As we remember Billy Graham—who would’ve recently turned 100 years old—we’re sharing words of wisdom from the world-renowned evangelist as he now spends eternity with Jesus.
The following message from Billy Graham is taken from the foreword of Franklin Graham’s newly released book Through My Father’s Eyes, which focuses on the lessons he learned from his father.
Someday I hope to write a book on the subject of “The End.” When we all reach the end of our earthly journey, we will have just begun.
The word departure literally means “to pull up anchor and set sail.” Everything that happens prior to death is a preparation for the final voyage. Death marks the beginning, not the end. It is our journey to God.
For centuries mankind has been on an incredible journey taking him across every generation and through every conceivable experience in his search for God.
Like every other journey, it has a starting point … and it has an end. … God meant for life to be filled with joy and purpose. He invites us to take the rest of our journey with Him.
The entire world is in turmoil. We are living in a time of enormous conflict and cultural transformation. We have been stunned by shockwaves of change in nation after nation, all around the globe.
We have seen the results of unrestrained greed, corruption, and manipulation on Wall Street, financial mismanagement in the halls of government, fraud and perversion at the highest levels of both church and state. Many people sense the possibility of an even greater unraveling in the world. We are constantly confronted by the realities of new problems in this age of crisis.
We have at our fingertips every pleasure that man is capable of enjoying, and man has abused every gift God ever gave him.
The promoters of change offer a grand vision of world unity. While the globalists and international affairs specialists continue their chant for “peace, peace,” we are reminded that the Bible says that there can be no lasting peace until Christ returns. So the world remains restless and uncertain.
>> Order Through My Father’s Eyes.
We are preoccupied with material things. Our supreme god is technology; our goddess is sex. Most of us are are more interested in conquering space than conquering ourselves. We are more dedicated to material security than to inner purity. We give much more thought to what we wear, what we eat, what we drink, and what we can do to relax than to give to what we are. This preoccupation with peripheral things applies to every area of our lives.
No matter how much you exercise, no matter how many vitamins or healthy foods you eat, no matter how low your cholesterol, you will still die—someday. If you knew the moment and manner of your death in advance, would you order your life differently?
We read every day about the rich, the famous, and the talented who are disillusioned. Many of them are turning to the occult or Eastern religions. Some are turning to crime. The questions they thought were answered are left dangling: What is man? Where did he come from? What is his purpose on this planet? Where is he going? Is there a God who cares? If there is a God, has He revealed Himself to man?
Our educational establishment has been brainwashed into thinking that its job is to educate the mind and build the body but to leave untouched the deeper questions that are essentially spiritual.
The soul actually demands as much attention as the body. The soul was made for God, and without God it is restless and in secret torment.
Truly, the world is in need of moral leadership that teaches the difference between right and wrong and teaches us to forgive one another even as we are forgiven by our Father in heaven. We do not need a new moral order; the world desperately needs the tried and tested moral order that God handed down.
The good news is that we aren’t alone. Not only did God carve out the path for us, but He wants to join us on the journey—to help us with challenges along the way, and eventually lead us home.
The most important decision you will ever make is about eternity. Christ wants to give you hope for the future. He wants you to learn what it means to walk with Him every day. When you come to Christ, God gives you eternal life—which begins right now as you open your heart to Him.
God requires something of us. We must confess our spiritual poverty, renounce our sins, and turn by faith to His Son, Jesus Christ. When we do that, we are born again. He gives us a new nature. He puts a little bit of heaven down in our souls.
The central theme of the universe is the purpose and destiny of every individual. Every person is important in God’s eyes.
Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for forgiveness. The other is for goodness.
I like announcing good news, but I cannot speak only of the good news.
The world seems to be spinning faster and faster. Technology and time itself are racing past us at dizzying speeds. Who can keep up? Where will it end? We have to wonder if there are any answers for the crises of our time. But we must also ask if there is still hope for us—or is it as bad as we often fear?
God undertook the most dramatic rescue operation in cosmic history. He determined to save the human race from self-destruction. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to salvage and redeem it. The work of man’s redemption was accomplished at the cross.
When I picture Christ hanging on the cross, the spikes in His hands, the crown of thorns on His brow, the blood shed for our sins, I see the picture of God’s grace toward men. Nothing can equal God’s infinite love for sinful men.
Ultimately, every human being must face this question: What do you think of Christ? Whose Son is He? We must answer this question with belief and action. We must not only believe something about Jesus; we must do something about Him. We must accept Him or reject Him.
