The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Timothy 3:1-7, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;

5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these.

6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,

7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Do you know what “hard times” are? No, it’s not when your cell phone has gone out and you’ve forgotten your charging equipment. I mean REAL HARD TIMES! My grandmother used to tell me what hard times were when she was a small girl. Cloth for dresses came from sacks that held the grain for the cows. Bread was only a few cents a loaf, but nobody had the few cents with which to buy it.

Paul is nearing the end of his life, and he writes the verses above to young Timothy. Difficult times are coming. He lists some 17 negative actions and attitudes that you can find online or in any newspaper today. Everything he lists is evil and they all prevail in our world today. Why would Paul list such evil things? He is warning Timothy and us against these things that will prevail in the last days on Earth.

Everyone wants to boss his own life. Everyone loves himself, thirsts for more money, causes all sorts of trouble, forsakes the teachings of his parents, hates everything that is good, has no self-control, pretends to be godly, but lacks what even indecent people would call good. These people are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Know anyone like that? Are you like that? I surely hope not, because what is described above is what the culture of our nation and world looks like. We are to be different! We are to look more like Jesus to those around us.

No, it’s not easy! Jesus spoke of the two ways: one was the upper way that leads to life and Heaven; the other is the downward way that leads to death and Hell. Everyone is going somewhere! Just be sure you’re on the UPWARD Way!

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 Timothy 1:1-5, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,

2 to Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day,

4 longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy.

5 For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.”

There are some people that just demand being loved. It’s not that they ask for it, they just conduct themselves in ways that invite it; and they don’t seem to even notice their demands. At the same time, there are those so filled with love that they simply have to express it, despite their recipients’ not asking.

Paul loved Timothy immensely! He even called him “my beloved son.” We are not privileged to know whether Paul had ever been married, or whether he had a son somewhere in his past. Either way, he had one now!

Today (16 June) in the United States was “Fathers’ Day.” I recieved communication from my two sons and my daughter. I also had contacted my sons (who have children of their own) and wished them a Happy Fathers’ Day! I love my kids!! And they love me!

Paul prayed night and day for Timothy. He also expressed loving gratitude for Timothy’s mother, Eunice, and her mother, Lois. They both embraced faith in Jesus Christ, the same faith that Paul prayed others would embrace.

I remember when my children came to know Christ. I had the privilege of baptizing them; but it was their mother, who led them to faith in Christ. With all the privileges parents have, there is none like leading your children to faith in the LORD Jesus! Think about it: had Lois not come to faith in Christ, she could not have led her daughter, Eunice, into that faith. It was then Eunice, Timothy’s mother, who led him to faith.

Believe me when I say that there is no joy to compare with leading someone to a saving faith in the LORD Jesus Christ! Satan knows this, and his attack on the family is HUGE! Promiscuous young people find themselves becoming parents, and not wanting to rescind their lifestyle, abort their child. They have an evil culture that applauds their abortion, but they will soon learn –if they ever do!!—that they could have had a loving family and received loving greetings from their children on Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day.

There will be a day, if you haven’t already experienced it, when you will wish you had properly loved your children and taught them the true meaning of love!

I’m praying for you, and trust you are praying for me, as well.

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 Timothy 6:3-10, “If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.

7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.”

In verses three through five (3-5), Paul warns Timothy of the unacceptable attitudes of those engaged in controversy. In verses six through eight (6-8),

he speaks of what we have and for which we should be thankful. In verses nine through 10, he again warns Timothy (and us) of the snares (traps) that are set for us.

Those who advocate a different doctrine from Paul’s teachings, are simply conceited –wrapped in smoke. They have morbid (sick) interests in questions that are controversial – that produce friction (irritation) in the minds of those who are also depraved and believe that their “godliness” is a means of spiritual gain.

“Godliness is a means of great gain,” Paul says, “when it is accompanied by contentment” –contentment with what we have. “We brought nothing into the world, and we won’t take anything of it.” Food and clothing are our con-tentment. Why are we always wanting more, more, more?

People who want to get rich, so they can have more, fall into temptations

(theft, dishonesty, et al), and find themselves trapped into things that ruin and destroy them. “The love of money is a root of all sorts of evil…” Note that it’s not money that is evil, but the excessive love of it. The worst evil being one’s abandonment of the faith, which results in many distresses.

Stay in the Word and Prayer! Keep your eyes on Jesus and His teachings! Has He ever failed to provide you all that you need? –not want, but need? David says, “I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendnts begging bread” (Psa. 37:25).

I’m praying for you and trust you’re praying 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,

1 Timothy 4:15, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”

The Scriptures are very clear that once you have been truly saved, you are safely enclosed forever in the Hands of the Savior. Remember Paul’s words, “…for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2 Tim. 1:12).

Yet, for most of us –maybe all—we’ve engaged in things that were wrong, even evil — things that caused us to feel and believe that we had never trusted Christ in the first place. When doubt, especially regarding salvation, comes to your mind, go back to the time and place where you were when you believed on Him and accepted Him as your Savior. Repent of sin in prayer concerning those things that ought not to have been in your life. The LORD will forgive you and let you know you are forgiven.

Not long ago, a man shared with me how he had been saved as a young boy, but then fell away from what he was taught and lived something of a sordid life before he came back to the LORD.

Remember the teaching you received from His Word! To persevere is to “stay on course” with that teaching. As you do, the Holy Spirit will cause the teaching to take root in your life again. That’s what Paul means when he says “you will insure salvation…for yourself…”

You will become assured that your salvation was real. What’s more, you will speak with that assurance; and that will have a positive effect on those who hear you.

There’s a lot to being a Christian, isn’t there? Christian Love contrasts sharply with religions that have to threaten and kill people to get them to convert to their way. Stand fast for Christ! He wrote the final chapter, and we know Who wins in the end!

Thank you for your prayers. They are like sweet strength to my life.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please pray for my grandaughter, Haley, as she goes to Equador

with other nurses to care for the sick in hospitals. She is a Spanish-

speaker, and looks forward to opportunities for sharing the Gospel.

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 Timothy 2:1-4, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,

2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Ever since the disciples of Jesus said, “LORD, teach us to pray” (Lk. 11:1), well-intentioned Christian men have been asking the same thing. When Paul says, “First of all…” he is signaling something of prime importance. It cannot be left until later because it might be forgotten. Paul was an apostle, and he might have utilized his authority in saying that. Instead, he urges,

appeals, exhorts them as fellow-believers to pray fervently for all men.

Surrounded within this circle of encouragement were the spiritual and political leaders of the day –every day. We are to pray earnestly for all who are in authority over us. It certainly includes political leaders (whether or not they are believers themselves); it includes spiritual leaders, pastors, and teachers. It includes law enforcement personnel, who derive their authority from political leaders.

But why are we commissioned to pray for these authorities? It is because they keep the peace. And why do they keep the peace? It is to provide for us a quiet and tranquil way of life, as we endeavor to live serious, godly lives. All of this meets the approval of Almighty God. His creation of the world was not so that men might fight and maim and kill each other, but that we might all live acceptably in the sight of God.

The LORD God “desires all men to be saved” and that they might “come to the knowledge of the truth” (v. 4). Unfortunately, the disposition of man is to rely upon himself, hoping against hope that his self-works will satisfy the LORD. But they will not! “You must be born from Above,” Jesus said (Jn. 3:7).

“But if it is the LORD’s desire that all men be saved,” you ask, “why does He not just declare all men “saved, or forgiven”? One might just as well ask why the LORD did not create people with only the will to obey His commands. When we engage in trying to second-guess God, we are dangerously close to usurping His position.

Our responsibility is to accept Jesus Christ as our LORD and Savior, and then live as He instructs, sharing the Gospel with all men that the desire of our LORD might be realized. Are you living for Him? Are you sharing His Good News with others? I hope and pray that you are!

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.”