Good evening brethren and Happy Sabbath!

The death of a religious icon

As you no doubt heard, Billy Graham died on Wednesday of this week.  He was spiritual advisor to every president from Harry Truman to Barack Obama, and was perhaps most well known to millions for his crusades and efforts to preach Jesus Christ to the world.  From a local standpoint, he was also a Charlotte native and resident.

The message

Billy Graham summed up his teachings this way, "I have one message: that Jesus Christ came, he died on a cross, he rose again, and he asked us to repent of our sins and receive him by faith as Lord and Savior, and if we do, we have forgiveness of all of our sins."  While we might have many doctrinal differences with what Mr. Graham taught, I think there is much truth in this statement.

Jesus Christ did indeed come to this Earth.  He did die on a cross.  He did rise again.  He did teach that we are to truly repent, that is to say - make real changes in our lives - and live a faithful life to Christ as Lord and Savior.  In the months just after Christ's death, the Apostle Peter taught in Acts 3:19-21 (NKJV), "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."

The critical differences

Peter highlights two crucial concepts in his statement besides repentance.  The first is that we are to 'repent and be converted.' This is something critical that many skip over.  Repentance isn't just saying 'I'm sorry - I'll do better next time.'  It's saying, 'I'm wrong, and I am going to think differently about what it is that I say, do and think!'  It's converting how your mind thinks.  This of course begins with an understanding of what it is Jesus desired we do, including obedience to the law (Matthew 5:17-20).

The second is the idea of Christ being in heaven now, waiting to be sent to restore all things.  This refers to the time when Christ will come again to this Earth to establish the Kingdom of God.  This is significantly different than the concept of heaven that many teach and believe. 

As we begin to enter the Spring Holy Days and prepare for Passover, let us remember the call to put on the converted mind of Christ and prepare for the soon coming Kingdom where Christ will reign on Earth!