Minutes after I got off the train today in Preston, England – where I am to address 100 ministers in preparation for the Franklin Graham Festival over here in September, I was told that Billy Graham went to Heaven this morning.
I wonder if, when we are in Heaven, we will get to see a DVD replay of Billy going to glory and being welcomed by Jesus. I could not help but wonder what this would be like. I had the same thought in 1981 when my mentor Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones died. What is it like in Heaven when people like these men enter Glory?
As the photo in my tweet shows, Billy preached for me at Westminster Chapel in May 1984. His visit coincided with the worst trial of my life—when half of my deacons turned against my ministry and hoped to see me gone soon. Some of them were not too happy with my inviting Billy. As many know, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones refused to support Billy Graham’s meetings in London. But it is worth noting that Mrs. Lloyd-Jones, who supported me until the day she died (I preached her Memorial Service in 1991 at Westminster Chapel), came to the service to hear Dr. Graham.
Tens of thousands of articles and obituaries will be written about Billy Graham in the next few days. His relationships with presidents. With Her Majesty the Queen. The millions he preached to. Many of us will want to tell our own stories pertaining to Billy. One of the highlights of my ministry was having him preach for me. He spent an hour and forty-five minutes alone with me in my vestry two days before. He went to the hospital with a nose bleed later that afternoon. There were fears he would have to cancel, but he didn’t. He left his hospital bed (you can see the identity band on his left wrist in my tweet photo of him) to preach for me. Despite rumors he would not show up – due to being in hospital – Westminster Chapel was packed from top to bottom. Had those rumors not spread the crowds would have been lined up and down Buckingham Gate.
He was a true friend. I can’t say we were close friends – not many can. But he was a true friend, always answering my letters, giving me recommendations when I needed them. I’m sure his comment regarding my three volumes of Understanding Theology made a huge difference in sales. He endorsed my book Tithing and wrote a brief forward to Stand up and be Counted (a theological defense of giving an invitation after the sermon). I have preached at his training center – The Cove – annually for some ten years. His daughter Ruth wrote a Foreword for my next book Popular in Heaven, Famous in Hell.
When I came home after that hour and forty-five minutes with him in my vestry, Louise asked: “What was it like to meet Billy Graham?” I replied after a few seconds to ponder it, “He’s so simple. He is so simple”. By that I mean uncomplicated. Unpretentious. He signed my Bible that day – adding Philippians 1:6ff to his name. Then he prayed for me.
His closest friend T. W. Wilson – who patiently waited outside my vestry for that hour and forty-five minutes – also became a good friend. T. W. wrote a book The Key to Everlasting Joy. Billy wrote the Foreword for the American edition but at T. W.’s request his British publisher asked me to write the Foreword for the British edition. “We need a Brit for the edition over here”, they said to me. “But I’m not a Brit”, I replied. “Yes you are”, they said. It was my greatest compliment in 25 years in England!
Good-bye Billy. What an impact you have made on this planet. Utterly indescribable. Words fail. I hope to have more time with you one day. I thank God for you. Good-bye, Billy, good-bye.