Chaplain Corner Submissions - Ben Caudill Chaplain's Corner

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

Friends, I received a wonderful lesson that was attributed to Billy Graham. It was so moving I thought it only appropriate to share a story attributed to him. I have not verified that it was Doctor Graham’s words but the message sounds so much like his words and too powerful to ignore.

Reportedly the occasion was to honor the reverend who was stricken with Parkinson’s disease. The location was Charlotte, North Carolina. The date was in 2000. Fearing that he could not rise to the occasion, Dr. Graham was reluctant to attend. Convinced on the sincerity of the tribute, he attended and offered these words:

“I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Albert Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it.

The conductor said, “Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it.”

Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back and said, “Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are No problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one.”

Einstein looked at him and said, “Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.''

Having said that Billy Graham continued, “See the suit I'm wearing? It's a brand new suit. My children and my grandchildren are telling me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am ... I also know where I'm going.”

Friend, do you know where you are going? Do you follow the cross and are you ready to cast off your old suit for a new one prepared by God’s seamstress? The Bible is clear on your choices. Your choice is limited to either heaven or hell. Which have you chosen? Putting off your decision is really a decision for hell. Read God’s Word and note the numerous times Christ referred to it (70 with 162 throughout the Bible). The place exists and is eternal as is salvation. Would it not be wish to build your house upon the Rock instead of the sand? This day I pray that you choose to serve the Lord. For this day, this very moment, is YOUR hour of salvation. The path to salvation is on your knees, realizing that Christ died for your sins, believing that He can save you. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6). If you will [1] admit you are a sinner ("For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"- Romans 3:23), [2] earnestly repent from your sin (Jesus said: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." -Luke 13:5), [3] Believe that Christ died for you and confess your sins ("That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." -Romans 10:9), and [4] through fervent prayer invite Him into your heart ("For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."-Romans 10:13 and "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."-Romans 10:10) you will find salvation. You have God’s Word on that. And you will find yourself a new creature, discarding the old coat and putting on the new! II Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Congratulations you just cast off the old shell leading to hell. You avoided the following: The book of Matthew 13:42 states, "And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matt 25:41 warns, "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." This passage relates to Jesus' judgment of all the world. And John 15:6 exclaims, "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."

Friend, which suit will you wear? I pray that you fall upon your knees, as did your mother’s mother, your father and his father, accept the love of Jesus Christ and reject the heat of the devil. Where you are going and what you will be wearing is in your heart. I personally love my new coat! The old general.