A Glimpse Of Heaven
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 2:14
The description of heaven and the holy city given in Revelation 21 and 22 is beyond understanding. The Bible talks about gates of pearl, streets of gold, a river of life, and a tree of life.
It is a place so beautiful that when John, the apostle, caught a glimpse of it, the only thing to which he could liken it was a young woman on the crowning day of her life: her wedding day. He said that the holy city was like “a bride adorned for her husband.”
The Bible teaches that heaven will be a home which is happy. I know many beautiful homes that are not happy. They are homes made beautiful by everything that culture and wealth can do, yet there is something wrong, something lacking. They are homes that bring to mind the wise man’s words, “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of sacrifices with strife” (Proverbs 17:1).
God’s house will be a happy home because there will be nothing in it to hinder happiness (Revelation 21:4). This world has in it much happiness for those who know how to find it.
Sooner or later, however, something interferes. No face is so perfect but that it has some blemish. Every rose has its thorn, every cup of sweet has its drop of gall, but in the Father’s house there will be nothing to mar the happiness.
Think of a place where there will be no sin, no sorrow, no quarrels, no misunderstandings, no hurt feelings, no pain, no sickness, no death. That is heaven!
Our Father and our God, the images and thoughts of heaven are exhilarating and astounding. I cannot grasp even a small part of what it must be like. Thank You for inviting me to live eternally with You there. The hope that anchors my soul in this life is bound securely to Your promise of heaven hereafter. Help me to be ready when Jesus comes to take me there. In His name. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
The Devil Defeated
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years . . . [where he] will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Revelation 20:2, 10 NIV
The most powerful being in all the world today, outside of God Himself, is the devil. At the temptation he showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, and he said in effect, “I will give you all of these if you will bow down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). Jesus did not dispute him. Satan had the power to give Jesus the cosmos, the world system of evil. But, thank God, our Lord quoted Scripture, and that’s one thing the devil can’t stand! The Scripture—which is God’s truth—defeats him every time.
In 2 Corinthians 4:4 he’s also called “the god of this age.” That means that he’s the director of false religions and philosophies of the world. The Bible says the whole cosmos (world) is under his control. What’s going to transpire if something doesn’t happen to Satan? Who’s going to dispose of Satan? Humanity is helpless before him. Man is unable to chain him. The church cannot dethrone him. Legislation is impotent. The United Nations does not know how to handle him. They don’t even understand that they’re dealing with a spiritual power—an enormous power of evil in the world today.
Let’s not forget one fact, however. There is One who is more powerful than Satan! This One defeated him two thousand years ago through the cross and the empty tomb. The devil didn’t want Jesus Christ to go to the cross, because he was afraid of what Christ would do on the cross. He knew that when Christ died on the cross, He was bearing the sins of the whole world. And God was saying to mankind from the cross, “I love you. I want to forgive you of all of your sins. I want you to be My child, and one day to join Me in heaven.” And if Jesus had come down from the cross, we couldn’t be saved. We couldn’t go to heaven. That’s why the devil didn’t want Him on the cross. That’s why they taunted Him, “If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Satan suffered his greatest defeat at the cross, and in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Father and our God, fill me with the Holy Spirit so I will not be tempted to pursue the kingdoms of this world that Satan offers. Give me great contentment as Your child, knowing You are truly the God of this age. Help me to wait patiently for the coming Christ, who will finally bind Satan and usher into heaven those who are found faithful to Him. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
A Covenant For Christians
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.
Revelation 22:3
It all started in the Garden of Eden, a place located somewhere between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in the Middle East. In that Garden God gave a great promise: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). As we approach the end of the age, the head of Satan is being battered and bruised as the forces of God gain momentum. Under the command of God, Michael the archangel is now organizing his forces for the last battle—Armageddon. The last picture in the Bible is one of heaven.
Many years ago I was visiting the dining room of the United States Senate. As I was speaking to various people, one of the senators called me to his table. He said, “Billy, we’re having a discussion about pessimism and optimism. Are you a pessimist or an optimist?” I smiled and said, “I’m an optimist.” He asked, “Why?” I said, “I’ve read the last page of the Bible.”
The Bible speaks about a city whose builder and maker is God, where those who have been redeemed will be superior to angels. It speaks of “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1). It says, “And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (vv. 4–5).
The next verse has a thrilling last word to say about angels: “These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.”
Christian and non-Christian alike should meditate on the seventh verse, where God says, “Behold I come quickly: blessed is he who keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” Where do you fit in this prophetic picture?
Our Father and our God, we are optimistic about the future through You! I know Jesus Christ has already led us to victory over death and evil through the cross. Until that day comes, give me courage to live a holy and righteous life as a servant of Christ the Lord. In His name I pray. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
Jesus Is Victor
The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 11:15
We Christians need to rely constantly on the Holy Spirit. We need to remember that Christ dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. Our bodies are the dwelling place of the Third Person of the Trinity. We should not demand that He help us, the way we might a servant. Instead, we should ask Him to come in and do it all, to take over in our lives. We should tell Him how weak, helpless, unstable, and unreliable we are. It is important that we stand aside and let Him take over in all our choices and decisions. We know that the Holy Spirit prays for us (Romans 8), and what a comfort that should be to the weakest of us.
It is impossible for us to hold out in the Christian life—but He can hold to us. However, it is very difficult for Him to hold us if we are struggling, fighting, and striving. We should just relax and rest in the Lord, letting go all those inner tensions and complexes. We should rely completely on Him. I should not fret and worry about important decisions—I should let Him make them for me. Do not worry about tomorrow—He is the God of tomorrow, He sees the end from the beginning. Do not worry about the necessities of life—He is there to supply and provide. A true victorious Christian is one who, in spite of worries, inner conflicts, and tensions, is confident that God is in control and will be victorious in the end. In reliance on the Holy Spirit, we will find that many of our physical and mental ailments will disappear along with many worries, inner conflicts, and tensions.
Whatever our difficulties, whatever our circumstances, we must remember, as Corrie ten Boom used to say, “Jesus is victor!”
Our Father and our God, I praise Your glorious name for sending Jesus Christ, who is the Victor eternal. He is the mighty One; He is the holy One; He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Master of my soul and the Guide for my life. And He shall reign forever and ever. Hallelujah! Praise the name of Jesus! In Him I pray. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
The Crown Of Life
Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:10
The Bible has much to say about the brevity of life and the necessity of preparing for eternity. We need a new awareness of the fact that death is rapidly approaching for all of us, and that the Bible has many warnings for us to prepare to meet God. The rich with all their wealth cannot buy a reprieve from the death sentence that hangs over every man. The poor cannot beg one extra day of life from the “grim reaper” who pursues every man from the cradle to the grave.
The Scripture says, “What is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). Even the cynical and secular at times think deeply about life and eternity. I am convinced that if people gave more thought to death, eternity, and judgment, there would be more holy living and a greater consciousness of God.
Too many Christians try to put off the thought of death and of the fact that all children of God will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of how they spent their time here on earth.
Job says that his days are “swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.” In North Carolina I have visited textile mills and have watched the giant looms which turn out cloth for the nation. The shuttles move with the speed of lightning, scarcely visible to the naked eye. The Bible says this is the chronology of eternity. Though you live to be seventy, eighty, or ninety years old, that is but a snap of the finger compared to eternity. Put your hand on your heart and feel it beat. It is saying, “Quick! Quick! Quick!” We have only a few brief years at the most. Let’s live them for the Lord.
Our Father and our God, my life is going by so quickly, and I have so many things I want to do for You and Your Kingdom. Help me, Lord, to choose wisely the activities and projects I undertake here on earth. Let each one glorify and magnify You in some way. Direct me to the things You have in mind for me to do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
The Demands Of Faith
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13
A number of years ago I spent Christmas Eve on the battlefields of Korea. It was a beautiful evening; a half moon was in the sky; snow was several inches deep. Picking our way along in a small helicopter, we finally landed at a base hospital right behind the front lines. We could see the glow of the artillery over the side of the mountain.
In the hospital were several men who had just been carried back from their patrol post. One casualty, an ex-football player from one of our Southern universities, was a battle-hardened marine. His doctor whispered to me, “Part of his spine has been shot out, and he’ll never walk again.”
Because of his injury he was forced to lie face downward. He said, “Mr. Graham, we have been looking forward to your coming, and I’d like to see your face.”
I got on my back on the floor and looked up into the face of that tough marine.
“I know that I’m in bad shape,” he said, “but I want you to tell people when you get back to America that I’d gladly die for my country.”
Would you give the same dedication to Jesus Christ? He gave no less for you, and He demands no less from you.
Our Father and our God, I know I am in the middle of spiritual warfare every day. Give me the courage to say I will gladly die to stand for You! Perhaps I shall have to die physically, socially, financially, or in some other way, but help me to hold the banner of Christ high in my life, no matter what comes. In His name. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
The Angel’s Announcement
And the angel said unto them, Fear not for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luke 2:10
Does it not seem mysterious that God brought the first message of the birth of Jesus to ordinary people rather than to princes and kings? In this instance, God spoke through His holy angel to the shepherds who were keeping sheep in the fields. This was a lowly occupation, so shepherds were not well educated. But Mary in her song, the Magnificat, tells us the true story: “He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away” (Luke 1:52–53). What a word for our generation!
What was the message of the angel to the shepherds? First, he told them not to be afraid. Over and over again the presence of angels was frightening to those to whom they came. But unless they came in judgment, the angels spoke a word of reassurance. They calmed the people to whom they came. This tells us that the appearance of angels is awe-inspiring, something about them awakening fear in the human heart. They represent a presence that has greatness and sends a chill down the spine. But when the angel had quieted the fears of the shepherds, he brought this message: “For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11).
I could preach a dozen sermons on those two verses for they contain so many important theological themes. But note that the angel does not preach the Gospel. Rather, he witnesses to it and demonstrates again the overwhelming concern angels have for it.
The good tidings were that the Savior had come. The people needed somebody who could bring them back into fellowship with God, because the blood of bulls and goats could not do this in any permanent way. But the blood of the Savior could. The angel message was that God had come, redemption was possible, the Lord had visited His people with salvation. What a testimony to the evangel this was!
Our Father and our God, I celebrate the glad tidings of the birth of Jesus! Thank You for the testimony of angels who acknowledge and confirm His divinity to faithless people. I treasure above all other things the sweet fellowship I have with You through Your beloved Son, in whom I pray. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
The Christmas Sacrifice
[Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Romans 4:25 NIV
“ [Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21 NIV
Do we look at ourselves, our trials, our problems, when we are suffering? Do we live under the circumstances, instead of above the circumstances? Or do we look at the One who knew more suffering than we are able to conceive?
In Table Talk Martin Luther said, “Our suffering is not worthy the name of suffering. When I consider my crosses, tribulations, and temptations, I shame myself almost to death, thinking what are they in comparison to the sufferings of my blessed Savior Jesus Christ.”
There are several things about the life of Christ that reveal His role as the “suffering servant” Messiah. We cannot begin to trace every aspect of this search through His life, but consider these truths:
In Isaiah 53 the sufferings of the Savior are so minutely pictured that one might well read it as the record of an eyewitness, rather than the prediction of a man who wrote eight hundred years before the event.
Observe that Jesus’ life began in the midst of persecution and peril. He came on a mission of love and mercy, sent by the Father. An angel announced His conception and gave Him His name. The heavenly host sang a glorious anthem at His birth. By the extraordinary star, the very heavens indicated His coming. In Himself He was the most illustrious child ever born—the Holy Child of Mary, the divine Son of God. Yet no sooner did He enter our world than Herod decreed His death and labored to accomplish it.
Notice, too, that He assumed a role of deep abasement. The Son of the eternal Father, He became a tiny, helpless infant and was made in the likeness of man. He assumed our human nature with all its infirmities, and weakness, and capacity for suffering. He came as a child of the poorest parents. His entire life was one voluntary humiliation. He came to be a servant and to minister rather than to be ministered unto.
Our Father and our God, accept my humble thanks and praise for Jesus, the provider of my hope and salvation. Help me, like Him, to suffer the tribulations and troubles of this life with trust in You, with patience and peace, with my eyes focused on heaven. Teach me to minister joyfully rather than to expect others to minister to me. In the name of Jesus, the suffering servant. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
Led By The Lamb
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Revelation 7:17
This is the supreme reality of heaven. There will be an intimate relationship between Christ and His church throughout eternity. He will be “the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne,” and He shall feed His own and shall lead them to fountains of living waters.
With this great certainty and assurance, the future holds no terrors we cannot face. Beyond the crisis lies heaven and the utopia of our dreams. Thus the Christian should never be filled with fear, discouragement, or despondency.
If you do not know Christ as Savior, the future is bleak and dark and pessimistic indeed. Surrender your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let Him come to your heart and transform you and change you.
Courage, faith, and fortitude come from the cross where Christ emptied Himself and humbled Himself, even to the death on the cross. Jesus said, “In the world you will have troubles; but be of good courage, I have overcome the world.”
Oliver Goldsmith, the Irish poet and playwright, penned these insightful words:
Hope, like a gleaming taper’s light,
Adorns and cheers our way;
And still, as darker grows the night,
Emits a brighter ray.
You and I as Christians know the source of that “brighter ray.”
Our Father and our God, thank You for the ability to live in confidence and joy because of Jesus the Lamb. I am not afraid of the future or of passing through death from this world to Yours. I find my courage in my Savior, who has shown me the way to heaven by way of the cross. In Him, who has been resurrected, I celebrate life! In His name. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
Soul Food
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in health; I know that it is well with your soul.
3 John 2 RSV
The Bible teaches that a person is more than just a body—each of us is actually a living soul! Our souls are created in the image of God. Just as our bodies have certain characteristics and appetites, so do our souls. The characteristics of the soul are intelligence, emotions, and will. The human soul or spirit longs for peace, contentment, and happiness. Most of all, the soul has an appetite for God—a yearning to be reconciled to its Creator and to have fellowship with Him forever.
In our world, we give most attention to satisfying the appetites of the body and practically none to the soul. Consequently we are one-sided. We become fat physically and materially, while spiritually we are lean, weak, and anemic. Or we spend enormous amounts of time and money on fad diets, expensive exercise machines, and health clubs. For many people, these things only demonstrate their preoccupation with the physical side of life. To be sure, our bodies have been given to us by God, and we are to take care of them in every way possible. But even more important is taking care of our souls. The apostle Paul told Timothy, “Train yourself in godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7–8 RSV).
The soul actually demands as much attention as the body. It demands fellowship and communion with God. It demands worship, quietness, and meditation. Nothing but God ever completely satisfies, because the soul was made for God, and without God it is restless and in secret torment.
Our Father and our God, my soul thirsts for Your eternal refreshment and satisfaction. It yearns to be in Your presence and to drink in Your glory and majesty. I come to You in worship and meditation now, Father, and I pray for Your peace and quietness to enter my heart and mind through the loving touch of Jesus Christ, through whom I pray. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
The Pledge
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Corinthians 1:21–22 NIV
As we trust in Christ, God gives us the Spirit not only as a seal. He is also our pledge, or, as some translations read, “earnest” or “guarantee,” according to such passages as 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:14.
“Now He who established us with you in Christ and anointed us in God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge” (2 Corinthians 1:21–22 NKJV).
In the apostle Paul’s day, businessmen considered a pledge to do three things: it was a down payment that sealed a bargain, it represented an obligation to buy, and it was a sample of what was to come.
Suppose you were to decide to buy a car. The pledge would first be a down payment sealing the transaction. It would also represent your promise to pay the rest of the purchase price. This is what the Holy Spirit promises when we receive the “earnest of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:14).
As the great missionary statesman Adoniram Judson once said, “The prospect is as bright as the promises of God.”
Our Father and our God, because I trust in Christ Jesus, I have been sealed with Your divine mark of approval. I have Your pledge of the Holy Spirit living in me to guide me and lead me through life. My eternal future is guaranteed by You through the cross of Christ and by my faith in Your amazing grace. Thank You for that promise. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
Faith That Finishes
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.
1 John 5:4 RSV
Because all the powers of the evil world system seem to be preying on the minds of people already disturbed and frustrated in our generation, I believe the time has come to focus on the positives of Christian faith. John the apostle said, “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Satan is indeed capable of doing supernatural things—but he acts only by the permissive will of God; he is on a leash. It is God who is all-powerful. It is God who is omnipotent. God has provided Christians with both offensive and defensive weapons. We are not to be fearful; we are not to be distressed; we are not to be deceived; nor are we to be intimidated.
Rather, we are to be on our guard, calm, and alert “lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11).
One of Satan’s sly devices is to divert our minds from the help God offers us in our struggles against the forces of evil. However, the Bible testifies that God has provided assistance for us in our spiritual conflicts. We are not alone in this world! The Bible teaches us that God’s Holy Spirit has been given to empower us and guide us. In addition, the Bible, in nearly three hundred different places, also teaches that God has countless angels at His command. Furthermore, God has commissioned these angels to aid His children in their struggles against Satan. The Bible does not give as much information about them as we might like, but what it does say should be a source of comfort and strength for us in every circumstance.
I am convinced that these heavenly beings exist and that they provide unseen aid on our behalf. I believe in angels because the Bible says there are angels; and I believe the Bible to be the true Word of God. I also believe in angels because I have sensed their presence in my life on special occasions.
Spiritual forces and resources are available to all Christians. Because our resources are unlimited, Christians will be winners. Millions of angels are at God’s command and at our service. The hosts of heaven stand at attention as we make our way from earth to glory, and Satan’s BB guns are no match for God’s heavy artillery.
Our Father and our God, I continually place my faith in You and Your omnipotence. Please help me always to be on my guard against Satan and his demons who want to overcome me. Send Your mighty angels to stand between the demons and me, for I know I am no match for them alone. Rescue me, Father, through the power of the blood of Jesus and in the power of Your Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
God Is Love
He who does not love does not know God for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
1 John 4:8–9 RSV
From Genesis to Revelation, from earth’s greatest tragedy to earth’s greatest triumph, the dramatic story of man’s lowest depths and God’s highest heights can be couched in twenty-five beautiful words: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Many people misunderstand the attribute of God’s nature which is love. “God is love” does not mean that everything is sweet, beautiful, and happy, and that God’s love could not possibly allow punishment for sin.
God’s holiness demands that all sin be punished, but God’s love provided a plan of redemption and salvation for sinful man. God’s love provided the cross of Jesus Christ by which man can have forgiveness and cleansing. It was the love of God that sent Jesus Christ to the cross.
Who can describe or measure the love of God? The Bible is a revelation of the fact that God is love. When we preach justice, it is justice tempered with love. When we preach righteousness, it is righteousness founded on love.
When we preach atonement, it is atonement planned by love, provided by love, given by love, finished by love, necessitated because of love. When we preach the resurrection of Christ, we are preaching the miracle of love. When we preach the return of Christ, we are preaching the fulfillment of love.
Our Father and our God, Your love is marvelous beyond compare. It is the prompter of grace, the basis of my hope, the source of my salvation and redemption. Your love sent Jesus to the cross for me, and for that I will forever be overwhelmed with gratitude. Thank You, eternal Father, for Your boundless love, which I receive daily through Christ Jesus, my Lord. In Him I pray. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
Spirited-Filled Living
Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1 John 3:24
The Holy Spirit is already in every Christian heart, and He intends to produce His fruit. However, there must be a displacement. A boat does not sink when it is in the water, but it does sink when the water comes into the boat. We do not fail to enjoy the fruit of the Spirit because we live in a sea of corruption; we fail to do so because the sea of corruption is in us.
The internal combustion engine’s worst enemy is the deadly carbon that builds up in the cylinder chamber. It reduces the power and causes the motor to lose efficiency. Oil will improve the engine’s performance, but it will not remove the carbon so that the motor can run more efficiently. Mechanical surgery must be performed to remove the carbon so that the oil can do its best work and the motor perform as it was designed to do. Similarly, we must eliminate the works of the flesh from our inner lives so that deadly carbon and grit do not impair the effectiveness of our spiritual performance. This is possible only as we yield our lives to the control of the Holy Spirit. We must let the laser beam of God’s Word scan us to detect the abiding sins and fruitless qualities which impair our personal growth and fruitfulness.
The story is told of a man who glanced at the obituary column in this local newspaper. To his surprise he saw his own name, indicating that he had just died. At first he laughed about it, but soon the telephone began to ring. Stunned friends and acquaintances called to inquire and to offer their sympathy. Finally, in irritation, he called the newspaper editor and angrily reported that even though he had been reported dead in the obituary column, he was very much alive. The editor was apologetic and embarrassed. Then in a flash of inspiration, he said, “Do not worry, sir, I will make it all right, for tomorrow I will put your name in the births column.”
This may sound like merely a humorous incident, but it is actually a spiritual parable. Not until we have allowed our old selves to be crucified with Christ can our new selves emerge to display the marvelous fruit that is characteristic of the life of Jesus Christ. And only the Holy Spirit can make possible the out-living of the in-living Christ.
Our Father and our God, purge my heart and mind with the truth of Your Word. Find the unfruitful parts and eliminate them from my life. Prune my attitudes and my actions, Lord, until they are healthy and wholly in service to You. Give me the heart of my Savior Jesus Christ, through whom I pray. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
The Supreme Sufferer
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us.
1 John 3:16
Throughout His earthly life, Jesus was constantly exposed to personal violence. At the beginning of His ministry, His own townsfolk at Nazareth tried to hurl Him down from the brow of the hill (Luke 4:29). The religious and political leaders often conspired to seize Him and kill Him. At length He was arrested and brought to trial before Pilate and Herod. Even though He was guiltless of the accusations, He was denounced as an enemy of God and man, and not worthy to live.
The sufferings of Jesus also included the fierce temptations of the devil: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1).
Remember, too, that He knew in advance what was coming, and this enhanced his suffering. He knew the contents of the cup He had to drink; He knew the path of suffering He should tread. He could distinctly foresee the baptism of blood that awaited Him. He spoke plainly to His disciples of His coming death by crucifixion.
Jesus, the supreme sufferer, came to suffer for our sins. As a result of His sufferings, our redemption was secured.
What does the Divine Sufferer demand from us? Only our faith, our love, our grateful praise, our consecrated hearts and lives. Is that too much to ask?
Christ living in us will enable us to live above our circumstances, however painful they are. Perhaps you who read these words find yourself almost crushed by the circumstances you are now facing. You wonder how much more you can stand. But don’t despair! God’s grace is sufficient for you and will enable you to rise above your trials. Let this be your confidence:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:35–37)
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
God’s Forever Kingdom
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1 John 3:2
The government in God’s Kingdom is unique. It is not a democracy where the people govern, but a Christocracy where Christ is the supreme Authority. In a government of unredeemed men, democracy is the only fair and equitable system. But no democracy can ever be better than the people who make it up. When men are selfishly motivated, the government will be inequitable. When men are dishonest, the government will be the same. When everyone wants his own way, someone is going to get hurt.
But in God’s Kingdom, Christ is King. He is compassionate, fair, merciful, and just. When He is sovereign in men’s hearts, anguish turns to peace, hatred is transformed into love, and misunderstanding into understanding.
Not only this, but God’s Kingdom is lasting. The history of man has been a continuous series of half successes and total failures. Prosperity exists for a time, only to be followed by war and depression. Twenty-six major civilizations have come and gone, and man still battles with the same problems, over and over again.
But the Kingdom of God will abide forever. The fluctuations of time, the swinging of the pendulum from war to peace, from starvation to plenty, from chaos to order, will end forever. The Bible says, “And of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:33).
Our Father and our God, I am a willing citizen of Your Kingdom. I will be loyal and faithful to You as sovereign King and Ruler of the Kingdom. Help me to live in this earthly domain as a child of the King and a citizen of a higher Kingdom. Let me work alongside You until that day when the kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdoms of our Lord. In His victorious name I pray. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
When Worry Becomes Worldly
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
1 John 2:15
Worldliness has been vastly misunderstood by many Christians. There are certain elements of daily life that are not sinful in themselves but that lead to sin if they are abused. Abuse literally means “overuse” or “misuse” of things lawful, which then become sin. Pleasure is lawful in its use, but unlawful in its overuse. Ambition is an essential part of true character, but it must be fixed on lawful objects and exercised in proper proportion.
Our daily occupation, reading, dress, friendships, and other similar phases of life are all legitimate and necessary—but can easily become illegitimate, harmful, and unnecessary. Thought about the necessities of life is absolutely essential, but this can easily degenerate into anxiety.
The making of money is necessary for daily living, but moneymaking is apt to degenerate into money-loving, and then the deceitfulness of riches enters in and spoils our spiritual lives.
Worldliness is not confined to any particular rank, walk, or circumstance of life. But worldliness is a spirit, an atmosphere, an influence, permeating the whole of life in human society, and it needs to be guarded against constantly and strenuously. The Bible says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” It also warns that “the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:17).
We must make an out-and-out stand for Christ. It does not mean that in society we are snobs or have a superiority complex, lest we be in danger of spiritual pride (which would be far worse than worldliness). But today there are so many professing Christians who are walking hand in hand with the world that it is difficult to tell the difference between the Christian and the sinner. Our lives must make it plain whose we are and whom we serve!
Our Father and our God, if I am to be extreme in any one area of my life, let me be extreme only in my love and service to You. Help everyone to know You are my passion, my vocation, and my avocation, my desire, and my obsession. I dedicate my life to You, Father, and I come to You through Jesus. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
Confession Is Good For The Soul
If we confess out sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 RSV
There is a well-known story of some men in Scotland who had spent the day fishing. That evening they were having tea in a little inn. One of the fishermen, in a characteristic gesture to describe the size of the fish that got away, flung out his hands just as the little waitress was getting ready to set the cup of tea at his place. The hand and the teacup collided, dashing the tea against the whitewashed walls. Immediately an ugly brown stain began to spread over the wall. The man who did it was very embarrassed and apologized profusely, but one of the other guests jumped up and said, “Never mind.” Pulling a pen from his pocket, he began to sketch around the ugly brown stain. Soon there emerged a picture of a magnificent royal stag with his antlers spread. That artist was Sir Edwin Landseer, England’s foremost painter of animals.
This story has always beautifully illustrated to me the fact that if we confess not only our sins but our mistakes to God, He can make out of them something for our good and for His glory. Somehow it’s harder to commit our mistakes and stupidities to God than it is our sins. Mistakes and stupidities seem so dumb, whereas sin seems more or less to be an outcropping of our human nature. But Romans 8:28 tells us that if they are committed to God, He can make circumstances work “for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.”
When you bake a cake, you put in raw flour, baking powder, soda, bitter chocolate, shortening, etc., none of which taste very good by themselves, but which work together to make a delicious cake. And so with our sins and our mistakes—although they are not good by themselves, if we commit them in honest, simple faith to the Lord, He will work them out His own way and in His own time make something of them for our good and His glory.
Our Father and our God, please take the ugly stains and disjointed parts of my life and create from them something beautiful to praise and glorify You. Without Your miraculous hand, O God, my life could only be a pile of rubbish, not fit for anything worthwhile. Perform a miracle in my life, Father, in the name of Jesus, the worker of miracles. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
Cleansed Consciences And Changed Lives
If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
The blood of Christ cleanses our consciences: “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14 NIV).
Each of us has a conscience which sits as a judge over our every thought, word, and deed. It speaks with a silent voice, accusing or excusing, condemning or acquitting. It can be sensitive, crude, undeveloped, or distorted, depending upon the way we have used or abused it.
The human conscience is defiled by sin, says the Bible. All of us have experienced the backlash of guilt after a transgression. We know the haunting of the heart, the self-reproach of the mind which conscience can bring, the internal suffering that can come from being out of fellowship with God. Sin’s effect may be erased from the body, but it leaves its permanent scar on the conscience. Our consciences are seared and defiled by sin.
The conscience of man is often beyond the reach of the psychiatrist. With all of his psychological techniques, he cannot sound its depravity and depth. Man himself is helpless to detach himself from the gnawing guilt of a heart weighed down with the guilt of sin. But where man has failed, God has succeeded. The Bible says that the blood of Christ has power to cleanse the conscience from dead works to serve the living God. This is not mere theory; it is a fact of Christian experience.
Our Father and our God, please look into the recesses of my conscience and chase away any cobwebs of evil there. Fill my conscience with goodness, fairness, honesty, truth, and purity. When I sin against You, Father, please cause my conscience to move me until I make it right. Fill my conscience with the Holy Spirit and the mind of Christ, through whom I pray. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).
Rich Rewards
But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 4:13 NIV
In these days of spiritual darkness and political upheaval, the forward-looking Christian remains optimistic and joyful, knowing that Christ must reign, and “if we endure, we will also reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:12 NIV).
For every man, woman, and child throughout the world who is suffering, our Lord has these words from the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11–12 NIV).
Perhaps in your particular circumstances you are undergoing psychological suffering, which is just as real as physical suffering. It may be a suffering that you cannot express, even to your dearest friend—an inward, heartrending, heartbreaking suffering. In the midst of it all, there is the promise of victory. Christ has overcome the world, and you, by faith, can overcome the world through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 5:5).
There is a joy to be discovered in the midst of suffering. Sometimes we encounter it in our earthly pilgrimage. Once we acknowledge that possibility, we will be astounded at how possible it is to be “surprised by joy,” as C. S. Lewis put it so effectively in his book by the same title.
Our Father and our God, I pray for endurance to run with joy the race of life to the finish line. I need Your strength to keep running when my legs are weary, when my breath is short, when I can’t see the cloud of witnesses who are cheering me on. When I am suffering, I pray for Your divine support through Jesus, my Friend and Help in times of trouble. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).