Home at last!

Today, the physical death of Billy Graham was announced. The following words, that he uttered many years ago, have been extensively quoted: “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.”

What a wonderful attitude for anyone who claims to be a child of the living God - adopted into His family; a joint-heir with the Lord Jesus, the Christ. Another quotation from Dr. Graham was:"My home is in Heaven. I'm just traveling through this world."

Of course, there are those who, even at such a time, choose to rake up what they consider to be errors in the evangelist's recorded words. I would only make two comments - the first a question; the second, some words of Jesus.

1. What have you done in the Kingdom of God, in the preaching of the Gospel, and the leading of many to full salvation?

2. "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone ..." (John 8:7).

Of course, I am fully aware that not everyone who "went forward" at a Billy Graham Evangelistic Rally was soundly converted. I know some who fell away very shortly afterwards. So what? Did not Jesus, Himself, foretell that such would happen? 

“A sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matt.13:3-9). If not even the Lord expected all who initially responded to remain, why should anyone be surprised that some of those who made a 'confession of faith' under Billy Graham's ministry should do so?

At the end of the day, of course, all final judgement belongs to Father God. In the meantime, we may all remember that although they sorrow, not as those who have no hope (see I Thess.4:13), the family of Billy Graham do sorrow. Let us uphold them in our own prayers that they may know the additional strength that is required for those who must deal with this parting in the public gaze.

I have posted a video on my Facebook that may be worth watching - assuming that anyone can access it!