On February 21, 2018, Reverend Billy Graham breathe his last breath on Earth and awakened in Heaven. As millions all over the world stop and reflect on his life, they speak on how many lives he touched. However, the underlying thread between every “Billy Graham moment” is the message of God’s love. God’s unconditional love was the foundation of Billy Graham’s message to the world. And as many mourn the loss of Reverend Graham, and others rejoice his heavenly entrance, we recognize that it was the love of God that spoke through him and made him the person of character, faith, and honor he was. Over three million, would come to know God through the message of the cross that he spoke.
Thank be to God, the message of love never dies.
Out of all the Billy Graham stories, the most intriguing was his approach to segregation in the United States. At a time when his culture dictated Jim Crow laws and inequality he refused to be shaken in his belief that the “message of the cross was for everyone.” There are instances where he would refuse to preach at a segregated venue. On more than one occasion, Billy Graham even ripped the curtains separating the races during his crusades. Truly, he made up his mind to ensure everyone he encountered knew who God was. He demonstrated a holy boldness when it came to sharing the love of God.
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35
So what then do we do to honor the memory of a champion of the Christian faith. Quite simply, we make a choice to love.
We make a choice to love well.
We make a choice to love the ones that society rejects.
We make a choice to love those who believe differently.
We make a choice to tear down the racial, political, gender, and religious curtains that separate us.
We make a choice to tell everyone about the love of God.
We make a choice to let our actions and words reflect the Lord’s heart.
We make a choice to declare the message of the cross to our generation.
We make a choice to be as bold in sharing God’s love as we when we share our ever-so-flawed opinions.
We make a choice to draw people to Christ by sharing His love.
I often ask myself, “What will they remember me for?” I challenge you to ask yourself what will be your trademark. For Billy Graham, it will be his crusades, the millions who accepted Christ, and the way he demonstrated love in the most unlikely ways. However, what will be your story? How will you use your time, talents, and treasures to be the hands and feet of God on Earth.
How life changing would it be if every person who proclaims the Christian faith made a choice to love people beyond their flaws, their past, and their differences?
Let us never forget the moments when we were loved in the midst of our mess. If we learn anything from Billy Graham, let us learn to love each other so well that it will become our trademark. I leave you with these quotes from Evangelist Billy Graham.
“God proved his love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’”
“It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, God's job to judge and my job to love.”
“Sin is the second most powerful force in the universe, for it sent Jesus to the cross. Only one force is greater—the love of God.”
“We are the Bibles the world is reading; we are the creeds the world is needing; we are the sermons the world is heeding."
Like, Share, and Comment, "Love" below in memory of the beloved Billy Graham.
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