Encounter with Christ changes life

I have watched all the presidential debates on television so far.

The 2008 election campaign season has started early. In my lifetime I have seen, in person, three presidents: Dwight Eisenhower, George W. Bush and Harry Truman.

I saw Harry Truman when I was a child. My parents attended a church convention in Kansas City, Mo., and on the second day of our stay, Truman was attending a meeting there. That afternoon word spread that he would soon be leaving the hotel. My sister Susie and I asked the desk clerk which exit the ex-president would be using. Seem unusual? Well that was long before the days of terrorist attacks and tight security.

The man at the desk pointed toward the elevator door, so we stationed ourselves there. Officials roped off the area and our anticipation grew. Suddenly the elevator doors opened and out walked Truman. We watched him stop only feet away from us, and in a moment he was gone. We were thrilled. We spread the news when we got home that we had seen Truman.

Long ago Zacchaeus heard that the Jesus was coming to town. He had heard all about Jesus, just like Susie and I had heard about President Truman. But Zacchaeus had no status with the town’s people. He had pushed his way around when collecting taxes, but he could not get a good place when it came to seeing Jesus.

Yet, he was drawn to Jesus. This was Zacchaeus’ solution: “And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him; for He was to pass that way,” Luke 19:4. To see above the crowd, Zacchaeus climbed up a tree for a prefect view as Jesus entered the city. He followed Jesus with his eyes as Jesus made his way through the crowd and down the city streets.

Then it happened. When Jesus reached the tree where Zacchaeus was sitting, Jesus stopped, looked up at him and said: “Zacchaeus come down. For today I am going to eat at your house.” Jesus was going home with Zacchaeus to eat dinner. Out of all people, Christ chose him, that little man who had made so many people’s lives miserable.

How thrilled and shocked Zacchaeus must have been. No doubt he scurried down out of the tree and Jesus went home with him.

President Truman did not have the slightest notion that two little girls from New Mexico were watching him. But on that day in Jericho, Jesus already knew about Zacchaeus and knew he would be in the tree. As a result, Jesus called Zacchaeus to Him and Zacchaeus had a meeting with Jesus that changed his life. He repented, vowed to give half of all his possessions to the poor, and promised to restore money four times the amount to anyone he had cheated.

It was a temporary thrill for us to see Truman but it did not change my life. But years ago when I was a little girl, I also had an encounter with Christ that changed my life ... just like Zacchaeus. I was never the same thereafter and although it has been years since that time, that relationship is still the most vital part of my entire existence.

We all are valuable to Christ. Worldly status does not matter. Famous or infamous, wealthy or poor, educated or uneducated … Christ calls us each one and we are all precious in His eyes.

Judy Brandon is a Clovis resident. Contact her at:

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