By Geoffrey Grider

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:24 (KJV)

Charles Manson was in the hospital and, as one source familiar with his situation told TMZ, “it’s not going to get any better for him.” We’re told Manson was rushed to a Bakersfield hospital, and had been wheeled around on a gurney for various treatments … escorted by 5 uniformed cops.

We’re told the 83-year-old Manson, who laid still covered in blankets, looked ashen. Our sources say Manson’s health had been steadily deteriorating and, as it was put to us, “It was just a matter of time.”

Hmm, this is a tough one, isn’t it? Most Christians would agree that Jesus Christ died to “save sinners”, but we have a funny habit of picking and choosing whom we think should be allowed to be saved. Don’t we? Could you pray for Charles Manson, while he was on his deathbed, to get saved before he left Earth and slipped into the fiery flames of Hell?

Let’s pause for a moment and remember some of the horrific crimes of the Manson Family cult.

The Manson Family — including Charles Manson and his young, loyal disciples — is thought to have carried out some 35 killings. Most of their cases were never tried, either for lack of evidence or because the perpetrators were already sentenced to life for the Tate/La Bianca killings.

The first of Manson’s victims were murdered on August 9, 1969, at the home Roman Polanski had rented, located at 10050 Cielo Drive in Benedict Canyon, an area just north of Beverly Hills. While Manson himself took no part in the actual killings, he directed four of his most obedient followers — Charles “Tex” Watson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Linda Kasabian — to the address and directed them to kill everyone.

Eight-months-pregnant Sharon Tate, who, despite pleading for the life of her unborn child, was mercilessly stabbed in the stomach by Susan Atkins. Kasabian told of Atkins’s chilling words to Tate before she stabbed her: “Look, b***h, I have no mercy for you. You’re going to die, and you’d better get used to it.” Atkins then used Tate’s blood to write the word “pig” on the front door. Instead of this brutal massacre sating the pathological Manson, he instead criticized the murderers for being sloppy.

I could go on, there’s a lot more, but I think you get the idea. Charles Manson was a bad person, a really, really, really bad person. And all these decades later he has shown little if any remorse for what he did and inspired others to do. But Manson is one of the people Jesus died to save.

Charles Manson was a sinner, the worst of the worst, and guess what? Jesus shed His blood on the cross at Calvary for him, too.

If you have ever read in the Bible about what Hell is really like, and how it never ends, and how the people who wind up there never get out, you wouldn’t want anyone to go there. Not Adolf Hitler, not murderers, rapists or even pedophiles.

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:11 (KJV)

“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” Luke 16:23,24 (KJV)

“Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.” Isaiah 5:14 (KJV)

It might shock you to know that when God looks at sin, He sees it the way you and I see Charles Manson. It’s ugly, it’s disgusting, it is trash that needs to be burned. It also might shock you to know that God puts little if any difference between the sin of Charles Manson, and your sin.

The rich man in Luke 16 was not a killer, rapist or otherwise criminal in nature as far as I can tell. He was probably well-liked by his friends and had standing in the community. But he died apart from the saving grace of God, and when that happens, Hell is your destination. If Charles Manson dies unsaved, he will absolutely go to Hell, and there he will see the rich man from Luke, and a whole lot of other “good people” who died with no one to pay for their sins.

The mark of true Christianity is not and never has been how much Bible you can quote, how often you attend Church, or what Bible you use. True Christianity is displayed when you have compassion for the lost and dying who are headed for Hell, and you tell them about new life in Jesus Christ.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (KJV)

So, what kind of “Christian” are you really? Could you have prayed for Charles Manson to get saved? Can you pray for the salvation of someone who has hurt you, used you, lied about you? Can you hand out gospel tracts in your hometown to warn the lost, even though people you know might make fun of you?

“And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 1:22,23 (KJV)

Charles Manson died on November 19, 2017 and at this point nobody has come forward to state whether he repented of his sin and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior on his deathbed.

One thing is certain, Jesus Christ died for the worst of the worst, we call these people sinners. We are all equally guilty before God. Could you have prayed for Charles Manson to get saved and be spared the punishment of Hell that he so rightly deserved? If not, perhaps it tells you more about yourself than it does about Charles Manson.

It may have been too late for Charles Manson, but it isn’t for you. This Christmas why not receive the perfect gift, the greatest gift ever given? The Bible says that, God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 That’s a gift you shouldn’t refuse. It also says, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.  Eph 2:8

You see…God wants to give you the best Christmas gift that you have ever received, eternity with Him. He tells us, If you confess with your mouth, that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 If you are ready to receive this gift, pray something like this:

      Jesus, please forgive my many sins. I know that you died for me and have a plan for my life. Please teach me your ways and help me to live my life for you, free from the fears of this world and the next. Help me to be grateful for all that life brings my way. I want to start a new life with you. Amen

Congratulations, if you have prayed this prayer the Bible says, “Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2Cr 5:17

If you’ve prayed this prayer for the first time or are renewing your commitment to the Lord, please let us know so that we can pray for you as you start your new life in Christ.