August 11, 2020
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Does all the negative news get you depressed? I know I do when I watch too much. Well, I've got some good news for a change. I’m sure you have seen all of the statues being torn down around our country, but have you heard about a new statue to be placed inside the U.S. Capitol? It’s not going to be a military hero or a politician, but of a man who devoted his life to share the gospel. After approval last month, the sculptor, Chas Fagan, will now begin working on a life-sized model of Billy Graham to be placed inside the Capitol. Billy Graham preached the gospel to more people than anyone in history. His crusades were not only in cities all over the United States, but world-wide as well. When I first visited Hungary they told me about Billy Graham preaching at their national stadium to record crowds. He came in 1989 and Hungary was communist. Here is how Billy Graham described it. “In what can only be described as a miracle, we went to hold a huge evangelistic rally in Hungary’s largest outdoor stadium. All attendance records were broken at the rally; every seat was taken, and people packed the grassy perimeter of the playing field. Statistics never tell the whole story, of course, but everyone was astonished that an estimated 110,000 people attended.” When the invitation was given, 35,000 people jammed the playing field and overflowed onto the running track. ”Never in our ministry had such a high percentage responded.” Three months later the communist party was abolished in Hungary.
Billy Graham was a great example of how God can use someone who is willing and not ashamed of sharing the Gospel. But, while many people have been impacted by Billy Graham and other preachers, most people credit a friend or mom, somebody just like you with leading them to Jesus. So let’s be willing and eager to share with others about Jesus. Maybe not in a sermon, but in the way you live your life and a simple testimony.
Matt Greven