Gen. 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground, for out of it wast thou taken, for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return.
I did not watch many of the games this year, nor did I participate in the Olympics. It wasn’t that I did not want to win gold in the skating or skiing competitions, I was just pretty busy and missed ALL the training meetings. Lol. My limbs were not made for those racing down a hill at 95 mph! No one was angry with me for not getting the bronze. My tasks were much different. This weekend I did make some awesome meals for my family and on really awful dessert. Today, I will vacuum, make beds and oh yes, dust. Dust and praise. There will be no gold medals handed out for those things. Not glorious, but necessary.
Psalm 103:14 says that God knows our frame, He remembers we are dust. That’s a relief! Dust in God’s hands is much different than dust in mine.
In the midst of common, ordinary days, sometimes one breaks free from the pack and runs ahead. This month we witnessed the legacy of such a man when “Billy” stepped into glory. A giant in the faith did not pass on his baton or mantle– because he had been passing it on all along to faithful men and women throughout his whole life at every crusade, every stop. He and his partners trained many in evangelism and reached thousands for Christ. All who speculated on his final resting place commented on his arrival in Heaven. His children wisely kept us all “grounded” as they reiterated that nothing could gain him access into the Kingdom except for one thing – the blood of Christ. They furthered that beautiful picture of redemption by highlighting the story of the man called “Grasshopper”, who crafted his coffin – a murderer, locked in prison, yet gloriously used by his creator to encase this beloved preacher as he went back to his maker. In that very act we saw yet another picture of redemption and how grace transforms that which the world rejects. The Grahams had seen grace in that prison years ago. Imagine being the one who displays to the preacher of Grace, what Mercy looks like in confinement! His life impacted the one who impacted the nations. Pretty amazing. I noticed that the media who usually hound “extras” like Joe the plumber, did not seem to want to hear what the coffin carpenter man had to say. TMZ didn’t track him down for the scoop either.
My heart has been singing a song : “Mercy” by Matt Redman. The lyrics are “I will kneel in the dust at the foot of the cross, where mercy paid for me. It’s that cross that changed Billy Grahams story, no longer just a mortal returning to dust, he was transformed into a new creation, a new man and life not only changed for him but all those he impacted. Mercy changed his destiny from regular man to renewed man. It was a transformation from within. The doors of eternity swung open and while his shell remains here on earth, his spirit lives on forever.
I thought back to the many ways his life, crusades, family and preaching had impacted me. One time in a sermon he stated, “God is preparing us here –for our work there.” While people are applauding his work earth side, he just began his work in eternity. He’s just starting out. The new kid on the block. That puts a high premium on the training here. The leader of a seminary, now a student. What was he being prepared for? What was the purpose of his training for eternity? What great things await the believer on the other side? What peoples, nations and generations will need the gifts/skills in my life, your life? Will we faithfully use them or squander them away? One human, formed from dust begat a birth line that would eventually help produce the son of God. I wonder if anyone ever told Mary she would be an empowered woman changing the world? How did she succeed without John Maxwell books? One man, transformed by the power of that cross, impacted nations, as he submitted his will and life to God (Billy). Although Dr.Graham will be missed, I seriously doubt he is in heaven receiving accolades and praise as the Facebook posts suggest. If true to form, I believe he is worshiping at the feet of the One he knew and loved so much. His spiritual diet would not allow anything else.
We read in Luke 15 this week that the Pharisees were murmuring about Jesus – but He continued to preach and heal. The word used there is diagoggyzo (pronounced dia gong good zo) meaning they muttered throughout the whole crowd. The religious did not support Him, fan His flame or even want him to succeed. He kept going. These believers just had a “check” about this homegrown Messiah and made sure others knew he was definitely not one of them. After all, He came from a broken family and was being raised by a stepfather. He was single which raised red flags and refused to join in course jesting. The only “thumbs up” He seemed to get was from His daddy at His baptism. How many times have we committed to preaching that gospel from the man of Nazareth that bore our sin? Galatians would ask us tonight, “who hindered you that you did not obey the truth?”
Billy Graham kept going. Then during one season when the “religious” around him were mocking Pentecostals, he broke with protocol and offered them a hand of fellowship much to the surprise of all those around him. It could have crippled his ministry. It was not a popular move but it was a holy one. He also did that when some bigoted religious folks segregated the whites and various minorities at one of his early crusades. Billy Graham chose to follow after the same Jesus that he preached about and– included everyone, literally removing the barriers that separated them. It could have blacklisted him – but he chose to follow the example of Christ who died for sinners everywhere. “No place is to dark or deep where the cross cannot reach.”
This was the greatness that defined this precious saint, not the crowds, the messages or fame. His every breath was about and for Jesus. His life pointed to Him.
I remember being in seminary and sharing the gospel with people along my path. The more I shared the more criticism I received. It was painful to just “keep going”. One of brother Grahams friends came alongside me and spoke into my life. He told me stories of this spiritual giant and what he did to encourage him to keep going when things seemed very bleak. While some may look at the building dedicated to this special friends memory, I remember the encouragement and the victories because of it. My flesh wants to share about that exiting time of training but if I’ve learned anything from walking with or near “larger than life” people, is that it was JESUS that made them great and to talk about HIM, not letting earthly stories eclipse HIS greatness.
Today as I clean, praise and dust my house, I will remember that all humans have an expiration date. I will do with excellence that which is committed to my care. I will keep going even if only by faith. It’s God’s touch on humans that makes them divine masterpieces. I will reject the notion that we return to dust with no other future hope such as Heaven. I will remember that through salvation we can be something much more – renewed and adopted. I will ask that God change me by His mercy. I will pray that everything He wants to train me in and for will be accomplished in my lifetime. I will ask Christ to give me strength to press in and on when others may be muttering around me. I will ask that HE define me rather than my fears or others critiques. I will ask Him to deeply cleanse my heart. I will look forward to stepping into eternity on that final day, not to sit around on chairs of gold, eating grapes from lavish vines but to continue to proclaim this mighty One who transforms, heals and saves.
…. And with crocodile tears, I will remember Billy Graham — who worked this message of Jesus throughout the streets, towns, cities and nations of the world, until his final breath. Thank you Lord for this man of God, his family, friends and workers. Thank you that he pointed us to YOU instead of his ministry or himself. Thank you also for the leaders in my life today who also point me toward YOU.
Rest in Peace , Billy and Ruth Graham. Rest in His peace friends of Jesus.
Renae Roche 2019