Billy Graham’s Life and Legacy
By Phillip B. Hubbard
“The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives.”
That is a quote from Reverend Billy Graham’s 1990 book “Hope for the Troubled Heart.”
From his first crusade in 1947 to his death last week, Rev. Graham touched many lives on this earth and will be remembered as one of the greatest people to ever live.
On Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, the news broke regarding the passing of Rev. Graham. He dedicated his life to serving and preaching the Word of God to the entire world.
It is amazing to think that a boy born on a dairy farm in Charlotte, North Carolina, went on to preach in 185 countries and territories and to around 215 million people throughout his lifetime.
Rev. Graham gave his life to Christ at the age of 15, was ordained in 1939 and preached his first crusade in 1947 — crusades which, early on, lasted weeks at a time.
Though he was a great minister of the Gospel, Rev. Graham will be most known for his Biblical knowledge and guidance he gave to others.
He specifically counseled many of our nation’s presidents. Presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama sought Graham’s wisdom and advice. George W. Bush even credits Graham for strengthening his relationship with Christ and says Graham’s influence helped him stop drinking alcohol.
Graham will always be known as “America’s Pastor.”
Graham wrote 34 books from 1947 to 2015, received numerous accolades and will be remembered for years to come.
Though many idolize him, he remained humble in his walk with Christ.
“The Christian life is not a constant high,” Graham said. “I have moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me, or help me.”
I was privileged to travel up in December 2017 to his home and namesake library located in Charlotte along with my aunt Candy Arwood, my brother Justin Hubbard and my cousin Destiny Arwood.
Though the entire tour of his library was an unbelievable experience, one memory will stand out in my mind above all others.
We entered the part of the tour where it focused on how Rev. Graham used the television to help spread the Gospel. There were televisions set up broadcasting most of the interviews that Graham participated in.
There was a TV that showed the interview Graham had with Greta Van Susteran of Fox News at age 92. Susteran asked him, “If you were to do things differently, would you do them over again?”
The thought crossed my mind, “This is Billy Graham. He shouldn’t have any regrets with all that he accomplished and witnessed.”
However, Graham’s response sent chills up my spine.
“Yes,” he said. “I would study more. I would pray more. Travel less. Take less speaking engagements, because I took too many of them. And if I had to do it over again, I would spend more time in meditation and prayer and just telling the Lord how much I loved Him and adore Him. And that I look forward to the time we’re going to spend together for eternity.”
With all that Graham accomplished and the way he was revered throughout his ministry, he remained humble.
Graham laid the groundwork and opened the door for televangelists after him, such as Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes and Jimmy Swaggart, who are currently on TV today. But none of them have the influence or the spirit Graham possessed. We remember Graham for all he meant to this world and the willingness he had to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He was a great man. That’s all he was, though — a man.
If people were to look at the life of Graham as if he was perfect, then we missed his message entirely. He preached Jesus.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” — — John 3:16
Graham quoted that scripture many times in his ministry to stress the fact that Jesus is the One who saves, not Graham.
As we remember the great Rev. Graham, we think of his ministry, his words of wisdom and the many sermons he preached across the world. But let’s not get lost in looking upon him and miss who he was talking about.
Never once did Rev. Graham boast about himself, had any scandals or controversies surrounding his ministry or did he ever miss the opportunity to tell this world about Jesus.
I have studied and followed Graham’s ministry for most of my life. And, as a minister of the Gospel myself, I want to thank and show appreciation to all that Rev. Graham did.
There’ll never be another Billy Graham, but his legacy will live on through his books, library in North Carolina and his undying message of Jesus Christ.
This story was published in The Herald Journal on Feb. 28, 2018
