I met Clessio only once. It was during a visit to the rehab center where he had been an example to the other recovering addicts. He was sitting in the office with Murillo upon our arrival, waiting for Lori to arrive and take him to the dentist. He shook my hand with a smile on his face. There was no hiding the joy that was in this young man’s soul. That was the extent of our meeting. Before he climbed into Lori’s car, he spoke with Mark. With Lori translating he told him of something he had enjoyed in his reading of scripture.
After hearing about his homecall yesterday, I sat in disbelief. I thanked God that he had found Christ, his Savior. I also thanked God for the incredible testimony he was for the Gospel, and the amazing example he had been to others struggling with the battle of drug addiction. I wondered why God would allow the life of one to be taken, one who had tremendous zeal. Then there is me, one who should be more zealous, one who should have more fire for the Kingdom of God. I’m still here. Clessio is not. Though I met him only once, his life, his recovery, his zeal, and his desire to live for Christ continue to speak to me, especially now that he has gone home to Heaven. It is my prayer, and it is an expectant one, that Clessio’s death will bring eternal life to the many that knew him who are still lost in their sins. Clessio will be missed, but not forgotten, and it is only a matter of time before our next meeting. This one will not be a brief few minutes, such as the one over a year ago at the rehab, but it will be an eternal meeting with Christ in our midst when we finally get home to Heaven.
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