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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

 

Dear Rev. Graham: America is such a divided nation and as another nasty election approaches, it’s hard to fathom citizens working against our Constitution. I know as Christians we’re to pray for our enemies, but it doesn’t seem reasonable that our nation can be changed. Is it really reasonable that we should pray for those who seek to hurt God-abiding citizens? – E.P.

 

Dear E.P.: God does not ask us to do something and then not give us what we need in order to obey. A man who helped lead the great persecution of Christians in the New Testament is a man called Saul. His mission in life was to stamp out the Christian faith. The Bible tells us that Saul was breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples (see Acts 9:1). But all of that changed when he met the risen Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. From that moment on Saul the persecutor became Paul the proclaimer, fearlessly taking the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.

What made him change? The Lord spoke to Saul and Saul listened. He became convinced that the Gospel was true. Jesus Christ was the Son of God, sent from Heaven to save us from our sins. How could this man remain silent in the face of this profound truth?

But there’s another reason for Paul’s change. He began to see people the way God sees them. He saw them in their lostness and confusion – and also as those for whom Christ died. What difference does the truth of the Gospel make? God opens the eyes of the blind; He sets His Word in redeemed hearts and puts the Gospel truth on our tongues. We all were once lost and without hope. When we meet the Savior, all things are changed.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)