The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven–

2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.

4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.

5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away.

7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; a time to be silent and a time to speak.

8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.”

There is no question about the accuracy of Solomon’s words. There is certainly a time for every event under heaven. The circumstance of each and every event, however, determines (or ought to determine) how we approach the situation.

Generally speaking, we are excited about the birth of a child; therefore, it is appropriate (and expected) that we will rejoice with the parents in the child’s birth. Yet, with the pending death of a person, we are expected to be solemn and to offer sympathy to the family of the deceased. Selecting the proper attitude for a specific occasion is certain to gain the respected approval of the group.

When circumstances leave us in a quandary as to how to behave, we do well to be silent. In such times, however, we do well to be conscious of the LORD’s presence. He is always present regardless of the occasion.

I have a good friend who is Iranian. Politically, I sided with the recent bombing of the Iranian nuclear facilities. Had the occasion arisen, however, that I had been asked my opinion of the bombing, I would have shared sorrow over those who were killed, regardless of their political affiliation.

Solomon’s notations of the multiple circumstances in the verses above demonstrate how all-inclusive the LORD is in every conceivable situation. Just remember to pray. And when you pray aloud, lean heavily on the LORD in the manner of your expressions. Such will serve you and your hearers well when you do.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.” — Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Philemon 1:4-14, “I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;

6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.

7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,

9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you– since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus–

10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,

11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.

12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,

13 whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;

14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.”

How marvelous it is to commence a conversation with thanksgiving! Paul viewed Philemon as a dear and precious brother. We all have some of those, and we would do well to follow Paul’s example in commending them for their loving friendship.

At the same time, Paul has a sincere petition for which he needs Philemon’s help. Paul had met Onesimus while they were both imprisoned. Onesimus had previously been affiliated with Philemon, but at some point, he had robbed him and been imprisoned.

Paul led Onesimus to faith in Christ and was now appealing to Philemon to forgive the one who wronged him. How many of us would forgive those who have wronged us? Maybe you could think of some who have done you wrong and share the Gospel with them via the Gospel Tract attached below. The best way to get rid of your enemies is to make friends with them!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.” — Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Genesis 42:8-16, “…Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him. Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them and said to them, “You are spies; you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land.”

10 Then they said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.

11 “We are all sons of one man; we are honest men; your servants are not spies.”

12 Yet he said to them, “No, but you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land!”

13 But they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers in all, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no longer alive.”

14 Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you, you are spies.

15 By this you will be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here!

16 “Send one of you that he may get your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. But if not, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” Joseph had virtually become the ruler of Egypt. Previously, he had been sold into slavery by his brothers. Time had now passed, and the brothers were seeking food in a time of famine with which Egypt had been plagued. All of the brothers were now older and had outgrown the boyishness of their younger years. Joseph had learned the Egyptian language but had retained the Hebrew language which he had originally known. Thus, he had a decided advantage over his brothers, as they spoke among themselves about their home, their father, and their young brother, Benjamin.

Those of us who have come to know Jesus as our LORD and Savior have a decided advantage over others who do not know Him. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, giving us a clear advantage over those without Him. Joseph used his advantage to make his brothers understand the wrong they had done to him. It was nevertheless to Joseph’s advantage. Although he was technically a slave himself, Joseph’s primary allegiance was with the LORD. Thus, he dared not keep silence about his LORD. Those of us who are born-again Christians are somewhat in Joseph’s situation. We know the LORD Jesus, whom others do not know. We have the responsibility to share Him with them.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.” — Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

1 Kings 6:1-9, “Now it came about in the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.

2 As for the house which King Solomon built for the LORD, its length was sixty cubits and its width twenty cubits and its height thirty cubits.

3 The porch in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits in length, corresponding to the width of the house, and its depth along the front of the house was ten cubits.

4 Also for the house he made windows with artistic frames.

5 Against the wall of the house he built stories encompassing the walls of the house around both the nave and the inner sanctuary; thus, he made side chambers all around.

6 The lowest story was five cubits wide, and the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around in order that the beams would not be inserted in the walls of the house.

7 The house, while it was being built, was built of stone prepared at the quarry, and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any iron tool heard in the house while it was being built.

8 The doorway for the lowest side chamber was on the right side of the house; and they would go up by winding stairs to the middle story, and from the middle to the third.

9 So he built the house and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar.”

With all of his subsequent faults, it has to be said that Solomon truly knew how to build a glorious house for the LORD! And with current situations looking upward in Israel today, it may not be long before Israel commences to follow in Solomon’s steps.

We will do well, too, if we assess the details Solomon followed in his building and determine to be as precise in the quality of construction within our own lives. Sadly, Solomon was not as competent in the construction of his life. Hopefully, we will do better by following the Holy Spirit’s direction. Once we confess the sin that indwells us and have trusted the LORD Jesus for salvation, we are to follow His blueprint for our daily life. The way to be externally beautiful is to be internally beautiful. That commences with the confession of our sin and the dedication of our life to Him and His cause for all mankind. His Word clearly states His will for us, and that far surpasses the splendor created by Solomon.

How about our lives? Are they what the LORD desires? He is the Supreme Judge of us all; and we are responsible to clean and care for our lives on a regular basis.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.” — Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 5:10-17, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

12 We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.

13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;

15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Have you ever wondered why the LORD leaves you here on Earth? I certainly have. Oh, it’s not that I don’t love my family. I surely do! But my parents and grandparents have all gone on to be with Christ; so too has my wife. They’re all with Him, so life is certainly more than one’s family.

One day we, who truly know Jesus Christ, will stand before Him at what the Bible calls the Judgment Seat. At that time, He will assess the quality of our lives and whether we had attended well to the assignments He had given us while we were here on Earth. At that time, also, we will give an accounting for the things we have done and have not done. That will be far less than enjoyable!

Yet, we still have the opportunity to reclaim ourselves. There are lost souls who need our witness. There are straying souls who need our spiritual guidance and comfort. Our lives should demonstrate Christ before all mankind! Nor should we stand in the way of a brother or sister when they seek to honor Him. We are to be His “new creatures!” Others will notice our lives and ask how we managed to become what we are. At that point, we can tell them of Jesus! We are not responsible for whether they accept Him. But we are responsible to see that they have had the opportunity to receive Him! Are you with me? Okay, let’s go do it together!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.” — Corrie ten Boom