A friend emailed me this story. I don’t know if its true, although it has the ring of a Billy Graham-ism. If it is not, I submit it as a modern day parable.
Billy Graham was honored by leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina. After wonderful things were said about him, Graham stepped to the rostrum:
"I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of each passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his other pocket. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat by him. He 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 on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back. 'Dr. Einstein, don't worry,' he said. "I know who you are. No problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one.'
"Einstein said, 'Young man, I too know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.'"
Dr. Graham continued, "See the suit I'm wearing? I bought it for this luncheon and one more occasion. 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."
It’s not how smart your are…
Or how well dressed…
Or how influential….
It’s who you know, and who knows you…
What a relief……
“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
“Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God;
Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another.
My heart faints within me! Job 19:25-27 (NASB)“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. “And you know the way where I am going.” John 14:1-4 (NASB)
…Nicks
(Thanks a)
There is confirmation this is real.
at:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2003/002/30.69.html
Source: John Huffman, Preaching Conference 2002
Assurance of Salvation, Eternal Life, Heaven, Hope
Job 19:25-27; John 14:1-4; Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 15
Posted by: Presbypoet | Sunday, December 18, 2005 at 12:10 PM