Lent Day 7: A Servant of God Goes Home

“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” – Billy Graham. “My home is in heaven. I’m just traveling through this world” – Billy Graham.

Billy Graham lived in this world like a pilgrim, always yearning to go back to his own home. Completely detached from all he had been blessed with, (none of which he could take back with him to his own home), he was determined to make that mindset the goal of millions of people across the globe. This heartfelt desire of his was for God’s glory and God granted him his wish, and then some…..99 years….millions converted across the world….rulers and authorities seeking his consult….

He was an imperfect man who leaned on the Holy Spirit to do only what pleased his Master. This is what defined him, an over-arching desire to please God and do all things for God’s glory. Well aware that his fruit-bearing ability and talent made him a marked man in the enemy’s kingdom, he was laser-focused on avoiding the financial and sexual scandals that brought down some of his peers.

At the beginning of his traveling ministry in 1948, he and his cohorts established some ground rules that came to be known as The Modesto Manifesto: To avoid financial abuses and downplay the offerings; To avoid any situation that would even have the appearance of compromise or suspicion by never being alone with a woman other than one’s wife (a.k.a The Billy Graham Rule); To avoid criticizing local churches and pastors because it would be counterproductive to Christ’s purpose for His church; To avoid exaggerating the ministry’s success by ensuring probity in publicity and reporting.

What strikes me most about The Modesto Manifesto is the careful effort the group made not to fall into temptation or disgrace. Their pro-active stance in crafting these rules was intended to kill sin before it even begins. This is where most good men make a mistake, the notion that they can handle temptation after they are already exposed to  the situation. The enemy does not sleep and keeps on looking for openings in our lives and work to trip us up. It is a good thing to be two steps ahead of him by anticipating potential areas of weaknesses and putting safeguards in place with the Spirit’s guidance to prevent a fall into sin.

Billy Graham has done his bit and gone home. I have no reason to doubt that even with all his human short-comings, he was welcomed warmly by his Father. I will not even use the cliché – Rest in peace – because I don’t think he is just resting in heaven; I have this feeling that he is actually enjoying his Father’s company. It was what he looked forward to the most during his 99 years sojourn. Instead, I will felicitate with him – Well done, you good and faithful servant!

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

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God – Matthew 5:8