Charles “Chuck” Colson, age 80, died in northern Virginia on April 21, 2012….just a little over one week ago. In the days that have followed, he has been eulogized in newspapers around the world….remembered as a former captain in the Marine Corps, a ruthless political insider, special counsel to the President of the United States and the evil mastermind of the infamous Watergate Scandal. But many more of us have known him as the brilliant, proud man who experienced a defining moment in his life when he knelt down in the office of Christian businessman, Tom Phillips, to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. Describing his own water baptism as a funeral service in which he buried the old man he used to be, Colson sealed the greatest commitment of his life. And, with that commitment, Colson began his Christian journey. In short, the man was changed! No longer living the life of a greedy power broker, Colson has been described as the most thoroughly converted man who ever lived, except for [perhaps] the apostle Paul.
So, write the words of Jesus in John 5:24 over the life of Charles Colson: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” Charles Colson started his life over when he accepted Jesus. He was born again and wrote about the experience with sincerity and rare eloquence in his book titled, Born Again. For the first time, his ears were unstopped….he began to listen to the Word of God. For the first time, his heart was open….he began to obey the Son of God. And although some in the world have never forgotten the man Colson used to be, he had received the promise that he no longer faced the condemnation of heaven. He changed sides. He crossed over from death, because of his sin….to abundant and eternal life, because of Him who had no sin.
Every person on earth stands condemned because of their sin, sentenced to eternal separation from God by their choice, until and unless they have the same defining moment Colson had. And, once that commitment is sealed and permanent, everything changes. We all know so many who need to change, to be forgiven, to have the highest good begin to surface in their lives….so they can come to the end and hear from the God of heaven, “Well done!”
Pray with me…. Our Father, we bless the day our ears were unstopped and the scales fell from our eyes and our hearts experienced the love and grace that you made real to us in the person of your Son and our Savior. Life change is what you are all about. Thank you for the life and spiritual leadership of Charles Colson. You changed him! You want to change us and as many people as we can influence while we live out our short time on this earth. Empower and energize us for being a Tom Phillips presence in someone’s life today. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
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