Give Them Something to Talk About

This week, Hubby and I watched the celebration of life service for the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The setting, inside the beautiful National Cathedral, was beyond words. What a gorgeous house of God. The music was lovely. Wonderful choices for a godly man. Familiar hymn tunes.

In attendance, the President of the United States; the Vice President; members of the Cabinet and Congress. Foreign dignitaries.

Without a doubt, Senator Graham certainly left all those who knew him with something to talk about.  Whether, colleagues, friends, or family, each one spoke not just about his service to his country, his love for his family, but his total surrender and devotion to his Lord and Savior.

There were eloquent speeches or liturgical prayers and offerings. The President spoke, Sean Hannity, the newscaster and special friend of the Senator spoke. Franklin Graham, son of the late Rev. Dr. Billy Graham, offered a lesson from Scripture.

But the two people who spoke after all those, his niece and his pastor spoke words of love for the Senator about the kind of man he was at heart. He didn’t just serve his country as a member of the military, but also in the House of Representatives and as the Senator from South Carolina.

 

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HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, LOVING BROTHER, WILLING SERVANT

He was a small-town boy, born to parents who owned and ran a bar. They both passed away about the time Senator Graham left for college. He returned home to take over the family business and help raise his orphaned 13-year-old sister, now Senator Darline Graham. Until she was out of school, Senator Graham drove from his college to his aunt’s and uncle’s home in Seneca, South Carolina, to be with his sister. A two-hour drive each way. He became her legal guardian and was there for every big and small moment of her life. Family was everything to the Senator.

There were mentions of his love of country of course, his love of golf, but the most outstanding parts of his life were not the accolades, not the many dignitaries he met all over the world, but those quiet, or maybe not so quiet, times with his family.

His pastor spoke of his faithfulness to the God from whom every blessing in his life came. His day began and ended with his Savior. He treated people the way Jesus said, Love thy neighbor.

I will admit, I shed a few tears. But the part of the service I loved the most, the part that jumped out at me, and hopefully some whose hearts were moved by Holy Spirit, were the words of his small-town country pastor. A man who may have seemed out of his element in such a grand cathedral, but who drove home, if you want to be where Lindsey Graham is today, in the presence of Jesus whom he loved and worshiped with his whole heart, there is only one way. And that is through confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord.

ONE WAY – JESUS

No, Pastor Tate didn’t say those exact words, but he drove home the point. If you want to know without a doubt that you are going to be with God for all eternity, the only to get there is through a confession of faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ as found in Romans 10:9.

All this had me thinking about what people will say about me when I’m gone. Have I lived a life giving glory to God daily? Have I led others to Christ? It isn’t about being a good person. The Bible even tells us in Psalm 14:3b (CSB) there is none who does good, not even one. Romans 3:10  (CSB) repeats this thought, There is no one righteous, not even one.

I think I will be satisfied to have people say I did my best as a sinner, saved by grace. Yes, I failed daily, but Jesus went to the cross for me and paid a price I could never pay.

Friends, Lindsey Graham had no idea when he awakened that morning that it would be his last day on this earth. He’d already made the final arrangements he needed to make by accepting Jesus as his Savior. If you were to die tonight, where would you be? There are only two choices. Eternal life with God, or in the pit, as the Bible so aptly puts it. A life devoid of God. Of anything good. Go read the Gospel of John. Then read the book of Romans, paying close attention to Romans 10:9. It can and will change not only your life, but your eternity.

Blessings, y’all!

Oh, how I love this old gospel song. Charles and Marie Hinson and I sang this so many times in my youth and many times more since those days long ago. We sang it at my Papa’s funeral in 2012. Our arrangement was a bit different and a touch more peppy. It was a favorite of Papa and Mama.  I love those dear people, Charles and Marie, so much. Very special to me.