I have known of Reverend Billy Graham for as long as I can remember. As a young girl, I remember listening to him preach on the radio and watch him on tv at his crusades. His message was always clear:
“In this life there are only two roads: the road that leads to destruction and judgement and there’s the other on that leads to Heaven. Follow Jesus, let Him lead you home!” When he spoke, people listened. And the world was his pulpit.
What started out as small tent revivals in his early years of ministry eventually turned into the largest Christian ministry the world had ever seen. All because Billy Graham was obedient. Preaching the Gospel to tens of millions of people all around the world, he was a good and faithful servant.
I had the chance to attend one of his revivals in high school. By this time the Revered was in his mid-eighties, he was old and frail. But his spirit was ON FIRE. As his son, Franklin, wheeled him up to the pulpit, his shaky voice began to speak and the Spirit of the Lord was on his lips. He spoke in love and truth, conviction and hope. And even in his physical weakness, the Lord made him strong enough to be obedient. He was a good and faithful servant.
This morning, Billy Graham breathed his last this side of heaven and finally entered the eternity that he so passionately preached of for all of these years. As his earthly eyes grew dim, his spirit grew brighter than ever before. He had walked the narrow road for most of his life, he has run his race with endurance. Coming face to face with Jesus was what he had been longing for, what he believed in. And when he finally saw the face of his Savior it took his breath away, as the Lord extended his hand saying, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.”
“For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
Thank you Reverend Graham for showing us how to be obedient, how to live faithfully, and how to run the race with endurance.
Originally posted at From Blacktop to Dirt Road