I have mentioned many times in my stories of how big a fan of Billy Graham I am. My grandfather introduced me to him growing up and took me to a revival he had at Vanderbilt back in the late 70’s. It was summertime and warm and I will never forget my grandpa dressing as if he was going to the Oscars that night. I watched him just hang, along with 40,000 others, on every word Mr. Graham said.
My grandpa passed away in 1987 after a vicious battle with Alzheimer’s, which robbed us of the last three years of his life. I think about my grandpa quite a bit for in the short time we had together, he was the greatest man I’ve ever known. It is so amazing that I will see him in again in heaven but I heard this recently and it made me stop and think.
A guy was talking on a podcast and he said, “When I get to heaven, I am sure I won’t see Billy Graham there.” There was a silence for a few moments and the other guy said, “I am sorry. What did you say? I am not sure I heard that correctly.” I leaned in as well thinking what in the world is this guy talking about. Billy Graham not in heaven? Oh, he must want to be controversial or go viral or something like that. Then he said this—–“When I get to heaven, I will not see Billy Graham. I won’t because he will be standing so close to God, and I will be way in the back so I will never see him.”
Whew. I sat in my car and tried to process that for what seemed as forever. “He will be standing so close to God, I will never see him.” I said that again and again and again in my mind. I immediately thought about the greatest man in my life. There is no doubt that God fearing Christian man will be right there with Mr. Graham.
He will be standing so close to God, I will never see him. I am nowhere near a theologian but this shook me deep. Isn’t that what we hope for? To be standing so close to God for eternity? After I processed this for a time, it gave me comfort to no end that somewhere close to God, is the man who taught me about Jesus and what being a good man is all about.
I will see him when I get there, no matter where he is standing.
