23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
25 Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamech.
26 Then Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years after he became the
father of Lamech, and he had other sons and daughters.
27 So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and he
died.”

To a large number (perhaps I should say, “most”) of the people living on earth today
seek to avoid even thinking of death. Many pastors avoid the subject of death because
it is “uncomfortable” to them and their congregations. Things that we don’t understand
are always discomforting. At the same time, reality must be allowed to invade our
thinking. I have twice experienced hand surgery (once without anesthetic). The latter
was so painful that I still cringe at the thought of it.

Yet, there were two men in the whole of history whom the LORD preserved from
physical death: Enoch (Gen. 5:24) and Elijah (II Kngs 2:11). What’s more, you and I are promised eternal life if we turn from our sin and humbly ask the LORD Jesus to forgive
us and save us eternally. The experience is as simple as it is sincere.

There is no clear explanation in Scripture as to why the LORD spaired Elijah. But, Paul says in Hebrews 11:5: “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death;
AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the
witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God (Heb. 11:5). The answer
seems all wrapped up in the old hymn: “We’ll understand it better by and by.”

For those of you who have genuinely trusted Jesus as your LORD and Savior, let me
urge you to pray for your pastor, your family, your nation, and for Israel. Say what you
will, Israel is “the apple of His Eye” (Zech 2:8).

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