The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 8:16-18, “”Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.
17 “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
18 “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”

These verses have always been exciting to me! For one thing, they are practical to the nth degree! The purpose of every lighted lamp is to make one’s surroundings easier to negotiate and to encourage everyone not to try and walk in the dark. My maternal grandmother comes to mind with this initial verse. I used to urge her to turn on a light when she was working in the kitchen; but she would say, “I can see. I don’t need a light.” But there were times when she did need light; and in those times, she admitted to their value.

People who intentionally do wrong always resist the light. They don’t seem to understand that everything will eventually become known when the Light comes on and reveals it. Jesus openly acknowledges that He is the Light of the world (see John 8:12 and 9:5).

Jesus also warns: “Take care how you listen.” Here He shifts the thought from “sight” to “sound.” He is the Author of both. What we do will be seen by others and will influence them as to the direction of their lives. What we say will be of influence, also, whether for good or for bad. The one who has will be given more; and the one who does not have will find that he has much less than he thought.

There are numerous meanings that could be understood from what Jesus said. One thing is sure: if you think you have it all, even that can be suddenly snatched from you. So, focus on Christ Jesus, and you will have all you’ve ever needed and more! Turn away from Him, and you will lose everything of value –and for all eternity.

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,

Luke 8:11-15, “Now the parable is this: the seed is the Word of God.
12 ‘Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the Word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.
13 ‘Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 ‘The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
15 ‘But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the Word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.’”

If you’re like I am, you don’t have much success in planting things for growth. Some women I know can virtually throw seeds in the air and over their backs and have growth seemingly overnight. I’ve never figured out how they do it.

Someone has said that the definition of a parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” Jesus identifies the Seed here as “the Word of God.” He then shares His parable of the Seed, identifying it as having been sowed “beside the road… on rocky soil… among thorns… and on good soil.”

The devil is actively endeavoring to remove the Seed before it has opportunity to grow. Just hearing the Word of the LORD is not in itself salvation. One must believe the Word by faith and commit himself to Jesus in order to be saved.

Temptation is first the thought and then the act of doing what is patently wrong in the eyes of the LORD. It is like a luscious fruit before the eyes. Temptation says there will be time for the Seed later on; so the Seed is ignored for now.

Others hear the Word speaking to them of salvation. They are excited for the moment, but they run with the wrong crowd. Their friends kick the Word aside, so that it’s soon forgotten. Their ungodly activities leave no room for the Word.

The Word comes to others, telling them of Jesus; but they are encumbered by worries and pleasures that the world itself offers; so nothing takes root in their minds or hearts, and they soon forget all about it.

Thankfully, the LORD’s Seed –His Word—falls on some good ground! This human heart is open and the soul receives the Word with excited gladness! His Seed is then shared with others, making His fruit to bear well in the human heart and life.

The BIG and Vital Question is: have you heard and received the LORD’s Word? Have you allowed His salvation to invade you heart, so that you have come to know Him personally?

The hope of this world does not lie in politics or wealth or fame –or anything other than the Word of God and the personal commitment of our hearts and lives to Him. He alone is our salvation! Do you know Him? If not, why not? And if you do know Him, are you sharing Him with others that they might be saved? No one can be saved without knowing Jesus! And it is our responsibility to share Him with others. Some day the end will come, and each of us
will either reside with the LORD in Heaven or spend eternity in total separation from Him in Hell.

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,

Proverbs 28:10-14, “He who leads the upright astray in an evil way will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit good.
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
14 How blessed is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”

Have you ever had someone give you wrong information? Did he do it intentionally? We may never know; but the one thing we can know is if he did it intentionally, it will ultimately come back against him, and the honest man will “inherit the good.”

It’s funny to see those who trust in wealth and think they know it all; yet they are oblivious to those who are poor who see right through them. It’s much like the man of whom I read, who eluded the police for something like 20 years before he was caught. But, he was caught! The message is: You simply cannot do wrong and get by!

We all cheer when an honest person wins! But the one who cheats, always runs for cover. Why does he seek cover? It’s probably because he suffers shame. Dishonest people do suffer shame; but they seek to hide it, as if it meant nothing. Solomon says that even though the wicked seek to hide themselves, they will be caught and will suffer the loss of what they thought was worthy of their crooked scheme.

Solomon concludes with the words: “How blessed is the man who fears” for the wrong he has done! If he hardens his heart against honesty, he will suffer even more. There is no substitute for honesty! You can trust God’s Word above all else. Read it! Study it! Follow it! For when you are committed to Him, His Spirit teaches you as you read.

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,

Proverbs 28:4-9, “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive with them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all things.
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked though he be rich.
7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
8 He who increases his wealth by interest and usury gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.
9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”

Were you raised to tell the truth? I was; and for the most part, I obeyed and practiced what I was taught. Yet, when “push came to shove,” I was less obedient. Playing with a friend was more enjoyable that breaking for dinner. So, I stayed far away from my mother’s call. When she asked if I heard her call, I could honestly say “no.” I knew it was wrong when I avoided hearing her call, but I justified what I did by what I honestly said.

I’m not sure whether Solomon ever engaged in such deviousness, but I am sure he understood the duplicity that originated in a wicked human heart. What evil people do not understand is justice. Only those who turn away from evil and trust the LORD understand it.

Would you agree with Solomon that it is better to have integrity than it is to be rich? We hear today of some outlandishly evil activities propagated by some extremely wealthy people. Some of the activities in which they engage are masked from the public, while their overt labels are marked “righteous” by themselves. These people ignore the poor while they increase their personal wealth. They may even believe that they live out-of-range of the LORD’s sight and voice, but they don’t! Prayer that comes from an intentionally wicked heart is itself an abomination to the LORD. The only prayer the LORD hears comes from an honest, earnest repentant heart is: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Have you prayed that prayer? “LORD, forgive me for my sins. Make me clean in thought and action. I trust You to forgive me. Here and now I give my life to You. Thank You, LORD for saving and cleansing me.” It’s the start of new and exciting Life!

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,

2 Peter 3:10-14, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless…”

As a kid, I think I remember a friend of mine destroying a plaything. It was something I would dearly loved to have possessed. “Why did you tear it up,” I asked. His reply was that it was his and he cold do what he wanted with it. There is no argument with a thought like that!

This passage above tells us that the day is coming when the LORD will come secretly and suddenly cause the elements with which He constructed the heavens and earth to be destroyed. We live in a world populated by people both rich and poor. The rich want to get richer, and the poor seem to have no hope, except for getting poorer. Since the LORD was the Earth and heavens’ Creator, He has every right to destroy what is His.

The big question, however, doesn’t concern the “destruction of the elements,” but what sort of people you and I will be when it all takes place. We are urged to be holy in conduct and looking earnestly for the Day of His Coming! Those of us who are believers in our LORD Jesus Christ and trust implicitly in His Word, “are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

Remember when your favorite aunt and uncle were coming to visit? Your mother barely had to urge you to get yourself chean and put on clean clothes. Simon Peter urges us to get ready for the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ. “Be diligent,” Peter says, “to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless…” Is you life clean? Has it been cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ? That’s what it takes to be ready for His Coming. Pray to Him for forgiveness for your sins; trust Him thoroughly to cleanse you and make yourself ready to meet Him. His Coming may be closer than you think!

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