From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

The playwright William Shakespeare wrote numerous classics, some of which are called “tragedies.” Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, Julius Caesar, and Romeo and Juliet, are only some of Shakespeare’s more classic tragedies. We seldom wonder why these plays have remained classics. After all, they depict tragedy; the stories are, themselves, tragic. In each instance, the characters are victims of their own circumstances and are powerless to free themselves from them.

Not so for the Christian. We have the power to triumph over tragedy, even in situations that might seem hopeless and unredeemable in the world. The key to understanding tragedy is to understand its source. Death and pain and tragedy came into the world because of sin. Many people blame God for tragedy, but it’s a result of sin having entered the world. However, Christ has triumphed over tragedy, and He wants us to do the same because in such triumph God is glorified. “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV).

Those who read the Scriptures as magnificent literature, breathtaking poetry, or history—overlooking the story of salvation—miss the Bible’s purpose and message.

The Bible that has given consolation, comfort, and salvation to millions in centuries past, is still enduring and speaks to the human heart, because it’s the voice of God Himself. It’s a living book that works its way into the human heart, mind, and soul.

(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

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