Where Are All The Godly Men? - Charles Page 

"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the creator - who is forever praised. Romans 1: 25

The truth as stated in this passage represents the principles and character of Christ living in a man. The lie, of course, is what the world is selling us. It is to hear and understand the message of God and to exchange that truth to live by a set of principles that come from a deceitful world system. 

The truth of God is exemplified in a person of God. To some, that may be their only awareness of God- what they see in a persons life. It is what we do and who we are to other people. We all know people we would describe as a Godly person. For many of us, it is or has been, someone who is close to us. What made these people Godly in our eyes? 

I believe a Godly man is one who sets his life goal to be like Christ as a father, husband, friend, and even to the stranger whom he has yet to meet. In my life, there has been no one who was more of a Godly man than my best friend, Charles Page. We met in 1977 and were best friends from the moment we met until his death in 2005. I don't know of any man that I was closer to, or, that I learned more from than Charles. We did everything together. We were both runners and we ran together everywhere - in mountains, on beaches, through cities, and along rivers. In was on many of these runs that I learned from him how to be a more Godly man. He was my inspiration, my model, my counselor, and my best friend.

There were certain characteristics that stood out in the life of Charles. First of all, he was the most committed man I have known. He was committed to God, his family, and the call God had place on his life. Charles recognized that to retain that commitment, he had to continually seek the presence of God through the study of His word and prayer.

Charles was also a man of conviction, not tossed to and fro by the ways of the world or current political correctness. He was willing to stand firm even to the point of it costing him. He knew the ways of God, and he was continually denying himself and submitting himself to God so that others might see the person of Jesus in him.

Humility was another strong characteristic of Charles. He always made you feel like you were the most important person around. He would tell me of a time in his life when he was the most self centered person. This was hard to believe after you got to know him. I asked him one day how he was able to change. His response was that it was only through a constant abiding with Christ that He was able to put himself aside and allow Christ to permeate his life.

He also was able to truly love people. He lived out Jesus's command to love others in every situation. He was able to love the unlovable even with their short comings. He saw people as Jesus saw them. He did not think more highly of others than himself, but was able to love others as himself.

Charles also personified forgiveness. There were times when people disappointed him or mistreated him, but it only took a moment for him to give it to God and exhibit sincere love restored. He knew that the only way to true peace and contentment was through the path of forgiveness. He always said," but for the grace of God, it could be me."     

It is amazing to me at how many lives he touched while here on earth. There are hundreds, even thousands, whose lives were touched my even the smallest acquaintance with him. He was a mentor, a daddy to a host of young pastors who were trying to follow in his steps as a man of God, called by God to do great things as a pastor. He was just an ordinary man, a  high school teacher and coach, who allow God to come into his life. He was a seeker of God, totally submitted to God, abiding with God, and that God used to produce much fruit.  

I was fortunate to call him my best friend.