Come to Jesus Moments — The Journey

Written By Ben Cox

From the Archives: Summer Journey

More Secrets to Billy Graham’s Success

I was born and raised in the South 62+ years ago as the 4th child and only son of a Southern Baptist pastor. My wife was born 60+ years ago in Michigan as the 4th child of 7 and her parents were devout Catholics. In other words, we were raised in Christian homes with traditional Baptist and Catholic values. However, neither of us were really serious about Christianity until 40 years ago in 1977. That’s the same year we were married (May 7, 1977) and then moved to Boone (October, 1977).

I only reference all that in relation to Billy Graham because our parents and the Grahams were contemporaries. They raised us in a time where the pace of change picked up steam in ways that were breath-taking then, but were harbingers of the fast rate of change that we have now come to expect in 2017.

Because I have determined to share Billy Graham’s legacy from my local perspective, I can’t help but run Billy’s story through the filter of my own dad’s similarities to him. My dad served the Lord in full-time pastoral ministry for over 60 years, including 3 years as a Chaplain during World War 2. He died (graduated with honors is what I prefer to say) in November of 2010 at the age of 94, which means he would have been 100 years old if he had lived. The words I’m about to use to describe Billy are words that could also describe my dad. The reason I say that, before we focus on the “secrets to Billy Graham’s success” is because success shouldn’t be defined solely on the basis of a person’s accomplishments. It’s the content of one’s character that determines true success and it’s what matters most to God.

Billy Graham was faithful, humble and a rock of stability through times of great turmoil in our nation’s history. Billy, was willing and able to change with the times without compromising the powerful message of the Cross or the integrity of the teachings of Christ and the Holy Scripture.

Psalm 115:1 says, “Not to us, Lord, not to us,but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” I cite that particular verse as it relates to Billy Graham because he was always quick to give God all the glory. To miss that is to miss the whole reason such a humble man with a simple faith in Jesus as Lord and the Bible as the Word of God made the kind of national and international impact that has stood the test of time.

By the grace of God, he faithfully kept the focus on Jesus instead of himself. By the grace of God, he returned to Jesus again and again as his source of inspiration and power. Every time he began to stray from that commitment to make it about Christ alone, he corrected his course. By doing this consistently, from the time he obediently responded to Christ’s call for him to be an evangelist, he set a timeless example that we need to be reminded of.

He majored in setting the stage for millions of people to have their personal come to Jesus moment no matter how unworthy we might think ourselves to be. But, he also reminded us that we need to come to Jesus daily so that we keep making it about him and not ourselves, our denomination, our politics, or our exalted view of our own opinions.

Though he would be the first to acknowledge that he was far from perfect, the same man who preached Christ so effectively also modeled the importance of cultivating Christlike character. He didn’t want there to be a credibility gap between what he preached and how he lived.

Billy Graham didn’t just try to reach the lost. He also encouraged those of us who are followers of Christ to demonstrate, by our very lives, the character, nature, and disposition of Christ. Furthermore, by staying true to his main calling to preach about having a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, he reminds us about the meaning we can find for our own lives as we learn to die to ourselves and find our life in Christ and trust Him to reveal His unique purpose for our lives.

Before I share some final pictures and quotes to round out our Billy Graham feature stories, I want to share this quote and leave you with a challenge.

From Billy Graham God’s Ambassador, “Whether he speaks to a single individual or a television camera that reaches thirty million, Billy’s ministry is and always has been targeted to one goal-calling each person to make a decision to follow Christ, and do it today.” Here is one direct quote that the book cited to illustrate that point:

“Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me.’ On the surface, that seems the most intolerant of statements. Think of any man on the stage of human history claiming to be the supreme embodiment of all psychological, scientific, and religious truth! He was either an egomaniac, a liar, or He was what He claimed to be. By faith I accepted Him for what He claimed to be, the Son of the Living God. That simple decision changed my life, and I have seen it change the lives of countless others across the world.”

If you’re reading this and you’re not sure if you’ve had a come to Jesus moment that really changed you on the inside, you can talk to Him about that and tell Him that you want that and invite Him in. Jesus has made it clear in His teachings that God responds to those who humbly acknowledge their need!

That principle applies to the need everyone has to come to faith in Christ, but it also applies to whatever your need might be. So my challenge and my invitation to all who read these words is this: Come to Jesus…... come to Jesus…... come to Jesus. Again... and again…... and again.

James 2:1 from the Bible says this to Christians: “ My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.”

As a follower of Christ who took God’s word seriously, Billy Graham steadfastly refused any kind of pressure to segregate the crowds who came to hear him along racial lines. During the great civil rights movement of the 1960’s he stood in solidarity with Martin Luther King decrying the evils of racism. Furthermore, he worked with great intentionality to reach out to all people regardless of race, religion or political persuasion. These final pictures and quotes speak for themselves.

“Had it not been for the ministry of my good friend, Dr. Billy Graham, my work in the civil rights movement would not have been as successful as it has been”

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.