“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: ‘Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites’”
(Joshua 1:1-2 NIV)
Billy Graham died last year and and saying goodbye to a earthly hero one who has changed the world leaves one sad but hopeful–sad because our leader is no longer here, hopeful because we know God is going to do something major.
I have been praying, reflecting and asking the question, What’s next for the world? Who will take up the mantle?
We have all been commissioned to take the gospel to the world. One way we can bring glory to God and honor Dr Graham is by spreading the gospel by every means necessary. We are not commanded to save anyone. We can’t do that. Only God can save people We are simply commanded to follow the example of Billy Graham and spread the gospel. How many people have you told you about Jesus lately?
God is asking this question: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8 NIV). Will you answer the question like Isaiah did by saying, “Here am I. Send me!”? Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37 NIV).
After the death of Moses God raised up Joshua and gave him this promise: “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5 NIV). God also outlined these conditions for success: “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7-9 NIV).
Success was tied to obedience, and it’s the same for us today. Our success is tied to our obedience. The world is at a crossroads, and all believers have a choice to make. Are we going to take the mantle from Billy Graham and follow the words of the Lord, or are we going to acquiesce to the demands of our culture?
Let’s be like Joshua who gave the people a challenge: “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 NIV).
Look around you will see that there are many people who don’t know the Lord. Please join me in honoring the life of Billy Graham by making a decision to spread the gospel by every means necessary.
Here is a video from NBC 5 Chicago remembering Dr Billy Graham: