Billy Graham - Nearing Home

By Kathi Macias

Special to ASSIST News Service

HOMELAND, CA (ANS) -- Dr. Billy Graham has just released what may very well be his last book before he "graduates to heaven." The title is Nearing Home, and the subtitle is Life, Faith, and Finishing Well.

Book cover

I love that-especially the "finishing well" part. I love it so much that when I spotted the first announcement of the book, I ordered it right away. I'm reading it now and enjoying it every bit as much as I knew I would.

Why? Well, I imagine part of the reason is that I have great admiration for Dr. Graham. But it's more than that. The "finishing well" theme has been ringing in my ears and echoing in my heart quite a bit lately. Though it seems just yesterday that I was a young wife and mother, riding herd on my little ones and just beginning my born-again life as a believer, it's actually been four decades, and the desire to finish well is growing within me.

I was twenty-six years old when I received Jesus as my Savior, and I've been blessed with nearly forty wonderful years to grow in my relationship with Him. But more and more I realize lately that I've left not only my youth behind but my middle-aged years as well. Technically, I am now a senior citizen. How is it that such an event comes as a shock?

Billy Graham says, "Growing old has been the greatest surprise of my life." How well I can relate! Of course, he has nearly thirty years on me, so this "senior citizen" thing can stretch out for quite a while. But whether we're at the beginning of that particular season or the end, if we've lived long enough to qualify as a senior, we are certainly "nearing home," as Dr. Graham's book title proclaims.

And that's the key, isn't it? Even unbelievers know their days are numbered, though they may not acknowledge the God who numbers them. Psalm 90:12 admonishes us to "number our days" so we can "gain a heart of wisdom." Acknowledging that God is sovereign, that He is the Giver of life who alone decides when our time here is through, and that He has a purpose for each of our days will enable us to live wisely. On the other hand, choosing to go through life in our own power and denying the existence of God and His claim on our life labels us a fool in God's eyes (see Psalm 14:1).

So how do ensure that we not only live wisely but finish well?

My mother died on August 3, 2011, just one month and one day after her 90th birthday. We celebrated that birthday with cake and gifts, family and friends, while Mom-though confined to a wheelchair-enjoyed herself immensely. Her eyes shone as several generations gathered around to sing to her and celebrate her many years on earth. And though we understood that Mom was at the end of her life, none of us could have predicted that the following month we would be gathered together once again, this time to celebrate the fulfillment of her life and to say a temporary goodbye until we join her in heaven.

My not-quite four-year-old grandniece, Annabelle, seemed perplexed at the contrast between the two events. She attended her great grandma's birthday with joy, happily consuming cake and punch and singing with all her might. But this adorable child has not been raised in church and knows little about Jesus or eternity. When she arrived at the memorial celebration, all she knew was that she'd been told "Grandma's dead." When she scanned the sanctuary and couldn't find her anywhere, she teared up a bit and repeated the words, "Grandma's dead."

Then she sat through the service-squirmed through much of it, actually-as we sang songs of heaven and resurrection. Several people shared favorite memories of the woman who had prayed for us and girded us with her faith. At one point we viewed a video depicting a departed soul being welcomed into heaven by Jesus Himself, as Mercy Me sang "I Can Only Imagine." It was poignant and touching, to say the least.

Note: This was first published at: www.crosswalk.com

Kathi Macias (www.kathimacias.com; www.thetitus2women.com; http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com) is an award-winning author of more than thirty books, as well as countless short stories and articles. A wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Kathi lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where the two of them spend their spare time cruising around in Al's semi-new sunburst orange Corvette -- hence, Kathi's road name of "Easy Writer." Her e-mail address is: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it