Epitaph || 1918-2018
"Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don't believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am right now. I will have just changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God." - Billy Graham
DISCLAIMER: This blog is written with a very heavy heart.
ep·i·taph - a phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone.
William Franklin Graham Jr. was an inspiration to many. If you are reading this blog you know that I am pursuing a career in evangelism. Evangelism is a calling, but two men definitely helped spark my passion. Billy Graham and Clayton Jennings.
(www.billygraham.org) (www.claytonjennings.com)
Billy Graham was an American evangelist on a journey of faith and living out his calling. He passed away on February 21, 2018, at the age of 99.
In Matthew 25:23 it says, "The master said, Well done, my good and faithful servant," and I know heaven was rejoicing as Billy Graham was welcomed through the pearly gates into the arms of Jesus. (By the way, this is literally giving me goosebumps as I write this.)
I am confident Billy Graham would not want me to be dwelling on his passing-- or even his legacy unless it involves the glory of Christ. In my opinion, his life painted a picture of the glory of Christ. This post is not to elevate him as a man, but inspire you all along with myself to live life in such a way that we can also run the race with purpose in every step as Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 9.
Also, his death is a reminder of life. Yes, you read that statement right. As Christians we can rejoice and praise when a believer passes knowing they are in a place with no more tears, pain, or suffering, knowing they are resting in the arms of the Heavenly Father, knowing they are dancing on streets of gold, knowing they are singing with the angels and saints.
Now, for the difficult part... Living it out.
I have to be honest with you all. This past week was really tough for me. I lost one of my good friends, Braeden Sconce, in a car accident. My first reaction was pure shock and disbelief... the last time I talked to him we were discussing the next time we could hang out, and now he's gone. Braeden was an inspiration to many. He was the guy on campus that nobody could say a negative word about. He always had people laughing. He didn't even have to try to bring joy to people's lives; he was joy. Braeden had Galatians 6:9 tattooed on his arm.
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
I had no words. I am still processing it. Braeden knew the Lord and lived out his faith. I know I will see him again one day. We will finally get to "hang out" again, and I am confident it will be better than all the memories we made here on this earth.
Death. It never gets any easier to process. As I was writing this post, I just received a text message notifying me of some family friends that lost their 7-year-old boy in a ATV accident.
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
”
We may not understand it right now, and we may not ever understand it on earth, but God does have a reason and purpose for everything.
Scripture tells us that the LORD is near to the broken hearted. It is okay to be broken hearted. It is okay to weep. It is okay to not be okay. The important thing to remember as believers is how the current heartache cannot compare to the joy that awaits us.
I titled this blog "EPITAPH" for a reason. What will your epitaph say? What will you be remembered for? There will be two dates on your tombstone one day, but more importantly, there will be a dash. What did you do with your dash? Do not take a single day for granted. For you never know if it could be your last.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
-LM
You are loved! Until next time...
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