There are wonderful reflections circulating regarding the passing of Billy Graham – life changing stories of how God used him to reach so many with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
There’s one piece I read though, that particularly spoke to me. Writing about finishing strong and of a legacy that encompasses the world, Anne Graham Lotz shared in her blog,
“My father ran his race of life with grace and power. There has been no one, there is no one, and there will not ever be anyone like Billy Graham. He was a rock star in the Kingdom of God who loved people and loved what he did…telling them that there is a God in Heaven who loves them, who sent Jesus, His own Son, to die for them; and that if they place their faith in Him, they would receive forgiveness for their sin, peace with God now and a heavenly Home when they die.”
As Anne always does when she speaks, on the radio and when she writes, she shares scripture. Reflecting on her father in her blog, Finishing Strong, she refers to 2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown . . .”
Watching the Olympics, Anne notes the “life-lessons” she gleaned from the competition. She shares about the speed skater from the Netherlands, Sven Kramer and how he not only won the gold medal for his race, but he had set two other Olympic records: one for having won a gold medal in the same event in three successive Olympics, and the other as the speed skater who has won more Olympic medals than any other in history.
While moved by what she watched on the track, what brought tears to Anne’s eyes was the sight of the King of the Netherlands on his feet, wildly applauding Sven. She thought of her father having ran his life with grace and power noting,
“The vision that has come to my mind’s eye is that of The King, standing to applaud His runner who finished strong!”
For more of Anne’s reflections on her father, see her post, Daddy is Home.
