Recently one of my professors asked the class to think about what “doing the right thing” means. Ironically, my statement that there is an objective right and wrong was considered incorrect.
In classes at LSU, many professors teach that everything, including right and wrong, is subjective and relative.
This way of thinking excuses evil and takes the blame off of mankind for any wrongdoing.
But it leads to even greater evil and fails to quench the pain in the human heart.
Throughout his ministry of 60 years, Rev. Billy Graham has declared the problems of our world are rooted in the evil of human nature and the solution is not in money or a political leader, but in a change of heart through Jesus Christ. I agree with Graham.
We have all experienced the effects, whether directly or indirectly, of violence, oppression and abuse.
Despite advances in technology and increased availability of entertainment, feelings of fear, loneliness and hopelessness prevail.
Graham attributes violence, oppression, fear, loneliness and abuse to sin, which is associated with separation from God.
“Sin is a disease in the human heart that affects the mind and the will and the emotions,” he said. “Every part of our being is affected by this disease.”
According to Graham, our country is in need of a spiritual awakening, and it hurts him to see how far people have wandered from God.
But Graham never fails to fervently deliver a message of hope, rooted in the Bible.
“I look out across an audience when I stand up to preach,” Graham said, “and I think of all the people with their different backgrounds … and I know that they are all objects of God’s mighty love to the point that he gave his son, his only son, to die upon the cross …”
Even at 95 years old, Graham takes every opportunity to point people to the good news of Christ. He has preached all over the world and impacted millions of people, including former U.S. presidents. Full of charisma and passion, he has ranked in the 10 Most Influential Men in the World 56 times — more than anyone else in the world.
At his birthday celebration last week, his message was in the form of a film, “The Cross,” which aired on several networks and became available online.
Graham said he wants to tell people about the meaning of the cross — that Christ died a horrific death to atone for sin — not simply a cross that hangs around someone’s neck.
When asked about his hope for the world in an interview on Fox News in 2011, Graham confidently proclaimed his hope in eternity with Christ, and he spoke of the great joy and hope he has seen in people on their deathbeds who believed in Christ and the peace surrounding their families.
I have experienced such hope. A family member of mine recently died unexpectedly at a young age. Though the pain still exists, I have watched my family exhibit a supernatural strength and peace amid tragedy, confident that because she had a relationship with Christ, she is in heaven and we will one day see her again.
“I know where I’ve come from, I know why I’m here, and I know where I’m going,” Graham once said.
Every day people spend their lives for what they believe in. How terrible it would be to reach the end of life and find out you were wrong?
Today at 95 and in poor health, Billy Graham is close to his end of this life, but still as confident and unwavering in his faith as ever.
His life dedicated to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ was not spent in vain.