A Waste of Time?

 Charles ‘Tex’ Watson, convicted in the ‘Mason murders, converted to Christianity in 1975. Will You Die for Me? Watson's autobiography, as told to "Chaplain Ray" (Ray Hoekstra), published in 1978. He became a minister in 1981, taking a path similar to some other ex-Manson Family members who also turned to Christianity.  Watson obtained his college degree behind bars. 

Then there’s Leslie Van Houten, my high school friend and classmate in Monrovia, California. Since her incarceration more than 50 years ago, has been a model prisoner. During those years she has earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in counseling, been certified as a counselor and headed numerous programs to help inmates. Still denied parole. 

I can only imagine that the Governors and people of California think as does a Christian minister who told me personally not long ago, in so many words, that she is beyond redemption. I guess that Jesus the Christ did not die for her so my letters to her about the gospel of Christ, about salvation, have been a complete waste of time. Do Jesus’ words in Matthew chapters 25 and 28 mean anything or are they just empty words? 

“I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' … 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'. . .  

The King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. ... I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn't give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' .. when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.' "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life." 

How about when He said to His disciples, in Matt. 28, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Should He have added except to those you think are unredeemable?)

To close, let me remind you of the Apostle Paul’s word in Romans 10:13, "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." And from John 1:12, “to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. 

Then we have Jesus’ own words as written in John 3:16-18 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. "There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. ---- Have a nice day! ---