Lost Opportunities!

    Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, in talking with leaders of the convention, related a story told by Billy Graham in which John F. Kennedy, before he was president, asked the evangelist if he believed in the Second Coming of Jesus.  When Graham said he did, Kennedy asked him to tell him about it.  So Billy Graham said he told him about why Jesus came to the earth the first time and what the Bible said about His coming the second time.  Kennedy listened with such attention that as they pulled up to the house he asked, “Does my church teach that?”  Billy Graham responded, “Well, they believe it in their creeds and in their confessions, but they don’t talk about it anymore.” 
    Sometime later, Graham attended a prayer breakfast with President Kennedy, and afterward as they were waiting for their cars, Kennedy asked Graham if the two could have a talk.  But Graham had the flu and needed to decline the president’s request and talk another time.  And with a hesitancy in his face, President Kennedy said, “Yeah, yeah, that’d be okay, Billy.”  Billy Graham said he went sick back to his hotel room and the president left in his car. 
    And just a few weeks later he read and heard of the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy.  Billy Graham says it was an irrecoverable moment for him.  How he wishes that he had talked to the President that day because it could have changed the course of events.  Billy said that he will always remember that look on Kennedy’s face, that he wanted to talk about spiritual things.  (Pulpit Helps; May 2007, p24) 
    I believe that God is calling His people to a greater commitment of obedience and to have a more sensitive heart to help people spiritually.  It’s obvious that the world is concerned with curing cancer, A.I.D.S., feeding the hungry, health insurance, education, crime, terrorism, and blaw, blaw, blaw.  But shouldn’t we be more concerned about the eternal souls of men and life after death?  Why is it such a non-issue?  Shouldn’t we be having deeper studies about the consequences of life in the after-life?
    It is very apparent that natural things are temporary and there is a very strong possibility that our souls will continue on forever after physical death.  I believe the Word of God to be the absolute truth.  The Holy Bible speaks volumes to me.  For example: Jesus said, “For what does it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:34-38). 
    Being a child of God should make us aware of the spiritual needs of people, because we know that God is our source for life and eternal life.  We must not let another opportunity pass.  For more info you can visit us at www.JoyChristianMinistries.com

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