Charles Stanley departed the other day.

While I wanted to put something down in words that would express what Charles Stanley has meant to me, I was unable to.

I have many things I could say but somehow the feeling overwhelmed me that what I write could be a blessing and would be true but it also will perish with the earth one day.

I could send something in to his ministry and maybe someone would read it and he would be honored and God would be glorified. But I also know that it would be a tiny drop in a bucket of praise and thanksgiving directed at one of God’s most faithful servants.

I was saved when I read a Bible that was given to me by my sister. God immediately sent me to Charles Stanley to be discipled. There wasn’t anyone really in my life who knew Him well and would have been able to help me along the way. I knew nothing but what I read in God’s word.

Go to him I did every Sunday on TV. He taught me well in the ways of God. I’ll be forever thankful to him and to God for sending me to him.

The reason I won’t write much is this: It will perish. But the place he holds in my heart will never perish. As a matter of fact what he has helped to work in my heart in the knowledge of God by showing me that Jesus is life itself, stands right now before the throne of God testifying as much. Isn’t that the way it is? God has told us not to store up treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy but to store up treasures in heaven where nothing can destroy them.

So the place in my heart that Charles Stanley holds, for what he has so generously poured out to the sheep he was entrusted with by God, remains in His presence, right now and forever and it will never fade and can never be taken away or forgotten by time.

It does my heart good to know that the words of our Lord to Charles Stanley, “Well done, good and faithful servant” have already been received and even though I was never able to tell him here what his sacrifice has done for me, I know that he does know now and will always know. It is a treasure he stored up in Heaven.

Thank You Lord for the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds those who believe on Your precious name.

Amen.