John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
I have to say that, I may not have always agreed with Billy Graham on many things. However, the thing that impresses me, and also convicts me, is that he stayed true to preaching the gospel of Christ. To hear his son speak of it, he not only preached it in the pulpit, but to everyone he came in contact with. Whether it was a President, or the man on the street corner, Mr. Graham had a burden for the souls of men, women, and children.
He is receiving deserved accolades now from every corner of the world today. He was never part of any scandal, and lived a humble life. He is deserving of all the praise that he is receiving now.
I read a comment by someone today, concerning him, that said, “He earned heaven.” Billy Graham himself would never tell you that. The very gospel, that he preached so faithfully, refutes any notion that he or anyone else for that matter, could earn heaven. The gospel isn’t that we may be able to earn heaven, it is that Christ alone paid the price of our sin, and by His grace we are forgiven when we place our faith (belief) in Him.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
The word gospel means, “good news,” by it, we learn, that our heavenly reward isn’t earned by being a good person or even being a preacher, it is by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
If we somehow could earn heaven by our good deeds, then Christ’s death, burial and resurrection had no meaning. We are then of all men most miserable.
I also heard just yesterday that Billy Graham preached a “New Message.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The message he preached is the same that Jesus Himself preached.
John 11:25-26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
Eternal life is a gift from God to those that believe in Christ. What a great message!! It truly is good news. Billy Graham preached that message with all his might. Not to become saved, but because he was saved. He was forgiven of his sin by God’s grace, through no merit of his own. Today he is in the very presence of God because of Christ!!
“Some day 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.”
Do you have that same confidence today? If not, simply call out to God, by faith. Admit you have sinned against God, ask Him to forgive your sin, and believe in the finished work that Jesus Christ did on the cross. It is a simple message. God made it that way so all men can be saved. That is the message Billy Graham believed. Enjoy eternity Mr. Graham! See you soon.