I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luke 15:17

Recently, the news was released that billionaire Ted Turner and radical wife, Jane "Hanoi" Fonda, was separating. As I first heard the news, I couldn’t help but think, "it couldn’t happen to more deserving couple".

Jane Fonda, branded "Hanoi Jane" for her blatant, anti-American stance during the Viet Nam War. In 1972, during the bloody, Viet Nam war, Jane traveled to North Vietnam, was photographed "manning" an enemy gun, made radio broadcasts pleading with American soldiers to desert, called American prisoners-of-war "liars and hypocrites" and referred to President Nixon as a "sinister… true killer". Jane made this unbelievable statement in 1970: "Its my fondest wish, that some day, every American will get down on their knees and pray to God that some day they will have the opportunity to live in a Communist Society." And that’s just for starters. As late as 1989, the Veterans of Foreign Wars passed a resolution stating Fonda should be investigated for treason. Needless, to say, left-wing, radical, Jane Fonda was a "black eye" to the principles of America and morality. Not to be outdone by wife Jane’s treason, Ted Turners scorching hatred for Christianity is well known.

So when the news began resonating with the separation of the "Turner’s" there was almost a "yep, you deserved it" satisfaction. My carnal, self-consumed, "old man", gleefully, thought — you two reap what you sow — Galatians 6:7 "in action", or so I thought. . .

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7

But, my Amazing and Merciful God, was fulfilling another scripture — one much, much more spiritual. One much, much more joyous!

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luke 15:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor. 5:17

For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13

As more news "trickled" out detailing the Turner’s marriage separation – it took a turn that I never dreamed. . . Not in a million years. . . Not in a billion years. . .

According to reports in WorldNetDaily, the separation was partly the result of, "… Fonda's stunning embrace of 'born-again' evangelical Christianity,. . ."

At first, the carnal, "old man" was skeptical. Radical, left-wing, "Hanoi Jane" an honest-to-goodness Christian? It had to be a rumor. Or maybe it was one of these "Hollywood High-Profile" conversions that never really "takes root".

But as more and more details began "trickling" out – there was no doubt about it!

Hanoi Jane was no more!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor. 5:17

Hallelujah! Hanoi Jane is a Child of the King! As I first realized, that yes, Jane Fonda was truly a new creature in Christ Jesus, I couldn’t help but weep tears of joy at just how amazing and wonderful my Saviour is! How many times, I’ve counted people well beyond the grace of God, I’ve foolishly thought they’re simply too far gone for God to reach them – and yet my wonderful Savior can mend the most broken of hearts, He can calm the most troubled mind, He can soother and satisfy the deepest woes. . . That’s my Savior – The Lord Jesus Christ!

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the UTTERMOST that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25

As someone once said, "from the GUTTERMOST to the UTTERMOST"!

Songwriter Phillip Bliss, penned it so wonderful:

Hallelujah! What A Savior

Who could take a poor lost sinner and set him free!

Oh How wonderful, Oh how marvelous ….

How did it happen?

Who or what did God use to reach Jane Fonda?

Was it a "brand-name" celebrity preacher? Was it some "lightning-bolt" conversion? Or was it some death-bed, traumatic event that occurred?

No. It was simply a humble, unknown, common, "soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ". A faithful, witness telling Jane about his wonderful Savior. According to reports "the path of Fonda's spiritual conversion began two years ago when her chauffeur began witnessing to the actress about his faith in Jesus Christ."

According to reports, "at first, Fonda was reportedly troubled by those conversations." But thank God, the "soldier" didn’t surrender. Her chauffeur, obviously, bearing the "love" and dedication of Peter and John, as they were beaten unmercifully, threatened, scorned, outcast, virtually every terror their accusers could invent short of death (and that came later) to get them to shut up about this "Jesus". But nothing could shut them up. I love how Dr. Luke narrates their boldness in Acts 4:

17. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Acts 4:17-20

Jane’s chauffeur, like Peter and John, "cannot but speak the things which I have seen and heard".

Even to this day, after reading numerous news accounts of Jane’s celebrated conversion – I have yet to even see any article giving the chauffeur’s name. While, the news media may not know his name – I can guarantee you – God and heaven knows the name of His "faithful witness"!

Thank God for Jane’s chauffeur! Good job, soldier!

I’m reminded of a seemingly, insignificant "soldier" named Edward Kimball. Very few people have ever heard the name of Edward Kimball. Edward served as a simple Sunday School teacher in his church. There was one particular boy in his class that Edward had a sympathetic burden for. This young man was a loner, overweight, with a speech impediment, not very bright, by the world’s standards – an obvious "oaf". But Edward saw beyond the "flesh and bones". He saw a young man that needed Jesus Christ. Edward took the time and effort to visit this young man at his job as a shoe clerk. There in the shoe store, Edward Kimball lead this clumsy, ignorant young man to Jesus Christ.

By the way – this clumsy, young man’s name was — Dwight Lyman Moody — Evangelist Dwight L. Moody. Brother Moody was probably involved in the conversion of more souls to Jesus Christ than any person that ever lived. Thanks to the faithfulness of Edward Kimball.

Who knows, maybe that friend or person, sitting, working or living next to you, is another Jane Fonda? Or maybe even another Dwight L. Moody?

Not only is the conversion of Jane Fonda, a display of the mercy and amazing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ – but it’s also a resounding testimony of the utter failure of wealth, fame or fortune to satisfy that deep, longing inside the soul of every human being. Despite incredible fame, such as starring in award-winning movies like Barbarella, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They, and even winning the coveted Oscar for her role in Klute – it just can’t satisfy that longing. . . Despite being born in Hollywood "royalty", the "Fonda" family, . . .Despite being married to one of the wealthest men on planet earth – it wouldn’t satisfy that deep, deep, down, hunger.

"Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are NEVER SATISFIED." Proverbs 27:10

I’m reminded of the pitiful and tragic testimony of the last days of Elvis Presley. Here’s the "King". Here’s a man people literally "worshipped" by thousands. Here’s the fame, and fortune many a man has strived and died for – he had it . If ever the world and it’s treasures could satisfy – Elvis Presley should be the man. But that was not the case. Life Magazine, June 1990, describes the tragic last days in the life of Elvis Presley:

Elvis’s day was night. By four a.m. he had been lucid for perhaps eight hours. Now it was time for him to tune out. . . he would turn to the aide on duty and say: ‘Gimme my first attack.’

The attendant would break out a small yellow envelope containing 11 different pills [barbiturates such as Amytal, Carbrital, Nembutal, or Seconal, and also Placidyl, Quaaludes and Valium] and three shots of Demerol. Elvis would hold out a cupped hand, and the attendant would fill it with brightly colored tablets and capsules. He would swallow the pills one by one with a glass of water. Next, he would stand up and remove his pajama top, exposing his back, into which — on either side of the spine beneath the shoulder blades — were thrust the little needles of the plastic disposable syringes. . .

Mixing any of these drugs requires great caution. By taking them all at once, Elvis was risking his life every day. He became a pharmaceutical freak. Dr. Norman Weissman, the pathologist who compiled the toxicology report after Elvis’s death, testified that he had never seen so many drugs in one body. . .

. . .In about four hours Elvis would begin to stir. Though he was so drugged he couldn’t speak, his feeble efforts to get out of bed would indicate that he wanted to go to the bathroom. With great difficulty the aide would then hoist the boss’s 250-pound body onto his back, transport him in a fireman’s carry, deposit him on the toilet, then carry him back to bed again. . . Elvis would tug at his attendant’s shirt. This was the signal for his second attack. Another yellow envelope (inscribed ‘second attack’) would appear, but this time the job of administering all these drugs was difficult. The aide had to insert the pills one by one into Elvis’s mouth and gingerly manipulate the water glass, taking great care not to choke him.

Elvis would quickly fall asleep again. At 10. A.m. he received his third attack. This final load would sink him until mid-afternoon, when he woke up groggy and disoriented. At this point he needed a different type of drug. And aide would insert cotton swabs soaked in liquid cocaine into his nostrils, and then Elvis would grab from his drug-strewn beside table a handful of Dexedrines to jump-start his heart.

When asked what could possibly justify such a monstrous, life-threatening routine, David Stanley answers by quoting Elvis himself: ‘I’d rather be unconscious than miserable.’ (Albert Goldman, Down at the End of Lonely Street, Life Magazine, June 1990, p.101, as told by David Stanley, Elvis’s step-brother)

Here’s a man that had reached the pinnacle of wealth and stardom. And yet he was miserable! He was so miserable, he literally didn’t even want to be conscious!

Friend, have you too realized that the world system can not satisfy that yearning in your soul?

"For he SATISFIETH the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." Psalms 107:9

"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:12

"But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth." 1 Timothy 5:6

A "neat" testimony to the truthfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ, occurred recently when "new born" Jane Fonda appeared at an environmental conference. Though previously, Jane Fonda was a "big-time" environmental "worshipper". But not this time. . . Jane refused to "meditate" with the environmental crowd, instead, with Christian "child-like-faith" suggested they "pray to Jesus Christ.". I got some "sad news" for all the "tree-hugging-environmental-mother-earth-gaia-pantheistic" worshippers of the world – Jane’s "environmental meditating" days are long gone! She’s got the "real deal"! You get one taste of the amazing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and you ain’t "huggin’ no trees" nor "meditating to some unknown, silly, pantheistic entity".

No sir! Jane’s found what she was looking for! Just like He found me 25 years ago. And I’ve never had to search for ANYTHING else! He has satisfied my sinful, sick and lonely soul – far beyond ANYTHING I could imagine. There is simply no words in the English language to describe to joy of knowing Jesus Christ!

Do you know Jesus Christ?

Jane has, very wisely, refused any interviews to discuss her new found faith, rather spending time with her Lord. That’s a good sign.

Please pray for Jane Fonda. Pray the Lord’s will in her life. Pray Jane will not get tangled up in "Christian celebrity" like other "high-profile" conversions. Pray, as Jane gets to know her Lord and Savior, she’ll be a light to so many lost and lonely souls. Here’s a woman who had it all – and it wouldn’t satisfy.

P.S. Jane, welcome to the family!

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Friend, would you like to know more about receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?

Fonda becomes born-again Christian - WorldNetDaily
Hollywood Christian leader: Pray for Jane - WorldNetDaily
Jane Fonda becomes a born-again Christian - The Washington Times
'Hanoi Jane' no more - Cal Thomas