The Paradox of Power

by Charles C.

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When I was 39, the President of the United States asked me to serve as his special counsel. It was one of the most powerful positions in the world. Every day, National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger walked into our briefing sessions with a worried look on this face and said, ‘The decision we are going to make today will change the future course of human history.’

I now realize we never changed anything. We dealt with Congress and newspapers but we didn’t change how people lived. It was in prison, where I served time for my involvement in the Watergate conspiracy that I learned about real power.

Steps to success

I went from nothing to being successful. I won a scholarship to Brown University and graduated with honours. During the Korean War, I was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Marines.

When the war ended I earned a doctorate in law and started a successful law firm. Soon I became the youngest administrative assistant in the United States Senate. I worked with President Richard Nixon. I had everything a person could want but I felt empty inside.

An encouragement

As the Watergate scandal unfolded, one particular friend was a source of encouragement. His life had changed and I asked him why. He looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘I accepted Jesus Christ and committed my life to him.’

He told me how he had started out with nothing and had risen to a position of power but felt empty. It was a story just like mine! He began a search for God. He described God as a living God who lives today and is not an ancient historical figure.

As I left my friend’s house one evening, I couldn’t get my car out of the driveway because I was crying too hard. I wanted more than anything to be at peace with God. ‘Just take me, God,’ I cried. ‘Take me the way I am.’ The next morning, I felt a wonderful peace.

The prison prayer group

As the Watergate scandal unfolded and I went to prison. I was in a prayer group with two dope pushers, a car thief, a stock swindler and a former special counsel for the President of the United States. Our group saw men give their lives to Christ. We saw hearts transformed by the power of the living God.

Today, I thank God for Watergate. It taught me the greatest lesson of my life. I learned about the paradox of power: he who seeks to save his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for Jesus’ sake will find it.

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Living with hope

If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

Is this the life for you?

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.

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Further Reading:
Freed From Religion
Redefining Success