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Billy Graham Tribute

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BillyGraham is now 91-years-old with Parkinson’s disease. In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte , North Carolina , invited their favorite son,BillyGraham, to a luncheon in his honor.

Billyinitially hesitated to accept the invitation because hestruggles with Parkinson’s disease. But the Charlotte leaders said,’We don’t expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you.’ So he agreed.

After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, ”I’m reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down theaisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn’t there. He looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn’t find it.

“The conductor said, ‘Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket.Don’t worry about it.’

“Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.

“The conductor rushed back and said, ‘Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry, I know who you are; no problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.’

Einstein looked at him and said,’Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.”

Having said thatBillyGraham continued,

“See the suit I’m wearing? It’s a brand new suit. My children, and my grandchildren are telling me I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to immediately remember the suit I’m wearing. I want you to remember this:

I not only know who I am. I also know where I’m going.”

Secret to Success

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Henrietta Mears was one of the most influential Christian educators of the 20th century. She believed that anything was possible with Gods supernatural power at work within her. Henrietta influenced thousands of high school and college students to become passionate for God and His Word. Hundreds of those young people went into full time Christian ministry – including Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ.

Mears knew that the secret to spiritual success was to live a holy life. Thats why she had a passion for her students to know the Word of God intimately. “If you want to be pure,” she advised others, “saturate yourself with the Word of God.” Mears herself spent many hours each day studying, and memorizing Scripture. God used Henrietta to personally touch thousands of lives, all over the world. And her success was a result of her deep commitment to holiness and the Word of God.

God wants to do powerful, exciting things through your life, too! But first and foremost he says, “Be holy, as I am holy.” As you spend time in the Bible, His words will purify your heart and mind. Then, in His timing, He will launch you out in powerful ways to reach your world for Jesus Christ!

Evangelism

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Did you know that Christian missionaries brought the gospel message to the Fiji Islands almost two centuries ago? A few years back a European count visited the islands. He had heard of its beautiful girls, wild dances and pristine beaches. But when he got there he was sorely disappointed. The Fijians were modestly dressed and not partying like he had hoped.

The man complained to the tribal chief. He said that they never should have listened to the missionaries-that their message was outdated and boring. The chief looked at the count. He said, “Do you see that rock over there? Before the missionaries came, we would take people like you and cut off their heads on that rock. Then we boiled them, and ate them. So, youd better thank the missionaries that they came and that we believed their message of the love of God. Because if it wasnt for them, wed have chopped your head off right now and youd be boiling for dinner tonight.” What a great response!

In Matthew chapter 28, Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” The life of the people around you may not seem as barbaric as that of 200 years ago in the Pacific. But they are still living in darkness. We have the message of light. We have the message of Jesus Christ. It is our duty, and our privilege, to let them know that theres a Savior who can liberate us from everything that enslaves us.

A Thrilling Experience

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When God called Abraham to leave his home in Haran and go to a foreign land, Abraham had to take God at his word. Thankfully, he did, because look at the blessings that Abraham and his descendants have received through the centuries!

God the Father said, “I will surely bless you. I will multiply you. Abraham, I can’t give you enough because you have obeyed me.” God speaks deep things to obedient people.

But Abraham didn’t receive all the blessings right away. Hebrews 11 says that he and others “did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.” They believed that the blessings would eventually come, and they did come – in God’s sweet time, of course.

Many times that’s true when we try to reach our world, isn’t it? We often don’t get the response we’re hoping for, and sometimes it seems as if there’s no fruit at all. But if you trust God and obey His leading to share the Good News, you can know that His word doesn’t return void.

Abraham had no idea what blessings lay in store for him, but he obeyed in faith and followed God’s leading. What about you? Will you obey and follow God? You may not see immediate fruit, but if you believe by faith, someday the blessings of sharing your faith will be revealed. It’s happened to me… often!

God’s Calling

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Has God ever called you to do something that seemed outrageous? He certainly did when he called Abraham to leave his home and go through the desert to the land of Canaan.

God told Abraham, “Leave your family and go to the land I’m going to show you.” He was leading Abraham to the Promised Land. What a grand calling the Lord had in store for Abraham’s life and for the lives of his descendants!

But, it wasn’t easy. It took a huge amount of faith for Abraham to do what God was asking Him to do. Hebrews 11:8 tells us, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Because Abraham obeyed by faith, he became the father of all Believers!

What has God been prompting you to do that demands great faith? Has the Lord been asking you to invite an intimidating co-worker to church? Or perhaps He wants you to take a missions trip to a foreign country?

Each calling from God takes a step of faith. But it’s always worth it. You have no idea the impact your life could have on others today, and perhaps for centuries to come. So step out in faith, and watch God use you to change lives for His own good, now and for eternal ages to come.