The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 6:5-8, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 And the LORD said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.’
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”

In my recent readings, I came across a story of a group of children lined up for lunch in a Catholic school cafeteria. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. One of the nuns had written a note saying, “Take only one. Remember, God is watching.” At the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies where one of the students had also written a note saying, “Take all you want! God is watching the apples!”

I have no statistics to support my contention, yet I seriously doubt that there is a child (or an adult) anywhere in the world who has not at some time or other engaged in a mischievous activity thinking, “No one has seen me; no one will ever know.”

Yet, the Scripture quoted at the commencement of this Letter says otherwise. The LORD sees everything! What’s more, He knows the intention of every heart with respect to every activity of everyday life. The Hebrew word translated “saw” (raah) is mentioned more than 1900 times in the Scriptures. God is abundantly busy!

“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout
the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart
is completely His” (2 Chr. 16:9).

One day we will all stand before Him to give an account of our stewardship. His concern will overwhelm things like apples and cookies. He knows the intention behind every act, whether it be good or bad. It just might be well for each of us to take care how we live our lives. What seems small and hardly worth the mention now, will be of gargantuan proportions then. Most of all, He wants you to be His child now. You can come to know Him by sincerely praying, “I’m sorry for my sin against you, Father. Please forgive me and make me Your child.” At this point, your life will have charted a new course! He will then be your Father, if you will only believe 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,

Psalm 37:23-28, “The steps of a man are established by the LORD; and He delights in his way.
24 When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging bread.
26 All day long he is gracious and lends; and his descendants are a blessing.
27 Depart from evil, and do good, so you will abide forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice, and does not forsake His godly ones; they are preserved forever; but the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.”

It is utterly unquestionable but that the LORD is ever and always in control over the events in the universe. We know that He controls the heavenly bodies, and through them He controls light and energy as it befalls the earth.

At the same time, we are forced to admit that man often fails in his multiple attempts to be in charge and exercise his own control over the universe. Still, the Psalmist argues that man is subject to failure, and would be fallen forever were it not for the Hand of the LORD strengthening him. In fact, throughout his lifetime, this psalmist has never seen the righteous forsaken by the LORD.

It is the contention of the Scripture immediately before us that the LORD is gracious in His provisions for the righteous. The LORD loves justice, and He forsakes not a single one who is righteous. In fact, His godly ones “are preserved forever,” while the wicked will be cut off.

This leaves those of us who are committed to Christ without a single, valid complaint. Verse 31 goes on to say, “The law of his (the righteous man’s) God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.” Instead of presuming on the grace of God, we would do well to be grateful for His love and provisions for us. It’s about time we said, “Thank You, LORD” and lived
with gratitude for all He is and does.

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,

Psalm 45:6-7, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Thy kingdom.
7 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness; therefore God, Thy God, has anointed Thee with the oil of joy above Thy fellows.”

When the United States of America was first formed, it was the consensus of our Founding Fathers that it should be a Republic instead of a Monarchy, as in Great Britain. In the most recent issue of The Herald of Hope Magazine, Associate Editor, Vince Wall, authors a piece entitled “The Everlasting Reign,” in which he notes the dedication of the late Queen Elizabeth II to our LORD Jesus Christ. I was impressed to reprint a portion of it for our Grands Letter readers.

“When Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1953, the Orb was presented to her along with these words: ‘Receive this Orb set under the cross and remember that the entire world is subject to the power and Empire of Christ our Redeemer.’”

“Her Majesty, the Queen, made sure that people viewing her funeral would hear the words of the one and only Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Christ’s words rang out in the Cathedral and all around the world as the Bible was read during the service: ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die’ (Jn. 11:25-26).

“The Queen knew that there was a Greater Ruler than herself and that there were greater mansions beyond her earthly palaces. Again, the words of Jesus resonated throughout the Cathedral:

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that
believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live; and whosoever liveth and
believeth in me shall never die” (Jn. 11:25-26).

“When Queen Elizabeth died, she left everything behind, including her Corgis, her crown, her carriages and her castles. More important than her possessions, our Queen left behind something of great value for all to share. She left her words of wisdom, spoken in her annual Christmas addresses.” In the year 2000, Queen Elizabeth II stated in her Christmas address:

“To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to live my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example…Throughout my life, the message and teachings of Christ have been my guide and in them I find hope.”

What ought to impress us all in the Queen’s words is that one can be ensconced in a superior position of responsibility and yet be out-spoken for the LORD Jesus Christ. How out-spoken are you of Him? Behavior
certainly must support our contention. In other words, we have to be
something before we can do anything to the praise of His glory! The big
question is: are we?

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 26:24-31, The LORD appeared to him (Isaac) the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you, and multiply your descendants, for the sake of My servant Abraham.”
25 So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.
26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath and Phicol the commander of his army.
27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?”
28 They said, “We see plainly that the LORD has been with you; so we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you,
29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.'”
30 Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank.
31 In the morning they arose early and exchanged oaths; then Isaac sent them away and they departed from him in peace.”

It’s amazing how humanly natured some people are when they assess that you are stronger. At the same time, it’s amazing how strong some people are when they simply put their trust in the Hands of the LORD!

In the earlier verses of this same chapter (Genesis 26), Isaac and his servants were digging wells. There was a famine in the land at that time, and water was one commodity that no one could do without. For a time, there was quarreling over the water. Yet, in time, the two groups came together and agreed upon an oath.

What occasioned Isaac’s men to agree with those who oppossed them concerning the wells, was simply the Hand of the LORD. Abimelech, King of the Philistines, assessed that Isaac was the stronger of the two. And Isaac’s strength and Abimelech’s conclusion were due to the Hand of the LORD.

Occasionally, Christians suffer confrontation from non-believers. Yet, the key to friendship always comes from the Hand of the LORD. Like the well-diggers of Isaac, congeniality came when they all agreed to be friendly and took an oath to that end.

Don’t give up on your friends that don’t know Christ Jesus, even when they disagree. Just as the LORD orchestrated unity between Abimelech’s and Isaac’s men, He will orchestrate peace between you and your unsaved friends. Inasmuch as Christianity is stronger, we must take the first few steps. We are not alone! “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…” (Psa. 37:23).

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,

Psalm 118:21-29, “I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.
23 This is the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 O LORD, do save, we beseech You; O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and He has given us light; bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, I extol You.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

The praise the psalmist raises clearly envisions the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ! Yes, it is from the Old Testament the psalmist is speaking; yet, what could be greater or more worthy of praise than the writer’s greatest anticipation — than the Son of Promise, the One who would take away the sin of the earth?

The world into which the LORD Jesus came was as turbulent as the day in which we currently live. It could be debatable whether our day or that of the psalmist needed Him the most. The psalmist’s day was in turmoil; yet, so is ours!

Let us join with David the psalmist who said, “You are my God, and I give thanks to You…” Set aside the presents for which we looked as children, and look toward Heaven. The Greatest Gift indeed has come!
Merry CHRISTmas!

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