dual personalities

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

¹⁴ Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

¹⁵ For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

¹⁶ I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

¹⁸ For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

¹⁹ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

²⁰ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

²¹ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

–Revelation 22: 13–21 (the last page of the Bible)

Well, Billy Graham has died at the age of 99. He always said, “I’ve read the last page of the Bible, it’s all going to turn out all right.”

We know that he is where he longed to be. “My home is in Heaven. I’m just traveling through this world,” he said.

But we will miss him, won’t we? Just knowing he was still there was reassuring.

“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 of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

I am reminded of how Billy Graham went to visit the dying Steve McQueen and pray with him. As they parted, so the story goes, Steve said, “I’ll see you in Heaven.”

I’m sure there was quite a delegation there to greet Billy.

[Here is a nice testimony about Billy and Ruth. Be sure to read this story about Tommy James (of the Shondells) and his conversion experience. Here’s something from Wheaton College. Here’s what the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church had to say about Billy Graham yesterday. And this is a classic.]