An old lesson made new in Doctor Billy Graham, leaves us to always praise God for His control in all things.
By the personal testimony of some Dr. Graham was used by God to draw their soul to Himself. The name of Jesus was heard and the gospel was preached to thousands.
The souls of true Christians were saved. Perhaps only a few in comparison to the many who heard the truth of the Bible during a worldwide Crusade.
But what about those many more, who believed that by walking to the front, they were saved and then returned to their same old unchanged life, thinking their walk would save them?
Similarly, are those nowadays in auditoriums, arenas, and stadiums who raise a hand, fill out a card or walk to the front and believe they’re saved, by their action.
They like the multitude in yesterday’s large events do not or may not, receive a follow up visit, or call, or any guidance. They’re just left out there on their own.
They bore no true Christian fruit of repentance, in fact they continued in their unchanged sin life, bringing ridicule to their profession and to the name of Jesus.
Thank God He is in control of all things and His will draw to Himself those Whom He has chosen. As it says in Ephesians we are saved by Him, ‘to the good pleasure of His will’ ‘of His grace’ He made us accepted.’
Ephesians 1:3-6 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Reading the reviews of Dr. Grahams lifespan shows a strong beginning lasting decade with a weak ending denying Jesus as the only way of salvation. Good, yet sad, but true.
Dr. John MacArthur brings attention to the tragedy of Dr. Grahams compromise, from which we can all learn from. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i8Bh8YQ9Pc
Perhaps one lesson for me to learn in watching the strong and the weak life of Billy Graham is the lesson to be strong and faithful in the Lord with all your heart, till the end.
The Bible teaches us about chosen men of God who were strong and weak as we see in David and Solomon.
1 Kings 11:44 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.
God help us to be made more fully in the image of Christ and more like Paul to run the race faithfully till the end.
Hebrews 12:1 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
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!
