The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 John 3:1-3, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such

we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears,

we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.

3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Yesteday, we learned that the LORD wanted His children to behave and bring honor to His Name. Today, John writes that the Father wants His children to be called by His Name!

It’s funny now, but someone didn’t think so at the time. I was probably about 10 years old and our church had just installed a phonograph in a side room just off of the pulpit area. It was connected to speakers that reached the hearing of those within and without the church. It’s intention was to play music prior to calling everyone to gather for the worship hour. The phono, however, did not have an auto-changer, so someone had to watch it closely. So far as I knew, no one had been specifically designated to restart the recording when the disc reached its terminal point. Thus, I made it my business to adjust it as necessary. Something went wrong! Everyone heard it; and some lady blurted out, “Oh, it’s probably one of those little Jeffries kids messin’ with it.” At that time, I’m quite certain that my father would have preferred not to have had his surname mentioned.

Of course, my father loved me, just as our Heavenly Father loves us. When we become His children, He delights to have it known that we belong to Him. I never knew whether I would look like my earthly father, when I grew up. And sometimes, we’re not sure how much like our Heavenly Father we look. Families with multiple children often have look-alikes among them. It’s not really important how much we look like our earthly parents; what really counts is whether our behavior, including love for others, makes our parents delighted to admit that we belong to them. And so it is with Jesus Christ. The Father gave us His Son, Jesus, as His model for our lives. One day we will meet Him! That’s what keeps me wanting to look like Him now! I don’t want Jesus to be embarrassed by my earthly behavior.

The music in Heaven is divinely inspired. There are no phonographs that need attention, so I’ll be free to fellowship with Jesus and loved ones. What’s more, there will be no critics to call my name for screeches heard over loud speakers. Still, I hope that lady is there. I want her to know I made it, and that I love her despite her earthly criticism. Jesus loves us all despite our failures. That’s how we are expected to love one another. God bless you abundantly!

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 2:12-17, “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.

14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”

You father has a good job, lives in a modest house in the upper-middle-class area of town, and enjoys the respect of the business people of the area. Your parents involve themselves in a circle of respectable friends, and possess a nice, albeit used, automobile. Why would your father, then, not dress you and your sister appropriately? He certainly would! No well- respected man would want his children to attend church or school attired in wornout, dirty clothing.

Your Heavenly Father wants His children to look nice, too. He cleanses them from sin and puts within them the Holy Spirit, enabling them to appear as His children. He is respected all the more when others see His children morally and spiritually clean.

John writes to the fathers, the mature believers in the Church. He writes to the young men, those who have been born again, but for a much shorter period of time. He then writes to the children, those who have only recently been saved. The fathers have known the LORD for many years. The young men are growing in their faith, and becoming stronger. They can now resist the devil and the luring lusts of this world. But what about the children? If the fathers and the young men stay strong in the LORD, they will properly influence the children, and they will grow in His likeness as well.

John knows that there is nothing in this world that has the value the LORD has. In fact, he notes that “the world is passing away.” The only survivors are those who know and abide in the LORD Jesus Christ. Our world is currently involved in a dilemma that is historically unknown! Suppose this were the end of the world. Are you ready to meet Him? 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,

1 John 1:5-10, “And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;

7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

They say that we people get old, they tend to revert to thoughts of their childhood. I won’t admit anything here, nor am I attempting to accuse any reader of being older than I. But, just for fun, let’s think back to when we were kids. One of the

thoughts that verse five brings to mind is “fear of the dark.” Whether that is an acquisition of learning, I will leave to those studied in such thoughts. But, I can remember being scared of the dark. When my sister came along and nudged me from my place of leadership, it became my delight to frighten her with darkness.

The above verses fall neatly into six categories.

(1) Communication defines His true message. God is light and there is absolutely no darkness in Him! It was He who first said, “’Let there be light’; and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). He is never “in the dark” concerning our lives.

(2) Contradiction of the true message is serious beyond words. We claim to be Christians, but we live in darkness and fail to practice His truth.

(3) Conformity is the proof of our allegiance to Jesus. It is His will that we live and love other believers, made possible thorough His blood that cleanses us from sin.

(4) Confused is ours alone if we say that we have no sin. Sometimes we intentionally misread His Word so as to eliminate the thought that we actually possess and practice sin in our daily lives.

(5) Confession of sin leads to cleansing. Our LORD is both faithful and righteous and forgives even the most heinous of sins; but our confession must be complete and absolutely sincere.

(6) We must and will be held in Divine Comptempt, if we contradict the LORD and say “we have not sinned.” To say that the LORD Himself is a liar, is beyond contempt, and leads to catastrophy.

Precisely why the LORD has allowed this COVID-19 virus to attack us, we can only guess. But those of us who have studied the history of our country know that the United States of America was founded on faith in Almighty God; and subsequently, we have seriously departed from what He intended us to be. We have openly and callously gone against the clarity of His Divine Word. And now, we dare to ask, “WHY?” Whatever your political beliefs, please pray for our President, Vice-President, Secretary of State, and the team of Medical Specialists, who are laboring feverishly to put down this catasrtophic dilemma. Prayer will do more, if we confess our sins and turn to Christ in faith believing. I pray for you daily.

Please pray for me.

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 3:9-13, “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,

12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account 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.”

When we all were children – small children – there were some things that just couldn’t wait. One was when we were promised something and the time was up for it to come to pass. We knew; and we drove our parents wild with begging!

Sometimes, we even worried that they might have forgotten. What was missing was patience –our patience. When I became a parent, I understood the thinking of my parents when I was a child.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,

and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:3).

That is our LORD’s promise, and it will come to pass! If we must challenge His reasoning for any delay, it is that those who have yet to trust Him will have more time to do so. Failure to trust Him is Eternal Death in Hell and the Lake of Fire.

Remember those false teachers we mentioned last night? They are the ones who are questioning whether Jesus will actually come again. Peter addresses that skepticism when he says the Day of Christ’s Coming will be “like a thief in the night. Surely, no one reading this Letter lacks the knowledge of nighttime thievery. Ring and ADT and numerous other alarm systems guard homes electronically today because thieves abound! Read Peter’s words carefully. Be prepared!

Jesus is Coming! And you will not miss knowing because of the destruction of the elements that comprise our Universe.

I will close like I did in yesterday’s Letter: Don’t take a chance on this! He IS Coming; and those who are not ready will not be among His own! There is no second chance! This event will occur only once! I’m 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 3:1-4, 8-9, “This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind

by way of reminder,

2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and

Savior spoken by your apostles.

3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,

4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from

the beginning of creation.”

………

8 “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.”

If you were writing a letter to your own family, knowing that some of them were lost, and some, possibly, living outside the will and instruction of the LORD, what would you say? This is Simon Peter’s last letter, and it’s nearing an end. I don’t have much time, and I want to remind you of some things that are very important. Remember what preachers before you

have said. Those Godly men warned us of things that were coming. You are looking for the Coming of the LORD Jesus. But, some preachers today are casting doubt on the Word of God when they question whether He is actually is coming. Everything is just like it has always been, they say.

Whatever you do, don’t forget that there is no such thing as “time” in the intentions of Almighty God. That’s precisely what Peter is talking about when he says, “…one day is as a thousand years…” to the LORD. The LORD has no calendar, no clock, because He doesn’t need one! He is not slow or hesitant about doing what He or what He has promised. He simply wants as many people as possible to be saved before He comes for His own; for after that He will launch devastation upon this lost and dying world.

The LORD is giving the world’s people time to repent of their sins and trust Him as their Savior. Oh, we’re aware that there are preachers today that claim the LORD has omitted some from the ability to repent and be saved. And those preachers are the very ones Peter identifies as “mockers,” who are “following their own passions.” There are also preachers, who claim that there is no Hell; thus, there is no need to repent of anything because “evil” is only in the mind of the doer.

Would you want to believe all of that rubbish and then stand to give account of your life before a Holy and Righteous God?

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:7-8). Don’t risk the odds! God is not mocked! Two apostles have state the LORD’s Word. Give your heart and life to Him today!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S.: Pray for President Trump and Vice-President Pence. Pray for the Congress, and its leadership! We live in unprecendented

days! The battle is the LORD’s!

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.”