The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ezekiel 22:25-29, “There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in the midst of her.”

26 “Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.”

27 “Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain.”

28 “Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken.’”

29 “The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice.”

It’s pitiful to say, but Ezekiel’s words fit many so-called “prophets” of our own time! Only recently, I read online of some men who called themselves “pastors,” but had confessed to intentionally misleading parishioners regarding their true identity. Who ordains men like these?

Parishioners who discern such misleadings are those who know their Scriptures! Are you one who knows the Scriptures? Do you know them sufficiently well so as to escape being misled intentionally or otherwise? “Search the Scriptures” is a good imperative!

28 “Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken.

29 “The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice. Furthermore, the Scriptures feed our souls. Thus, we learn as we grow. “…the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me…” (Jn. 10:25). God bless you as you bear His likeness before others!

Heartily in Christ,

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,

Matthew 24:3-9, “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’”

4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.

5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”

With the things that are currently occurring on the world scene, the prophecy cited above could well be happening just as we speak.

Honestly, can you recall anything in your own lifetime that equals what we are enduring today? Crime is everywhere! And what’s not in the news is available by way of other sources.

If ever there was a time for a spiritual proclamation, it is now! If ever we needed to pray for our pastors, teachers, evangelists, and missionaries, it is now! If ever we needed to share the love of Jesus Christ with others, it is now!

I have to wonder if those who are being killed in the line of what they call “duty,” were to be brought back for just a very short stay, would they re-engage with those who had taken their lives? They might think so, but I would clearly doubt it. Pray for revival – true revival, in our own time!

Heartily in Christ,

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,

Jude 1:1-8, “Jude, a bond servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write to 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 handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And angels, who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”

Reading the Scriptures has given me significant insight into the nature of godliness and ungodliness. Through these passages, I have gained a clearer perspective on the contrast between salvation and eternal fire. I recognize, however, that my understanding of these concepts is still incomplete. My experiences in factory work, surrounded by ungodly men, revealed to me the reality of ungodliness and how it can profoundly impact a person’s life. The act of laughing at a humorously obscene story often serves as a marker that separates believers from unbelievers.

In essence, the Scriptures serve to distinguish between those who are truly born again and those who have never known Christ. The opportunities the Lord has given us are remarkable, allowing us to demonstrate His love by consciously refraining from sin. Sadly, however, we often submit to what is of significantly lesser value. Thus, we forfeit what is eternal for that which is sensual.

In some instances, we may be attempting to sidestep and avoid ridicule. Yet, we might also be surprised how effective our spiritual stand is having with those who stand in the fore of the tease.

Heartily in Christ,

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,

2 Timothy 3:1-10, “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 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; 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. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’ and Jambres’ folly was also.”

For me, it would be just a guess as to how many people are personally involved in one or more of the 17 evil and undesirable categories listed above in verses two through eight. Nevertheless, it is a citation that uniformly encompasses her husband’s character!

Warned in multiple ways by loving, experienced parents, we know-it-all kids eventually experience what it is to taste of fire when we insist on visiting such places. It is then that parents evidence their slackness in duties (if not also in preoccupation – wishing they were kids once again).

Let the Word of Christ dwell alive within us all! Believe and Beware; Believe and Take Care! Protect us, LORD Jesus; Believe and Take Care!

Heartily in Christ,

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,

Numbers 32:19-23, “…we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.’

20 So Moses said to them, If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war,

21 and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven His enemies out from before Him,

22 and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the LORD and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the LORD.’

23 ‘But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.’”

There has always been considerable squabbling among the Jews! Either they were totally united against another nation, or they were fractured and disunited within themselves. Here they had reached the land for which they had sought. Only the Jordan River awaited their crossing. But, the tribes of Gad and Reuben had large herds of cattle, and the land they would be required to leave behind looked better for their flocks than the land that lay across the Jordan.

Not to trivialize a situation, but have you ever noticed how children are content to play with certain toys until they see other children playing with different toys? Suddenly, what the other kids have looks better. Then the squabble is on!

Moses was then required to come up with a solution. Indeed he did! “Look,” he said, “you two tribes help the others make the crossing and get settled on the other side; then you will be released from your agreement and may return to those fertile fields.” They agreed!

Sometimes you and I are required to produce a plan that is agreeable to two opposing parties. We must never go back on our word, even though some “new” plan appears to be better than our previous one. Keeping good people together is the correct thing to do.

Heartily in Christ,

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