The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Jeremiah 5:23-31, “…this people has a rebellious, unruly heart; they have rebelled and gone!
24 Nor do they say to themselves: ‘Now we ought to fear Yahweh our God who gives the rain, of autumn and of spring, at the right season, and reserves us the weeks appointed for harvest.’
Your misdeeds have upset all this, your sins have deprived you of these blessings.”
26 Yes, there are wicked men among my people who watch like fowlers on the alert; they set traps and they catch human beings.
27 Like a cage full of birds so are their houses full of loot; they have grown rich and powerful because of it,
28 they are fat, they are sleek, in wickedness they go to any lengths: they have no respect for rights, for orphans’ rights, and yet they succeed! They have not upheld the cause of the needy.
29 Shall I fail to punish this, Yahweh demands, or on such a nation to exact vengeance?
30 Horrible, disgusting things are happening in the land:
31 the prophets prophesy falsely and the priests exploit the people. And my people love it! But when the end comes, what will you do?”

Have you ever met a truly wicked person? I’ve met some whose activities
could possibly brand them as “wicked.” Yet, I want to be careful. I am not
qualified to call anyone wicked. Such qualifications rest only with the LORD Himself.

I’m sure I’ve shared with you my maternal grandfather’s experience as a fruit inspector for the county in which he then lived. He said he had never before seen strawberries as nice as the ones that graced the top level of a three-level display. That one level could have in itself given the Grand Prize to the owner.

The second level of strawberries, however, lacked the luster of the first
level. “They’re like that top level all the way through,” the owner said.

“I’m sure they are,” my grandfather replied. “However, it’s my responsibil-ity to examine them all, so we’ll look at the other levels, as well.” But when he reached the bottom level, the boxes were filled with putrid, rotten
strawberries!

There’s more to this story than I will share at this point, except to say that
our lives, like those strawberries, are subject to continual, spiritual inspection. The LORD examines us ever more thoroughly! We may appear spiritual to others on Sunday, as we enter the church premises and mingle among our Christian friends; yet, once separated from the church grounds, thoughts of spiritual matters escape in favor of the secular. Yes, “…my people love it! But when the end comes, what will you do?”

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