Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Psalm 51:1-4 “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”

Chuck Colson was a Marine, a lawyer, and special counsel to President Richard Nixon. His life provided a roadmap for rapid advancement and temporal success. Yet as things were peaking in his career, he found himself caught up in the Watergate scandal. It was at this time that he was exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, repented of his sins, and accepted the free gift of salvation.

While he was innocent of the Watergate-related crime of which he was indicted, there was something that continued to nag at his conscience and stir his soul. There was another crime for which he was guilty that was not on the court docket. In order to honor the Lord, though against the strident advice of his lawyer, he felt compelled to admit to this transgression and plead guilty to something that had not yet surfaced.

It was a bold step that publicly acknowledged his sin, though the price was seven months in prison and the diversion of a promising career from its rocketing upward trajectory. He knew that it was the right thing to do to honor his Lord and to seek first the kingdom of God. It was also a necessary step to ultimately open doors for service to God that would have been otherwise closed

We are all sinners, and while we may not face the type of situation that Colson did at the pinnacle of his career, we must always focus on staying right and getting right. It is a necessary step to ultimately open doors in service to God that would otherwise be closed.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO GET RIGHT AND STAY RIGHT TO MAXIMIZE OUR USEFULNESS TO OUR MATCHLESS LORD. Though it forced him to spend time behind bars, Chuck Colson’s willingness to honor God ultimately opened doors to serve Him.