So Billy Graham has finally passed away. I say, “finally,” because for some strange reason, in my mind, I kind of thought he was already gone. I don’t know why! It has been a long time since he has made a public appearance, I guess. It is no surprise that his last book was all about heaven. “Where I Am: Heaven, Eternity and Life Beyond” was released three years ago. If one was to write a final book, isn’t it perfect to write about heaven? I like that he titled his book, “Where I Am” and not “Where I’m Going.” Actually, maybe that is why I thought he was already gone!
Billy was a remarkable man of God. Like all of us he had his faults, but his integrity remained firm and admirable to the end of his earthly life. He broke down racial and ethnic barriers in the name of the Gospel of Jesus. He advised presidents, monarchs and leaders of all stripes. Even authorities of differing personal and moral opinions considered Billy to be a friend, even though the preacher rarely (if ever) withheld the truth.
It is said that Billy Graham spoke in-person to over 100 million people. That’s one third of the current population of the United States. His “crusades” filled arenas and stadiums from the mid 1940’s to the mid 2000’s. Before a Billy Graham event would come to town, a grassroots movement of churches and volunteers invited people of all persuasions to come and hear him speak.
I was one of those 100 million. Already in seminary and working in church ministry, my friend, Mike Sorenson, procured tickets to a 2002 Graham event at Texas Stadium in Dallas-Fort Worth. Mike was our part-time youth pastor and he hoped to get some of our teenagers to come with him. I, the worship guy, tagged along. I had never been inside the famous football stadium before, much less seen an event as large as a Billy Graham crusade. I was overwhelmed, emotionally, by the experience.
We went through metal detectors and security personnel checked our backpacks/purses, etc. to make sure things were safe. It was post-9/11 and security was really high, especially when 80,000-plus people would be at one place, all at one time. The event lasted several days and we chose to go to only one of them. As we climbed up the concrete ramps to the lower seating bowl, it felt like we were just normal sporting fans headed to our seats for the big game. I had never been to any other event with so many people!
We chose our seats near the back of the top of the lower of two seating levels. We were opposite the stage, set awkwardly below a “Bud Light” billboard. I had no idea what to expect from the event. I knew that during previous decades of Billy’s events, he would have choirs and the great George Beverley Shea singing hymns. I knew that Billy would sometimes preach for a long time. I knew that there would be an altar call at the end, set to repeated verses of the hymn, “Just As I Am.”
Crusades in his later years, though, would take on a more modern flair. Kirk Franklin, a rising star in Christian hip-hop, and a few Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) artists performed for the crowd. Local choirs sang songs. There were lights, videos and personal testimonies. The event dragged on for hours. Where was Billy? I came for Billy! In my head, the show was all fluff. But to those who needed to hear stories of transformed lives or to simply worship the Lord in honesty, the “fluff” was more like food for the hungry soul.
Finally, the moment came. Billy was 83 years old and already in failing health. He sat to the right of the podium in a padded chair, as I recall. His son, Franklin, stood up and reached for his dad. Billy grabbed his left arm and they worked together to lift the famed evangelist to his feet. Billy shuffled to the podium with Franklin’s help, got his notes settled and then started to speak. To this day I cannot remember the content of his message. I wish I could! All I have remaining are impressions. Feelings. Vague images. Billy opened his talk with a bit of levity. Told a humorous quick story, I think. I couldn’t believe that I was seeing — from a great distance — the great Billy Graham. I listened, intensely, to every word. Seminary went away. Theological opinions went away. I just listened and absorbed his words. It’s amazing how integrity procures an audience!
He didn’t talk for as long as I expected but it was still at least a half hour. Age had limited his stamina in the pulpit. But he ended his message with a call to repentance and belief. Volunteers were scattered across the floor of the stadium. Come down and talk to them, he called. Give your life to Jesus. With the Lord there is grace and forgiveness. Come down… come down. “Just As I Am” played from the praise band. And people came down, one by one, to fill the tarp-covered football field. There must have been thousands of people who came down to either give their lives to Jesus for the first time or to rededicate their lives. The band played on. For an hour, at least!
Finally, the event ended. I don’t recall how. I left, though, impressed with how important discipleship was to the Billy Graham organization. The people who came down weren’t handed a Bible and sent off to “find truth” on their own. The crusade staff had arranged a massive network of local churches and parachurch organizations to follow up with the new believers. They needed spiritual feeding — teaching — and local churches would lead the way. I loved that!
Billy was a remarkable man and in the ways he followed Christ, we should follow his example (1 Cor. 11:1). He has left a legacy here on earth that I pray continues on for future generations. I give thanks to God today for Billy. I’ve been a bit overwhelmed when reading articles about his life. And I am so glad that I got to be among those who heard him speak in person. I will truly never forget.
According to the Baptist Press news service, on the last night of the Texas crusade,
“Directing attention to the last chapter of Ecclesiastes, Graham said, “There’s a loneliness, a certainty that in this life not many more days lie ahead, or months. I’d like to have nothing more than to go to heaven. I’m looking forward to it,” he said confidently.
Staring up at the opening of the Texas Stadium roof, Graham said, “I think there will be a hole up there somewhere and I’ll go right up.”
Just like Billy… be God’s!
— John
J.C. Newton 