Billy Graham's Legacy

I was not born in America but I grew up listening to the evangelist Billy Graham every Sunday. My mother would serve lunch at the exact time that "The Hour of Decision" weekly broadcast came over the radio, and we would all have lunch while listening to the evangelist. Even though I was too young to understand his message, his earnest voice struck a chord in my young heart that would impact my life for years to come.

As I grew older, watched his crusades on television and read about his life, I became convinced that Billy Graham was sent by God to draw people to Christ. How else could he have preached to over 200 million people all over the world and have them respond in the way they did? He never danced and pranced on stage, he didn't promise miracles, all he did was preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in a clear and simple way and invite people to "Come." And they left their seats in droves and went up to the altar to have their lives transformed by the powerful gospel message. Such was the charisma of this great man.

I chose to write about Billy Graham today, not because he passed away a few days ago, but because this is Black History month and even though Dr. Graham was not black, his influence extended to the black community as well. While he has been criticized for not taking a strong stand on racial issues and for not marching with Dr. King, it is well documented that Billy Graham refused to preach to segregated audiences in the South and even removed the ropes himself that divided the people. I think to do that in a period of racial tension that existed in the fifties and sixties was nothing short of courageous. In one account about the relationship between Dr. King and Dr. Graham, it is said that Dr. King advised Graham to continue preaching to integrated audiences and he would continue to march. This, King believed, would pave the way for him to make inroads in the South. Some say this has not been authenticated.

Dubbed "Counselor to the Presidents," Billy Graham was well known for his meetings with every president since Harry Truman. Some of these meetings took place at the White House, others on the golf course and in other informal settings, but President Barack Obama was the first president to meet with the famed evangelist at his log cabin home in North Carolina.

Whatever stance, or lack of, Billy Graham may have taken on civil rights issues, one cannot deny the impact he had on evangelism and on the lives of millions. Our society and the world owe a huge debt of gratitude to this great man.

In The Midst Of Celebration

If you live on this planet, you would no doubt have been aware of or be caught up in the excitement and awe of the Royal nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton. I'm sure everyone would agree, no one does Royal weddings like the Brits. As I watched the newly- wed couple ride off in the royal carriage, escorted by dancing white horses and ninettenth-century attired horsemen, I felt transported into a wonderland.

However, at the back of my mind was the devastation that had taken place two days earlier in the southern United States, my state, Georgia, among them. The news networks kept interrupting their coverage of the royal wedding to show scenes of the destruction and of the president touring the disaster area in Alabama.

As I pondered on these things, this verse popped into my mind: "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child ; and they shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:3). In this case it wasn't all that sudden. The news stations had been issuing warnings days before. Even nature seemed to be preparing us. The storms began during the day, then quieted down, something which the meteorologists called "a warm up" for what was to come. So we did have time to escape. And yet, hundreds of people died.

The Bible tells us, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5: 2). This verse calls on us to prepare ourselves because no one knows the day nor the hour when Jesus will return. In the case of tornadoes and hurricanes we do get some warning, but it's not always easy to save ourselves. This must have been the case of those unfortunate ones who perished a few days ago. However, we can prepare ourselves for the coming of Our Lord. We should not be so caught up in the things of the world that we leave ourselves open to eternal destruction.

In our age of information overload, the gospel has not been left out, but some of us remain in our stubborneness and will not heed the warnings we're being given.  President Obama, during his tour of the stricken areas in Alabama, said he'd never seen such devastation. Well, there's a devastation far greater that will come upon the earth when Jesus returns. Those of us who are ready will celebrate, but for those who are not "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out" (Luke 13: 28).  Now where do you want to be? In the midst of a celebration or a destruction?