The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Peter 3:3-10, “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.”

5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like 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.”

The Scriptures contain some strange events that will take place in the Earth’s last days. If we look carefully at happenings in our current time, we can see things similar to what the Bible describes. Of course, there are always some who view things “as they always were.” And it is they who cry, “Where is the promise of His coming?” Yet, the Scriptures say that what is coming has already been prophetically foretold.

Read the passage above very carefully. “Do not let this one fact escape your notice,” it says. The LORD does not measure time as we do. In fact, with Him there is no such thing as time. Everything is a measureless, eternal presence. That’s difficult to assess, I know. It stretches our thought processes almost into another dimension. Time itself would not exist if there were no heavenly lights. In the far northland, darkness reigns supreme. Light is scarce; it peeks through the darkness for a few short hours; then it’s dark again. Be alert! Darkness is coming! So is Jesus!

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 24:45-51, “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?

46 “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.

47 “Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

48 “But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’

49 and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards;

50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know,

51 and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Were you ever assigned a task by someone superior to you? It could have been a parent, a teacher, or an owner of a business where you were employed. It’s just exciting to know that you are being assessed as “worthy” for this responsibility.

But were you ever slack in completing those responsibilities? It seems that our superior always comes around when we’re not quite finished with the task. Could he not have given us more time? Did he not know that we had to complete some preliminary tasks before we could work on the one he had assigned?

Once we have come to know the LORD Jesus as our personal Savior, we soon learn that He has assigned us certain tasks to complete. The range of those responsibilities is extensive; however, He never requires of us something for which He has not well-equipped us. It is simply our responsibility to learn what we’re to do and how the project is to be accomplished.

What is your assignment? Have you learned what it is? Have you prepared yourself to undertake it? Have you prayed for His assistance in the task’s completion? “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

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,

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