Today one of God’s generals left planet earth and entered into the glory of the King of kings. I know the saints in Heaven are focused on Christ but I do wonder, if for a moment, everyone paused to welcome Billy Graham into the cloud of witnesses with a standing ovation. This is a man of whom it can truly be said, “He ran his race, and finished it well”. It wouldn’t be right to not take some time to honour the man and let his life inspire us. All day in fact I have been thinking about how I want to run my race like Billy Graham. He was a man so focused on His mission to win souls for Christ. I don’t want to miss what God has called me to do. I don’t want to be disqualified for the prize of winning my race because I got caught up in the temporary things of this earth.
Freewill is a peculiar thing. We decide whether we’re going to obey God and see heaven coming to earth through our lives, or if we choose to squander our allocated days on trivial things. I could be a person who gives myself over to aimless indulgence, merely eating food, passing it through my body, taking up space, growing old and dying with no impact or legacy in this world. OR, I could choose to use what God has given me and be a man like Billy Graham who led 3.2 million people to Christ through his crusades, preached the Gospel to more people in person than anyone in the history of Christianity, broadcast his show “Hour of Decision” for over 50 years along with other broadcasts reaching a lifetime audience of 2.2 billion people, who was a spiritual advisor to twelve United States presidents, who ministered for over 60 years and was married to one wife, Ruth Bell, for almost 64 years, having no scandals whatsoever but is rather the benchmark of integrity and purity, and leaves a legacy that will continue to reach multiple millions of souls until Christ returns.
What does it take to be someone like this? I don’t think the answer is that difficult or mysterious. Billy Graham was surrendered to Christ. He was gripped with eternity and God’s love for souls that were on their way to eternal judgement and hell. He was willing to deny himself and pay any price. He was willing to be disciplined, focused, consistent and hard working. He was willing to be courageous! He was willing to be hated by people, knowing that souls were more important, and that he was loved by God.
I want to run my race like Dr. Billy Graham. He ran his race exactly how Paul the apostle encourages us all to:
1 Corinthians 9:24 – 27 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
The race is our destiny and winning means we fulfil it. We’re not competing against others we’re competing against ourselves. Being disqualified is simply not fulfilling our destiny because we were distracted.
I am confronted in the most challenging yet loving way by how Billy Graham lived his life. What will I say as I see my final days approaching? Will I have regret because I passed up my destiny inheritance, or will I be able to say like Paul that I finished my race?
2 Timothy 4:7-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
As you consider great people like Billy Graham may you throw off the distractions of life and keep your eyes set on Jesus and eternity. It is all worth it for Him and the lost.
Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
God bless you Dr. Billy Graham and the legacy you leave behind.
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