Billy Graham 1918 - 2018

“Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead.  Don’t you believe a word of it.  I shall be more alive than I am now.  I will just have changed my address.  I will have gone into the presence of God.”

At 99 years of age, Billy Graham had a birth date and an entering Heaven date, but it’s what he chose to do and to live for between those two dates that God used to make an impact on our world.

Billy Graham was born in 1918 and raised on a dairy farm in Charlotte, North Carolina.  He became a Christian, a believer and follower of Jesus, at the age of 15, after hearing a message given by a traveling evangelist.  In 1939, at the age of 21, Dr. Graham was ordained.  Billy Graham has reached more than 215 million people with the message of Jesus through crusades, television, radio, videos, movies, and 34 books.  He preached across the United States and in more than 185 countries and territories. 

Through the years, Dr. Graham became known as “America’s Pastor” and the “Pastor of the Presidents.”  Over a 60 year career, he prayed with and counseled United States Presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama.

Billy Graham began being noticed while he was preaching a crusade in Los Angeles, California, in 1948.  The revival services were scheduled for 3 weeks, but extended for 8 weeks.  Newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst made sure his paper promoted the giant tent meeting.

In 1957, a crusade was held in Madison Square Garden, in the New York City borough of Manhattan.  Services were held nightly for four months.  Even when away from home for long stretches of time, Dr. Graham remained a man of integrity.  He avoided sexual and financial scandals.  Because he was willing, available, and obedient, God once again used an ordinary man to accomplish extraordinary things for His Kingdom.

Billy Graham, as did his wife Ruth, chose to be buried in a casket made by the inmates of Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola Prison, Louisiana.  The casket was designed with a cross on the top and built by men who had found faith in Jesus while in prison.  His casket was brought to the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, North Carolina and placed behind a pulpit.  After a service on Friday, the casket will be moved to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte.  People will be able to visit and pay their respects until Wednesday when the casket will be transferred to the United States Capitol Rotunda.  It is rare for private citizens to lie in repose at the U. S. Capitol.  Usually this honor is reserved for former presidents, Supreme Court judges, and members of Congress.  What a wonderful way to honor a faithful, obedient, follower of Jesus.

In Billy Graham’s own words:

“My home is in Heaven.  I’m just traveling through this world.”

“I have one message:  that Jesus Christ came, he died on a cross, he rose again, and he asked us to repent of our sins and receive him by faith as Lord and Savior, and if we do, we have forgiveness of all of our sins.”

“I know that soon my life will be over.  I thank God for it, and for all He has given me in this life.  But I look forward to Heaven.”

“My one purpose in life is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which I believe comes through knowing Christ.”

“It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge, and my job to love.”

“God loves you!”

“Salvation is an act of God.  It is initiated by God, wrought by God, and sustained by God.”

“The ground at the foot of the cross is level.”

“Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion – it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”

“The very practice of reading [the Bible] will have a purifying effect upon your mind and heart.  Let nothing take the place of this daily exercise.”

“We need to trust in God and we need to put our faith in Him as a nation.”

“I’ve read the last page of the Bible.  It’s all going to turn out all right.”

It has been touching to read and hear stories about the ways God worked in and through Dr. Graham to share His message with family, friends, presidents, and others.  Because of his faith, trust, belief, love, passion, and obedience, a difference was made for God’s Kingdom.  Billy Graham has finished the race and left behind his legacy.  The baton has been passed.  It’s now our turn, opportunity, privilege, and responsibility to do the same. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

John 5:24

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21

Precious in the sight of the LORD

     is the death of his saints.

Psalm 116:15

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

     and what does the LORD require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

    and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8