The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Joel 2:11-17, “The LORD utters His voice before His army; surely His camp is very great, for strong is He who carries out His Word. The day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome, and who can endure it?
12 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, ‘Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning;
13 And rend your heart and not your garments.’ Now return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.
14 Who knows whether He will not turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, even a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?
15 Blow a trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room and the bride out of her bridal chamber.
17 Let the priests, the LORD’S ministers, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, ‘Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not make Your inheritance a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they among the peoples say, “Where is their God?”

Remember how your mother used to call you? Megaphones in those days were
reserved for the city officials (police and fire). Well, my mother WAS the megaphone, as far as I was concerned. She didn’t have to call me but once! Why she called was infinitely of greater value than what I was doing, whatever it was! Here, the prophet urges the people to return to the LORD. And what He had for
them (and has for us!) is infinitely greater than what we are gaining for ourselves.

The cry that Joel urges upon the people is identical to what we need today! Joel knew that they were living in their last days! We may well be living in our last days,
too! In any event, His days are certainly superior to ours! Is it not to our advantage
to live as He wills us to live? Do we not know that it is His Love for us that prompts
Him to be so urgent for our redemption?

There are some interesting, old abandoned cities in the west. As interesting as they are to visit, no one would want to live there today. None of the amenities we require (running water, et al) are available there now. Such is the contrast between the stupendous living conditions in Heaven and the conditions we have available on earth today.

Listen to Joshua (24:15): “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…, but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Please don’t miss out! There is life beyond this life. And
the LORD longs for you to spend eternity with Him. Accepting Jesus as your LORD and Savior is the key to heaven’s door.

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