Two of the greatest saints of God who ever lived died today
and entered the glories of heaven.
One of those saints, Billy Graham, was well known. In his 99
years he had touched every corner of the earth. In one sense he was a simple
Baptist preacher. In another sense he was a giant of a man. Billy
Graham stated "My
one purpose in life is to help people find a personal relationship with God,
which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ". That being so he
fulfilled that purpose well. He preached in 180 countries and in the process
preached to an estimated 250 million people. I have known of Billy Graham all
of my life. As a kid growing up we used to gather around the television and
listen to him preach. Many years later I had the privilege of serving as a
counselor in one of his crusades. I stood within 40 feet of him but never had
the opportunity to meet him personally. I think there were smiles in heaven
today when Billy Graham arrived. And I think there was a smile on his face when
he stood before the throne and met the Lord Jesus.
The
other great saint that passed from earth today and began her days of heavenly
rejoicing was Thelma Perkins. She was not known by very many people outside of
the locality of where she lived. But I knew her well. I first met Thelma Perkins
when I was seven years old. Our family was new in town and we joined the Gano
Avenue Baptist Church where Thelma and her family were members. She became a lifelong
friend to all of us. But we found her worthy of so much respect that none of
us, not even my mom and dad, would address her, by any other term except “Mrs.
Perkins”. Mrs. Perkins spent her 94 years on this earth loving and serving the
Lord through her church and loving and encouraging the people that God placed
in her path. Mrs. Perkins was a homemaker caring for her husband and raising
three children. She was a kind neighbor. She was a gracious host. You would
always get a good meal at her house but more importantly you felt love and
warmth and kindness in her home. She never said unkind words about others and
her presence made you cautious about engaging in unworthy speech as well. She
was one of those people that the love and grace and mercy and kindness of Jesus
just oozed out of. Her kind of character and demeanor is rare in the world.
Mrs. Perkins was an ardent student of the Bible and was a Sunday School teacher
for over sixty-five years. She had a great interest in missions and though she
never traveled that much she prayed for people all over the world. I know she
prayed for me. Her life and example has been an encouragement to me and many
others.
Billy
Graham got to heaven early this morning. Mrs. Perkins got there about 10:20 AM
eastern time. I am not sure what the
protocol of heaven is like. But somehow I think that with these two great
saints arriving on the same day that protocol was broken. There must have been applause.
Maybe the heavenly choir got a little extra excitement and danced while they
sang. Surely somebody shouted. I was not there so I don’t know. But I think
that when the Rev. Billy Graham and Mrs. Perkins stood before the throne today
the face of the Lord Jesus was beaming when He said “Well done, my good and
faithful servant”.
