Perry Ellis "had it all." A designer who had won eight Coty awards, he was at the top of his profession. He was at the head of a multi-million dollar business, with one of the most beautiful showrooms in New York City. Charm and talent had won tremendous popularity for him, both personally and for his designs. An exciting career, a beautiful home, world travel, many friends—yes, Perry Ellis had it all.
But with all this, at only 46 he lay dying in a New York hospital. Slipping in and out of a coma, he roused a little as a friend came into the room and commented on all the beautiful flowers. "Never enough!" said Perry—and those were his final words.
Never enough! Wealth—fame—friends—it was never enough. And it could never be enough.
Perhaps he left God out of his life, and without Him the whole world is "never enough" to fill one human heart.
"There is an emptiness," as "Murphy the Surf" said. Do you remember "Murphy the Surf"? He (Jack Murphy) was another young man who "had it all." Born into a good family and in comfortable circumstances, he was a talented musician and a champion sportsman, yet with it all he said there "was still emptiness there."
So he began to look for more excitement. Looking for thrills, he tried stealing—spectacular stealing, no "small stuff" for him. He entered the gem room of the Museum of Natural History in New York and stole the 563 carat Star of India sapphire, as well as 21 other beautiful, valuable, and well-known jewels.
Capture was certain—and soon. But as soon as he was released from a short prison term he was busy trying to fill the emptiness again. At last he sat alone in a six-by-nine-foot cell in the state prison, serving a life term for murder. It was a total contrast from his "have it all" years, but one thing had not changed: the "emptiness" was still there.
The prison chaplain came to him with the message of God's love and forgiveness for sin, but Murphy told him to "take that to somebody who needs a crutch."
At last he began to listen, and to watch. He said, "When the 'losers' would ask the Lord to come into their lives... the lights would start coming on in their eyes."
Murphy, too, asked Jesus Christ into his life. He said, "I didn't hear any bells. I didn't fall down. It was just by faith!" And, receiving the Lord Jesus Christ "just by faith," he found the emptiness at last was filled.
One man had all the world could give, but found it "never enough."
One man had lost everything, even his friends, but found that "Jesus Christ is the answer to filling an empty life." Even in that six-by-nine-foot cell, Murphy knew that he had received, as he said, "a brand new life."
Today he is out of prison after spending 21 years of his life behind bars, but he is still working to help other convicts. He says he will continue "to work in the darkness, lifting up Jesus Christ" to the lost and lonely and empty-hearted in prison, telling them that "there is an answer."
There is an answer. Christ is the answer. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).