The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

OUR VIEW

Posted: Wednesday, February 21, 2018 04:49 PM

OUR VIEW: The Earth's Loss Of Evangelist Billy Graham Today Is Heaven's Gain As A Legacy Of Faith Is Celebrated

It was almost surreal hearing those words as this earth lost one of it's godliest men and greatest preachers that has ever graced the soil of this violence ridden nation.

William Franklin "Billy" Graham was born in 1918 and lived to be 99 years of age. He began preaching at young age and it is estimated that he preached to 215 million people in 109 countries before health issues put him on the sidelines over the past few decades from Parkinson's Disease.

The 215 million does not include the scores of other millions, and I'd argue perhaps, billions, that saw him on television, or heard him on radio or received one of his materials by mail through his Evangelistic Association.

He once told those around him he was never retiring until God himself "retired" him. Billy Graham saw that desire met today as he entered a place called heaven, who rejoiced this morning at the homecoming of one of it's its greatest generals.

I was privileged to be at two Billy Graham crusades in my life time. One in 1986 in Atlanta, Georgia, and another in 1987 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Tallahassee crusade was unique in that the song service that day was graced by the late Johnny Cash and his wife June, both who gave Billy Graham credit for leading them to the Lord a few years earlier. Billy I'm sure, saw Johnny and June both this morning, as he probably did millions of others.

Others who preceded Rev. Graham would give him the same credit, for how his sermons and his life were such an example of integrity and worship, it caused them to come to the altar as he led them, along with countless millions of others, to the foot of the world's Redeemer in repentance and faith.

I'm sure when they did, Billy turned to Jesus and gave him all the glory for whatever was accomplished. That was the heart and soul of why Billy Graham will go down as the greatest ministry in my mind in history of this nation.

On a side not, both Billy and the Cashes can it now be said that they have met the same Jesus they all believed in so strongly. I'm sure Jesus had a smile on his face this Wednesday when He met Billy and embraced him at heaven's gate.

The thing that has always struck me about Rev. Graham through the years is his humble nature and simple message. In this modern age of superstar preachers and online sensational sermons and antidotes, Billy Graham stayed out of the fray for decades, simply preaching a message that said "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, and whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life." It may not have gotten him spots on Oprah or Larry King through the years, but it was a message that has saved millions of souls from hell.

His humble nature was also key to his success. Every single interview that Billy Graham ever gave through the years, he'd always deflect any praise on himself to the One he represented in heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was not flashy, but he was anointed. He was not worried about political correctness, he preached the Word of God without fear or favor.

My dad told me a story years ago of meeting Rev. Graham in person at a small bible college in Atlanta. A group of young preachers had gathered at the lunch table when this giant of a preacher sat down among them, not wanting to sit with the leadership, but sit with a group of young snot-nosed kid preachers to offer some encouragement and prayer. My dad said he'll never forget Rev. Graham putting his hand on my dad's knee and telling him "I'm praying for success and many souls in your ministry ahead." Dad entered his 51st year of ministry this year and I'd argue that prayer from Billy Graham went a long way on that day in Atlanta, Georgia.

These arrogant, cocky know-it-all ministry types of today could learn a thing or two from that. They don't have the time it seems these days to be courteous to their sheep or congregations, because it's easier to speak at multi-million-dollar conferences than to sit down and pray with a humble beginner. We wonder why our churches are in the shape they are in today and this attitude is why.

We have lost the ministry and the message of the cross, a message like a few men like Billy Graham faithfully preached from day one of his ministry to the end. Unless we recover it soon, we are toast as a nation.

Billy Graham was not perfect by any means. He was but a mortal man on this earth who simply carved out a ministry legacy that this generation will never see again. He did this all without scandal, without controversy, be it sexual or financial, setting rules in the beginning of his life as a minister he never broke, and as a result bore great fruit for the Kingdom of God.

Our hearts are both sad and happy today. They are sad to know he has been taken from among us. Just his presence on this earth was an encouragement even though his voice had been silenced in many ways by his sickness. His legacy never was and never will be.

I am rejoicing however, in the assurance that at around 8:15 this morning, there was a celebration in heaven that one of God's soldiers of the Cross of Christ arrived home. I'd like to think Jesus looked Billy Graham in the face and then turned him around to say, "these are the ones who are here because of your faithful service and message." The numbers that included were I'm sure astronomical and beyond measure.

The great thing is there will be more as his crusades will still air on the internet and Christian television now that he has gone from this earth physically.

There is a verse in Revelation that says, "their works follow them," meaning that the legacy of those who die in Christ will not just be rewarded for their time on earth, but what they leave behind that causes others to find Christ.

For as long as the Lord tarries, those works will be innumerable for Billy Graham.

Rest in Peace, soldier of the Cross. You will be missed here on Earth but we thank you for your faithful example to Christ, your unending love for those you ministered to, your humble spirit that reached out to the lowest and poorest among us, and your powerful anointed preaching that touch billions of hearts for all eternity. These will never be forgotten and we pray God's blessings upon a grieving Graham family today who lost an precious jewel among them. Heaven is so much richer today words cannot describe it.

If only this wicked and violent ridden planet will hear the message of hope and faith Rev. Graham left, it will truly be changed for the better!

Christopher McDonald, Publisher, Editor in Charge

Great Smoky Mountain Journal