Finishing Well

I saw the news on my smart phone as I retrieved it from the charger at about 5:20 a.m. on Wednesday morning, “Famed evangelist Billy Graham, dead at age 99.” It was the end of an era—waking up to a world without Rev. Graham. Wow, what an incredible legacy for Christ and the Gospel.

Tuesday night, our elder meeting had gone late. As I adjusted to the news in the wee hours of the morning, I remembered, the meeting began with a devotional by the latest addition to our elder team. In a twist of uncanny timing, he chose a story about Billy Graham as a fledgling preacher. He read the account of Billy and two others, just getting started in evangelism. Billy was not the stand-out of the three. The other two were considered much more talented. But, those two eventually washed-up. One died as a hopeless alcoholic, his body ravaged by the disease.

The other was Charles Templeton. He was considered the higher quality orator, better looking and generally a superior talent to Billy Graham. However, at some point, he left the faith, going on to become an atheist. He had success as a broadcaster and author. Templeton died in 2001 at the age of 86, after publishing his book, Farewell to God. A sad commentary on a life that started with such promise.

Of the three men who began for God, only one finished well. That was the point of our elder’s devotional. Who knew that the next morning, Billy Graham would cross the finish line, having, “…fought the good fight, …finished the race, …and kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). As I said, uncanny timing!

Another thing that is uncanny is to hear the accolades in the media for this spiritual giant. The cable channels that usually express opposing views on political, or moral issues and send the average person into a tizzy—if it’s not their regular, favorite channel—were on the same page today in their salutes to the life of the most famous of evangelists.

Almost anyone of a certain age can remember being at a Billy Graham Crusade, or accepting Christ through one of his broadcasts. Those stories have been circulating all day. They’ll continue for days to come. But, what must keep going is the hand-off of the baton to the next generation—the baton of faithfulness to the Gospel along with solid preaching of the Word. Who can forget Billy booming out the words, “The Bible says, …”

One of his quotes that has helped direct me as a pastor is up at Forest Home Christian Camp. I read it decades ago. It is found on a brass plaque at the end of Lake Mears, mounted on large a rock, where it is said he made a rededication of his life to his ministry. As I remember it, it commemorates where he decided, “…to take the Word of God by faith and preach the Gospel without reservation.” What a simple, but powerful commitment. It inspired me to do the same.

It’s nice to live a long life. By any measure, 99 years is a long life for a man. But, what’s better is to live a life that finishes well.

“When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.”
—PROVERBS 10:25