In this last year, there have been many deaths in the public arena. Most of them take us by surprise. Each of them have come face to face with their Maker.

Billy Graham and Stephen Hawking each lived their own life doing and teaching what they were passionate about and what they believed in. They both fought to explain their beliefs, and lived them fully.

“Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10

Billy Graham served His God as faithfully as he could, by inspiring millions to come to Jesus as their Lord. He preached the gospel to over 215 million people in live audiences around the world. He had a television show for three years. He had a radio program on 1,200 stations in the U.S. alone. His life was completely sold out for the Lord Jesus, his Christ.

“Whatever you do, work heartily…”
Colossians 3:23

Stephen Hawking, an avowed atheist, a British scientist, physicist, professor and author, firmly believed his perspective of how the earth came to be; through spontaneous creation. He did NOT believe that God created our universe. He was a professor for 30 years at Cambridge University. He had written or co-written 15 books. He appeared on several TV shows, and he hosted and narrated “Genius”, and 6-part TV series about science. His life story was depicted in a 2014 film, “The Theory of Everything”. 

Here we have 2 highly intelligent men, with 2 totally opposite viewpoints about life, both deeply committed to their beliefs, and each now in their own eternity. We cannot know Stephen’s final decision at the end of his life. I am not presuming his destiny, yet we were all witnesses to his life. We trust that Billy is in heaven with His Father and Lord Jesus, as we hope for ourselves when it is our time.

What we do know is that each man fulfilled in their life what they felt called to do. They didn’t stray from it. They each strove with all they had to get their point across. No waivering. No doubts. All action.

Jesus said this to the church in Laodicea:
“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Revelation 3:15-16

Billy and Stephen’s lives impacted millions of other lives. Our life affects others too by how we live it. We affect everyone around us; by our words and our actions, positively or negatively, for the Lord, or not.

“…Choose you this day whom you will serve…”
Joshua 24:15

Be committed either way and serve with all your might!

Food for thought: How are you affecting everyone around you? What do you believe about eternity? Who have you chosen to serve? Are you a good witness for what/whom you believe in?

Fun facts: Our atmosphere is made up of 2 main ingredients: nitrogen and oxygen. Its mixture remains the same regardless of atop the highest mountain or in the deepest valley- 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. God has designed it to be so for us to live here and breathe.

Photo by: Kari Wiseman – The Firmament