You’ve probably seen a movie or TV show that included someone
in the desert, trudging along, weary and thirsty. Suddenly there is an oasis, a bright hope of
water and cool refreshment. But it’s a
mirage; it’s only an illusion.
In yesterday’s post
we looked at Chuck Colson’s life of chasing mirages by the truckload, only to
have it all fold back-in on him when he was convicted for his part in the Watergate
political scandal.
He was sent to
prison where you have a lot of time to examine the paradox which is life’s
mystery. Here’s how Colson described how
what he thought was the “Good Life” turned out to be the cancer
of a false oasis:
Prison turned out to
be one of the best things that ever happened to me, which is why, on the 60
Minutes program marking the twentieth anniversary of Watergate, I told a
startled Mike Wallace, ‘I thank God for Watergate.’ Not only did prison radically transform my
view of life, but the experience also gave me the one thing I thought I would
never have again – an opportunity to serve others in significant ways. In my case that service has been a ministry
to prisoners around the world.
My experience
vividly illustrates that paradox lies at the very heart of life’s mystery: What we strive for can often be what we least
need. What we fear most can turn out to
be our greatest blessing. [1]
For Chuck Colson,
who rose to the lofty heights of political power, only to be trampled by life’s
less-than-gentle reminder that self-serving
rulers and their kingdoms have only an illusion in their hands – it was a great
awakening that the God who is really in charge loves you in spite of your
arrogance.
Ever been run-over
by that kind of cold shower?
Has life sent
mixed-messages, luring you to grab for the brass ring, only to cut off your
fingers in the process?
Paul’s message to
the Corinthian church – a great group, but a little puffed up; legends in their
own minds, so to speak – was to stop the pushing and shoving for the highest
honors and control. They needed to seek
the best gift – love.
This message was not
lost on Chuck Colson. He was released
from prison and spent the next 30+ years working to significantly change the
prison system. Charles Colson left
prison, but returned in real power. He
came not by human wisdom and power, but in the power of God’s Spirit to lift and
heal broken lives. He got
the message of love; he lived into that message by
loving the least of these, his brethren in prison.
For You, Today…
Jesus said:
seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) and my kingdom
is not of this world. (John 18:36)
What is it that you’re seeking? What kingdom are you looking to build?
Think hard and continually on that, because in
your prayerful consideration of that is the answer to the heart’s paradox: a life well-lived is a life given away in
Jesus’ name.
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