When I was a young pastor in Oklahoma I heard about a rising young evangelist about my age who had attracted national attention. He had a very distinct southern accent and hailed from North Carolina. People were attending his open air meetings by the thousands and multitudes were professing faith in the Jesus Christ that Billy was presenting.
For over half a century this man has continued to reach people for God, has lived a clean moral life, kept a clear head, and never been involved in anything that would damage his witness for his Lord.
During the summers when I served as Head Counselor and Pastor of Christian camps near Asheville, North Carolina, we were located just across the mountain from the home of Billy and Ruth Graham. In fact, Billy's young son, Franklin attended the camp one summer and Ruth occasionally came over to visit (Billy was away in campaigns). She generally arrived in a jeep filled with the Graham girls, sisters to Franklin, the only son.
Today the media is again focusing attention on Billy Graham. Although he is now in his late seventies and with health problems, he is again engaged in a world wide crusade for Christ. He appears in the news and on talk shows to promote his new autobiography, JUST AS I AM and never fails to give his personal testimony. I was especially struck by his answer when he was asked to explain how he is so certain that God is there. He gave his answer by telling a simple illustration that was current when we were young.
A boy was flying his kite on a hill when a low hanging cloud moved in and obscured it from view. A man came by and seeing the lad holding on to the string asked him what he was doing. "I'm flying my kite." he answered. "I don't see the kite. How do you know it's up there?" the man asked. "Because I feel the pull of the kite on the string." the boy explained.
"The reason I know that God is there is because I feel His pull on my heart" Billy says.
I agree. Logical reasoning and the laws of nature are marvelous but they do not prove God's presence as strongly as His tug on human hearts.
In hearing Billy's testimony I was reminded of a church service many years ago when our oldest son was a little boy. Stan, two and a half years old, was sitting with his mother. I was near the end of the sermon and using the story of the boy and his kite to illustrate the presence of an unseen God.
My version of the story went like this: A passing girl saw the boy holding onto the end of the string and asked, "What are you doing, Tom?" "I'm flying my Kite", he responded. "But you can't see it so how do you know it's up there?" The girl asked. To stress the point I paused to ask the question , "and do you know what he answered?" Stan had been listening intently and, in the loudest voice he could muster, yelled, "No, Daddy, what?" Needless to say the crowd broke up in laughter. I finished the story hoping that it got through to everyone who heard it.
As I listened to Billy repeat that simple story, again I hoped that it got through to everyone who heard it.
©Copyright 1997 Dr. Stanley Watson and VideComp, Inc.
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"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace..." Isaiah 52:7.