The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 24:35-42, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

37 “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.

38 “For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.

40 “Then there shall be two men in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left.

41 “Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.

42 “Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.

Prayers are in abundance this week as scores of Christians throughout the nation pray earnestly for the youths still missing in the Texas flood, their parents, relatives, and friends, as well as those who are risking their lives in the rescue operation.

Those who study the causes of such disasters are to be commended for their knowledge and attention to such matters. Still, they cannot always know the future regarding such cataclysmic events.

It would be remiss of me to omit the parallel that exists between natural disasters, such as this flood, and the disasters foretold in Scripture — disasters that are related to the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. They did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matt. 1:1).

Pray for all those who are concerned – and for the many who should be!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene

(Dado III)

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 Peter 1:3-8, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,”

I fear that I often overlook the precious and comforting letters of Simon Peter. He speaks of our being “born again,” “imperishable,” and being divinely “protected.”

If we are faithfully honest, we must respond to the validity of His words when He says that we are comfortably protected by His faithful, loving care. Yes, we are!

Does it seem to you that we’re a bit heavy on the receiving end of spiritual things while being lovingly comforted by the LORD? Doubtlessly, we don’t deserve it.

Yet, what blessing do we receive from Him that we do deserve? Let’s just be thankful and praise Him through a Christ-centered life for all His matchless blessings! It sure seems that way to me!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene

(Dado III)

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,

Romans 8:1-8, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

We who live in the United States like to celebrate! Still, I believe that most countries like to celebrate, too. The key to celebration, however, is having something worthy of celebration. Freedom is perhaps the number one reason for any celebration; currently that’s true on a national scale.

The Apostle Paul tells us in the Scripture above that freedom in Christ is the primary reason for celebration. “…the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set (us) free from the law of sin and of death.” As America celebrates her birth, I am celebrating my “spiritual birthday!” I was 7 years old when I came to know Christ as my Savior. Someday with more space, I will share it.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene

(Dado III)

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,

John 8:31-36, “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free?’” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 “So, if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

Virtually everyone loves freedom. Total freedom, however, is not available, nor should it be.

To many, simply wanting to do what they want to do is called freedom. Interestingly, the Dictionary offers 17 separate definitions for the word “freedom,” and the Bible offers the word but ten times in nine verses, seven of which are in the New Testament.

Unfortunately, to many people, the word “freedom” is a “do-what-you-want-when-you-want” concept. If that definition were to be allowed, and everyone utilized freedom to the extent he desired, the world would be in worse shape than it currently is!

In our Scripture verses above, the LORD Jesus was saying that freedom resides for those who reside in and follow Him. I recall a schoolteacher once saying, “This year, children, you are going to do just as you please…” The room “hummed” with glee. The only problem was that the teacher had not completed her sentence. Her completed direction said, “This year, children, you are going to do just as you please, so long as you please to do right!”

That directive works well when it’s complete and when the desire of those who heard it is to behave according to the LORD and His direction in the Scriptures. Are you there yet? Have you determined to obey the LORD, regardless of what you think? It is the only way to live. Remember this verse:

    “Train up a child in the way he should go,     and when he is old, he will not depart     from it” (Prov. 22:6).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene

(Dado III)

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,

Ephesians 3:1-7, “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;

3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.

4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;

6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.”

As I read the lines above, I was reminded of a man to whom I witnessed. He was a nice fellow, but he grasped the name of his church as his salvation. Nothing I said of Jesus Christ seemed to awaken in him his need for true, biblical salvation; he had his church! Unfortunately, many today rely upon church membership as the anchor of their eternal soul.

The Apostle Paul was Jewish by birth; but he was Christian by the New Birth! I spent many years as a pastor of numerous churches, baptized scores of people of all ages, yet I always sought to make the Main One—Jesus Christ—the Main One. He is the Savior of all who believe.

I was not long in Australia before a young girl, who had allegedly given her heart to the LORD, wanted me to baptize her. Suspecting that I was on track to become something of a “spiritual rock star,” I declined, referring her to her pastor.

Much later, when I was serving as interim pastor of a Baptist church, I baptized a young Aboriginal lady who had given herself to the LORD Jesus. Yet, baptism is nothing unless the one submitting to it has accepted Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior. Baptism is a sign of having accepted Christ; it is not a game! It is quite serious, although not “spiritually saving.”

Paul himself, writing to young Timothy, his young protégé, said, “Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel…” (2 Tim. 3:16). I can only add, “Amen!”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene

(Dado III)

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