On this day in 1963, it is seared on the memories of those who were living at the time that John F. Kennedy, then President of the United States, was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. But did you know that two other important figures in the world died on the same day, albeit under less tragic circumstances?
Aldous Huxley, the English writer, known for such works as Brave New World, also died on November 22, 1963.
The other famous person who died that day was Clive Staples Lewis. C.S. Lewis, known to his friends as “Jack”, was a philosopher and, arguably, one of the 
greatest defenders of the Christian faith in modern times – at least later in his life.
Lewis was not always a Christian, nor was he always someone whom many might consider a ‘model’ Christian: he smoked a pipe, enjoyed quaffing a pint in the local tavern, and read (and wrote) a lot of philosophy. He came to faith in the middle of his life; he had been baptized into the Church of Ireland, and fell away as an adolescent. It was in no small part due to the influence of his friend and pub-mate, J.R.R. Tolkien, that he returned to the Christian faith in his thirties and, through study and debate and God’s grace, left a lasting legacy to the church through his writings.
Charles Colson, while serving time in prison because of his involvement in Watergate, came to faith in Christ by reading Lewis’ Mere Christianity. Colson then went on to found Prison Fellowship, a ministry to inmates, ex-inmates and their families, which has changed the lives of countless men and women through the years.
Colson is just one example of a person whose life was changed because C.S. Lewis’ life was changed.
The ripple effect of life-change is what changes the world. You don’t have to be a philosopher, or an elegant writer or eloquent speaker, or even an ex-con, to change the world. By living your faith authentically and intentionally, you can change the world by being used by God to change the lives of others in your circle of acquaintance.
Live your life fully in Christ. Live your life passionately in Christ. Live your life purposefully in Christ. Pray for God to use you. And watch the difference you make, just by being real with God and with others.
“But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume” (2 Corinthians 2.14, NLT).
