The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 10:25, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to

enter the kingdom of God.”

Kids do some strange things! When we were hardly in our teens, my “pals” and I inevitably

discovered the multiple caves that just begged to be explored. One cave, I remember so clearly,

had a very narrow opening; and even the skiniest of us had to squeeze to get through the opening. Once inside, however, there was “much” to explore.

Funny, how that cave experience came to mind when I was reading that “camel” verse in seminary.

It had always come to me just as it reads. But some “scholar” somewhere decided that there was a

very small entrance to an ancient city that required a camel’s load to be removed before he could get through the narrow entrance; so someone named it “The Needles Eye.”

Well, the Greek word for “needle” here is ???????, rhaphidos, a sewing needle; and Jesus was focusing on the difficulty for those who trust in their riches, instead of Him, to get to Heaven, through the needle’s “eye.”

Jesus often used stories in order to make His point with the multitudes. Let’s admit it: we all like stories! But how are we to understand Jesus’ meaning with the way He said it in our verse above? He was using hyperbole, a figure of speech that’s an intended exaggeration for the sake of emphasis.

What Jesus said not only applies to riches; it applies to everything except faith and trust. We must trust Jesus for salvation and Heaven! There is no other way. It’s not by having good morals, or by joining a church, or by helping the poor. It’s only by faith in Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross and arose from the dead. He alone was the Father’s sacrifice for our sins. Many may just squeeze through, but it’s still only by faith. Trust in Jesus; there is no other way.

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,

Revelation 1:19, “Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall take place after these things.”

Have you ever wondered what is going to happen tomorrow? Do you ever arise in the morning with

concern over what might happen that very day? I’m sure we all have. What’s more, we’ve all thought

about the future –far into the future. How long will I live? How long will the world last? How long—?

You might wonder how a verse like this could be called a “key verse,” since it says so little. It is the

“key verse” because it reveals the general outline and content of the Revelation. This verse reveals the past, the present, and the future. The word Revelation in English is comprised of two segments: “reveal” and “tion,” which means “the act of.” In Greek, the word is ??????????, apokalupsis, which means the “unveiling” or the “disclosure.”

To be sure, there are things “which you have seen” that you did not understand, just as there are

things “which are,” that you do not understand; and there are things “which shall take place,” that, up to this very time, we have not understood its meaning. Is the Revelation going to tell us everything? Not everything, but as much as scholars understand and reveal; and as much as the LORD Jesus wants us to know.

One central theme must be remembered throughout: JESUS is the theme, and the Central Person

throughout the entirety of the book. Some Bibles carry a title on the first page of the Revelation that reads, “The Revelation of Saint John the Divine”; however, that designation is in error. It is “The Revelation of the LORD Jesus Christ.” He is what this book is all about, just as the entire Bible focuses ultimately on Him.

Is it any mystery, therefore, why the Bible always points people to Jesus? Have you not noticed that my emphasis is always encouraging readers to 1) stay focused on the Word; 2) stay focused on prayer; and 3) follow Christ’s directive to witness to others of His saving grace? He is what it’s all about! He is the one and only Savior! And He is the One who is Coming Again! Get ready, because just when you think you have time to prepare, He is at the door, and it’s too late!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

NOTE: Those of you who are in my Small Groups Class at Cross Church, might want to retain this outline.

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,

Jude 1:3, “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

I won’t ask if you’ve ever started a task and then abandond it in favor of another one. It would be my guess that we’ve all done that –maybe more than once. So, it’s not surprising that we would encounter a biblical writer who did the same.

Jude was intending to write to believers about the “common salvation” they all had. I won’t speculate on what he intended to write because I simply don’t know. Nor do I know what Jude’s believer-friends needed to understand. Whatever the situation, they needed to be encouraged to “contend earnestly

for the faith.”

What we do know is that Jude sensed that these believers needed to more earnestly to “contend for the faith.” Friberg’s Analytical Greek Lexicon translates the word contend (????????????, epagonizomai) as “strenuous effort” or “struggle” on behalf of the Christian faith. That doesn’t tell us everything Jude felt those believers needed, but it does tell us that they were letting up a bit in their evangelistic endeavor.

They were a lot like us: they were just too comfortable. They had other “pressing matters” that were

demanding (and getting) their attention. Are you like that? Am I? We need to take inventory of just

how eager and enthusiastic and serious we are in reaching others for Jesus Christ! We need to remember that He is what it’s all about. We can dig deeply in the Word (and we should); we can become zealously active in the Church (and we should); we can give monitarily to home and foreign missions enterprizes (and we should). But what about our personal witness? What about our love for Him that compels us to share His salvation story?

I know we’re currently under a worldwide pandemic. But, that is all the more reason for us to reach

out to others. Some are worried beyond belief! They are facing the prospect of contamination, possibly

death. They’re thinking more seriously about eternity.

Jude was right in being concerned for the believers in his time. We should be concerned for those in

our time! Develop a strategy: use email, Gospel tracts, general conversation that includes Jesus…

It’s not yet too late, but it’s getting that way. What’s more, Jesus’ return is closer today than it was

last week. Let’s do it –for His glory!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

3 John 1:8, “Therefore, we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers with

the truth.”

Things that are large often create more attention than things that are small. But should they? Some books contain over 700 pages; but are they better than a book of only 130 pages? It all depends on the purity and accuracy of the content.

The Apostle John wrote this third letter many years after the Resurrection and Ascension of

Jesus Christ. It has only one chapter of 14 verses, but contains some valuable advice for the early church. What appears to be the essential thrust of the letter is that Gaius and others always walk (live) in truth. Just stick with the truth of the Bible!

He also commends the church for entertaining strangers –people who embraced the same biblical faith, but are personally unknown to the church. I’m grateful for John’s emphasis on

this because I’ve often been the “stranger,” who was welcomed into the homes of believers.

Whether John also intends to subtly contend for missionary activity, I’m not sure. Such was the thrust of the early Church; yet the apostle urges the opposite in his second letter (2 Jn. 1:10), when he warns against allowing anti-Christian “missionaries” into your house to share their anti-Christian religions.

John then draws focus on two men with respect to their personal attitudes. Diotrephes, whose name translates, “cherished by Zeus,” is unfortunately, still with us! He was one of those who thought he knew everything and, therefore, should be the only one to decide who should be allowed in the church, either as a member or simply as a visiting brother. Unfortunately, church “bosses” have outlasted the Apostle John now by some 2,000 years.

Demetrius, on the other hand, was a model Christian. It’s interesting to note that his name is

the same as the Demetrius of Acts 19, who opposed the Apostle Paul’s denunciation of the Greek goddess, Artemis. Is it possible that the two men could be one and the same person?

In any event, John found this Demetrius most commendable. Yes, we should commend the

commendable in our churches; and we should oppose and pray for the Diotrephesians.

In summary, therefore, John’s advice reaches us through the centuries saying, “Let Christ live

in and through your life.” Be a model believer; be missioin-minded: pray for and support those who are sharing the Gospel in foreign lands. Don’t be too big for your spiritual britches! Work

with the godly leaders in your church and earnestly share Christ with the lost.

What a challenge we have! Yet, Christ is with us!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

2 John 1:7-8, “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not

acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may

receive a full reward.”

Do you know people who latch on to whatever comes along? I knew a woman who said,

“Whatever my pastor believes, that’s what I believe.” Well, it’s commendable to have a pastor

in whom one can have confidence, but sometimes that confidence can be overly misplaced. When it is, everything resident in Scripture falls into uncertainty. Years ago, one pastor was overheard to say, “I don’t believe all I hear preached. I don’t believe all I preach.” That’s extremely dangerous, even if it were to have been said in jest.

Faith is far too valuable to be linked with any person other than the LORD Jesus Christ. In his first letter, the Apostle John wrote, “…even now many antichrists have arisen…” (1 Jn. 2:18). John was not speaking of the Antichrist, but of those who resembled him in that they were preaching contrary to Holy Scripture. A whole lot of such men dominate the scene today!

Jesus Himself said, “See to it that you be not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is at hand’; do not go after them” (Lk. 21:8). He cites many things in that same passage as warnings to us. Just be careful. I’m not seeking to discourage your confidence in your pastor; but I am urging you to “fact-check” every pastor and teacher of the Word, myself included.

Why is all of this so important? Read the text above. What does it clearly say? The first reason is that what has been accomplished thus far in the church, might not be destroyed. And the second reason is that believers might not lose their Heavenly reward. The two are inextricably connected.

Some days ago, the President of the United States awarded a Medal of Honor to a soldier for his bravery in saving a life on the field of battle. I can assure you that the soldier did not have that honor in mind when he risked his life to save the life of another. Nevertheless, the medal existed. If money and prestige and the like are so valuable to us on Earth, why would we want to lose what the LORD has as a reward for us in Heaven?

Find the pastor-teacher who loves the LORD and faithfully preaches and teaches His Word! Just remember that you alone are responsible for your belief in what is taught!

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