The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 John 4:7-9, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.”

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead! The most feared and most heinous man in the world, leader of ISIS, the organization that physically terrorized the Middle East and psychologically terrorized much of the remainder of the world, succumbed to the explosion of his own suicide vest, taking the lives of his three of his children in the process.

It has now been reported that the whereabouts of ISIS’ second in command is known, and is targeted by American Special Forces. The sheer atrocities perpetrated by ISIS, and under the command of such vicious leadership, tend to make us cheer to know that they are no longer on the scene. But the question then comes, “Should we cheer at the death of anyone?”

The Old Testament book of Ezekiel is literally filled with the wrath of the LORD upon His people for their love of idols and gods that did not exist. He pours out His vengeful wrath upon them even as He excoriates them for their participation in vile, evil practices! Yet, oozing between the lines of His chastisement, is the reality of His tears of sadness. And it is that that prompts me to believe that even when His own people stray from His love, His love remains.

It is true that John’s verses above speak of believers loving believers (the word another (???????, allelon) meaning “another of the same kind”); yet, when we permit ourselves to reflect on the eternal state of those who die without Jesus Christ, are we so heartless as to “cheer” that they are dead? Is it not better that we cheer that others will not suffer at ISIS’ hand, than that we cheer that ISIS’ leaders are now in Hell?

I’m always encouraged to see players from the opposite team show genuine concern when a competitive player is hurt, than when they walk away with a smirk of glee. Do you see what I am saying? By all means, we should HATE ISIS’ ways!

We should deplore to the maximum the atrocious evil they work on their enemies! But we must as believers, separate them

from their ways. Whether we do, says more about us than it does about them. May God ever teach and love us all.

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,

1 John 1:1-4, “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life–

2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us–

3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.”

When I first studied Greek in college, our first lessons centered around this First Letter of the Apostle John. We were told that is was the easiest Greek in the New Testament, something we seriously doubted by the end of that lesson. What John does is give essential evidence of the reality of our LORD Jesus Christ. John had heard Jesus speak; he had visibly seen Jesus with his eyes; he had touched Him. Jesus Christ was real to John and He is real to us!

John wants us to have fellowship with Christ. He’s sharing with us the One who has come into close fellowship with him.

We’re a lot like that. When we find a new friend, we want to share that friend with others. I know the growing number of

friends to whom I send this Grands Letter. Sometimes, I encounter a new friend and think, “She should know her”; or “He should be acquainted with him.” Then I email the two individuals and seek to acquaint each with the other. That’s exactly what John is doing –only, the Friend he offers is Jesus Christ.

As I grow older, my fellowship with Christ grows, too. Perhaps the LORD is prompting me to let go of the things of this world as I move closer and closer to Eternity with Him. The truth is that things I have cherished throughout the years are of

far less value to me now than they were even in my recent past. What captivates my thinking is precisely what captivated John’s thinking in these verses: he is proclaiming his most prized possession: his Friend, Jesus Christ.

Why wait until life passes by so quickly? Start today/tonight and share Christ Jesus with those who have never met Him.

Have you met Him? I guarantee you that meeting Him and sharing Him with others will make your joy complete! There’s just nothing quite like it in this world!

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 Peter 3:15b-18, “…our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,

16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness,

18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

In most of these letters, I have been urging you to talk to others about the LORD Jesus Christ. If we were engaged in a two-way talking session, I could hear you say, But, I don’t know really what to say. I know we have the Scriptures, but there are some things in the Bible I just don’t understand. Well, you’re not alone. Did you notice that Peter said of Paul that wisdom was given to him; and, also, that there are things in his writings that are difficult to understand? See, in both cases, you’re not alone.

Wisdom differs from understanding in that wisdom is knowing when and how much to say. Understanding is knowing what the Bible message is and being able to explain to others what you know. I realize that it’s easier for me to write and encourage you to talk to others (many in your workplace) about Jesus, than it is for you to do the talking to them. But, the LORD put you where you are primarily to be a witness for Him!

At the same time, living in the Word daily and yielding to the Holy Spirit’s leadership will provide you with the “ammunition” you need to be His witness. “Be on guard” because you will encounter some, who are ready to deny what you are going to tell them. You’re not alone. Jesus had the scribes and chief priests (the intelligentia of that day) resist his teachings. Also, the lack of preparation on your part could you to “fall from your own steadfastness.” Don’t trust yourself; trust the LORD!!

Finally, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.” HE is what it’s all about! So, do all that you do for His glory, right up to the day of eternity. He will bless you exceedingly. Just remember: you are there where you live and work to share His Message of salvation, showing His Love. We want to see people saved, but it doesn’t always occur at the time we would like. Just be courageous and faithful. Leave the “timing” to the LORD! I am praying for you!

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 Peter 3:13-15, “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,

15 and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you…”

If you’ve ever had someone promise you something and then seem to forget all about it, you have an understanding of how some

believers in the first century felt. The LORD Jesus had promised to return for those who had trusted and believed in Him. But He hadn’t come! Paul, Peter, John and others had written about His promise, but nothing had yet come to pass.

Believers were tired of living in a world saturated with evil and crime and the fears that such things brought. Jesus faithfully promised that He would return and take His believers with Him to “new heavens and a new Earth, in which righteousness dwelled,” a place of peace, where all fear and tragedy were eliminated. Some were becoming weary of waiting. Is He ever going to come?

Peter, who in his earlier life was known for his impetuous nature, now writes to encourage these restless believers. He writes that the LORD is patient for a purpose, and that purposeful delay is in order that more unbelievers might become believers in Him. Just think: had the LORD Jesus returned back in the First Century, when Peter was alive and writing this letter, you and I would never have had the opportunity to receive Him as our LORD and Savior.

We do become anxious about things, don’t we? I know I do! I was a lot like the people to whom Peter was writing. I wanted everything to happen NOW! Yet, now that I’m older, I can look back and see the Hand of the LORD holding things back for my benefit. Oh, I’m

still wanting things to happen more quickly; but I know His timing is always best. So, you and I need (as the kids say) to “Cool it.” God is working out His Divine and Eternal Plan that includes all of us believers. Hey, it’s HIS Plan! Let’s let Him do it His way. In the long run, it will turn out for our best. It always has.

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 Peter 3:8-11, “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

10 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…

“Hey, are we there yet?” Sound familar? This and similar questions reflect the voices of young children when en route somewhere exciting with their parents. Believe it, when I tell you that some Christians –make that many Christians—voice the same when the subject of Judgment Day comes up in conversation. “Everything’s just like it has always been,” say some, while others want to debate the “one day is as a thousand years” phraseology.

Peter is simply saying that time does not exist in the LORD’s thinking like it exists in ours. Nevertheless, the LORD has not forgotten what He has promised about that terrible day of destruction called “the Day of the LORD.” Certainly, the LORD Jesus is going to come again, but that’s another thing altogether. The Day of the LORD will be an horrendous time, when He will bring Divine Judgment upon the world that did not want to acknowledge Him as LORD! He has not forgotten His promise, nor is He slow in bringing it to pass.

Do you know how a thief comes? He comes in the still of the night when people are unaware of his coming. It will be the same with the LORD Jesus. But, when He comes, it will be “with a roar, and the elements (like atomic particles) will explode mightily and destruction of mankind and its possessions will suffer under intense heat! The Earth and all its works will be totally destroyed! When the huge worldwide flood came in the days of Noah, the LORD promised never again to destroy the Earth with water; but He said nothing to Noah about fire.

How should mankind prepare for such destruction? Simply stated, on the whole, it cannot. But, individuals can and should prepare and escape. That there is an available escape is stated in that 11TH verse: “What sort of people ought you to be?”

Peter’s reply to his own question is “be in holy conduct and godliness.” In other words, get on God’s side and escape the destruction. He’s not coming out of joy for destruction. He wants everyone to be saved. He wants us all to accept His Son, Jesus Christ! That will be our only way of escape.

“Are we there yet?” Not quite; but every day brings us closer to that terrible day. If you don’t know Jesus, confess your sins to Him and ask Him to accept you into His family. If you do know Him, start telling those who don’t, so that they can escape the destruction! Time, even as we know it, is now running out!

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.”