I never had the privilege of meeting Billy Graham, but his ministry marks my life. He was the first crusade evangelist I ever heard speak when I was a teenage believer, and many were the nights I watched him preach the Word on television. The clarity of his message and the passion of his heart made me long to tell the old, old story as often as I could.
Then, I had the honor of serving as the second dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. When I moved from Southern to the International Mission Board, Southern gave me the above painting of Dr. Graham and a framed letter of congratulations from him. I’m most humbled to have both hanging in our home office.
There’s so much I could thank Billy Graham for today, and others have written much more powerful tributes to him than I ever could. Here’s what I’m most grateful for, though:
he ended well.
When so many others have fallen into sin . . . when so many have been ensnared in the devil’s trap . . . when so many have compromised the Word . . . when so many have lost their moral compass, Dr. Graham remained faithful. He fought the fight all the way in the full armor of God.
That’s the cry of my heart today. I realize that every one of us is always but one dumb decision away from falling. Just like Jesus warned Peter, each of us could deny Him with our words and actions by time the next dawn comes. Every step could be disaster–and every moment of victory we have is due to Him.
Fully in the grace of God, Billy Graham ran his race well. All of it. To the end.
I pray that God will grant me grace to do the same.
This is a wonderful tribute to a great man of God. He served admirably and was respected and followed by my grandfather, my father, me and my children. I would love to have seen his reception in heaven. He was most likely welcome by Jesus and tens of thousands who were led to Christ through his ministry.