BILLY GRAHAM

Read Time 5 Minutes

BILLY GRAHAM – AMERICA’S PASTOR TO THE WORLD

I am very troubled by some of the vicious posts I have seen in both secular media and in Christian circles regarding Billy Graham’s life and his eternal destiny.  I believe it is incumbent upon mature Christians to signal caution.  We should use this time, not to disparage a man of God and the errors he made, but to look to the faithfulness of God Himself.  My Faith is In Jesus Christ and His Faith.  I trust Him with my eternal soul and I also trust him with Judgement.

 

BILLY GRAHAM’S FINAL POST JUST HOURS BEFORE HIS DEATH

“If you went for a walk in the woods, but then decided to wander off the path, and found yourself surrounded by a thicket of thorns and poison ivy, who would you blame? Would you blame the person who built the path? No, of course not. Instead you’d blame yourself if you were honest, because you alone were responsible for wandering from the path.

In a far deeper way, this is what happens when we decide to leave God out of our lives. For a time, it may seem like wandering away from Him doesn’t make any difference; it may even seem easier and freer. But eventually it catches up with us—just as wandering off that path and into the thicket caught up with you.” — Billy Graham

Is this proof positive Billy Graham fell on his face in repentance for any misstatements and doctrinal errors he may have spoken? No, but if we had only the life of the Thief on the Cross at Jesus’ left as evidence we would know without question he is in hell. But, by the Grace of God we are allowed to know his final thoughts and conversation with our Lord and Savior and by this alone are we encouraged to know his life is covered by the Blood and He is with Jesus.

2 Corinthians 12:20 ESV – (Bold and Underline Emphasis Mine)

²⁰ For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

State your opinion, if you feel certain you are led by Holy Spirit, and leave it alone. Anything beyond is gossip, slander and pride. We address a believer Biblically in person and with 2 witnesses in the assembly to which they are submitted. This is done to prevent their sin from infecting the rest of the body. For this reason only, I believe the stated opinions of his doctrinal misstatements are acceptable so others in the Body of Christ do not believe he was correct on all points. Once you go beyond correcting the misstatement for the record, it’s gossip and you’re dragging others into sin.

One only has been given authority to Judge and that is Jesus Christ. When we stand before Him at the BEMA we will stand on the foundation which is Jesus Christ and our Faith in His Blood and His Faith, not ours lest any should boast. When we sit down upon the throne of judgement in His stead, we become a Gold Star graduate of the Class of Pride taught by none other than Satan himself. More importantly, we invite others to study with us at the very feet of the Deceiver and cause them to sin as well.

Every Christian will stand at BEMA to be judged for the things done in the body. If we have built with wood, hay and stubble it will be burned up. But, if there is any Gold, Silver or Precious Stones it will have been built by the Grace and Power of God through His Holy Spirit in us and in spite of our own shortcomings and failures.

Matthew 12:33-37 ESV –

³³ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. ³⁶ I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, ³⁷ for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” 

A good tree produces good fruit.  It may occasionally produce a piece of rotten fruit, but the Gardener will prune the section and watch it flourish with new growth.  A rotten or dead tree cannot produce good fruit, for the Gardener will remove it and replace it with good stock.

THERE BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD GO I

I came to Christ as a very young girl and there have been times in my life when anyone inspecting the fruit in my life would have found it to be a very quick job indeed. However, He has always found me where I had wandered in my disobedience and wrong thinking and brought me back to him. He has pruned out the dead wood, grafted in sturdier stock and allowed me to flourish under His careful tending.

He did not do so because of who I am, but because of Who and What He is. He would never have allowed me to slip from this earth without bringing me back into His arms, for He is the Faithful One and it is in Him I boast.

I believe if anyone began sifting through my life and some of my comments they might have reason to suspect whether or not I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, I know any suspicions are simply not true. I have stumbled, like Peter, I have doubted like Thomas and I have railed like the prophets, but never has anyone, including myself, been able to remove me from my Father’s hand.

I trust not in what my flawed speaking may relate.  I trust not in what someone’s twisted interpretation of what I said might relate.  I trust in the Word of God and in Jesus Christ who redeemed me by His Precious Blood and in His own Word when He said, “Father I have not lost even one.”

Anne Graham Lotz Message at Her Father’s Funeral

Billy Graham’s last written message before his death spoke of leaving the path and the pain it causes. I attended one of his crusades after I was saved and my Spirit witnessed to me he was a Child of God and Brother in Christ. Some of his later statements spoke of doctrinal error, but then I am Saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ not by poorly articulated or ill conceived statements of understanding, even if in gross error. 

A life of abundant fruit speaks testifies loudly of Graham’s relationship with Christ.  While a person lives, instructed to inspect their lives for fruit to see “if they be of the faith.” We have no authority or right to judge the heart of a man and his final relationship with Christ or his eternal resting place.  Jesus Christ alone has been given all right to judge mankind.

John 5:22 ESV –

²² For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,

I am grateful I am so insignificant in this world no one will ever feel the need or liberty to sift through my life looking for garbage I intentionally, stupidly or inadvertently spoke for I am sure they could find it. Nonetheless, and despite my own stupidity and failings, I am His, I am Loved and I am going home when He is ready for me to do so and nothing anyone spews about me can change my eternal destiny.

Blessings in the Mighty Name of Jesus who is able to hold us close to Him and keep us to the Day, in spite of our weakness and ignorance. He is my Righteousness for I have none of my own. Blessings in the Mighty Name of Jesus and I praise God for all His Saints, warts and all.

Thanks for taking time for me . . . 

BLESSINGS,

Sherry Driskell Griffin

P. S. If this was a Blessing to you . . . be a Blessing and pass it along!

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