“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 5:42
I’ve thought recently about this verse, wondering how it should play out in our lives and in our culture. On the mission field and in certain foreign lands, we know Jesus needs to be proclaimed and perhaps might even need to be shared for the first time. But our country has churches in every community; everyone has heard of Jesus and sermons tend to make people yawn.
But does everyone know that Jesus is the Christ — the anointed King who now has all authority and who loves perfectly? “Where was God?” has been asked quite often lately as our country has dealt with storms and loss and murder. A few days ago Franklin Graham received this question on a nationally broadcast talk show. His answer went something like this:
“America needs to turn to God. There is one God and his Son is Jesus Christ. Jesus lived on earth and dealt with all the things we deal with, yet He overcame. He lived a perfect life and was falsely accused. He was nailed to a Roman cross and died outside Jerusalem to pay for all our sins. But on the third day God raised Jesus from the dead and He lives today. Jesus is our Answer in these times. I urge everyone to turn to Him.”
In one minute, on a non-religious program, a disciple of Christ told the “good news that Jesus is the Christ.” I don’t think it was what the interviewer expected, but God’s message was proclaimed. Now we might think: “Well that was the son of Billy Graham. Of course he’s going to say that! Franklin is a preacher and the son of a preacher.”
But do not think Franklin Graham simply inherited bold faith. He does not hesitate to tell of the time in his life when he opposed God. An older friend cared enough to tell a young man the truth: “Kid, you’re running from the Lord.” Franklin knew it was true, but he did not want to quit living for himself. Thankfully God’s Word is more powerful than our rebellious hearts.
At the age of twenty-two, in a hotel room far from home, after reading John 3 and Romans 8 over and over, Franklin came to the point of surrender. “I put my cigarette out and got down on my knees beside my bed. I’m not sure what I prayed, but I know that I poured my heart out to God and confessed my sin. I told him I was sorry and that if he would take the pieces of my life and somehow put them back together, I was His. I wanted to live my life for Him from that day forward. I asked Him to forgive me and cleanse me, and I invited Him by faith to come into my life.”
Franklin Graham has led Samaritan’s Purse for many years, blessing children and people in need throughout the world. In 1994, project director Kenny Isaacs organized a group of volunteer doctors and nurses to go to Africa and offer medical aid during the Rwandan genocide. The UN would not let them enter the huge refugee camp in Tanzania so Franklin and Kenny decided to try to enter Rwanda through bordering Uganda. Led through mine fields by a Tutsi guide, the group marched to within fifteen miles of Kigali as the violence continued to rage.
In Rutare they set up a clinic to help those who had escaped the massacre. In the name of Christ, fifteen professionals cared for the sick, treated the wounded, and fed 900 children who had lost their parents in unimaginable atrocities.
So this is the bold mindset we should have today: “This world is a mess… and the answer is Jesus. We know Him and confidently proclaim He has all power to save any person who calls on His Name. And because He cares, we will go to the difficult places. We will extend love to the broken and bring healing to the suffering. We will feed the starving and give what we have to the poor. We will not think of our own comfort while the lost drown. Our lives will speak louder than our words as we proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Ephesians 6:19-20
Quotes and stories from Rebel With A Cause, by Franklin Graham, published in 1995 by Thomas Nelson, Inc, Nashville, TN