From the writings of the

Rev. Billy Graham

The human soul transcends earthly value

Q: Why is it that Christians say we have to believe their way or miss Heaven? Isn’t this a little narrow, maybe even arrogant?

A: Christians do make up a religion—Christians believe God’s every word. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Who doesn’t want to be saved? Some years ago a man’s plane crashed into the ocean. He survived the crash, but had blood on his forehead which attracted the sharks, and he spent 10 hours kicking at the sharks to survive. Finally he spotted an aircraft and waved his orange life vest. The pilot spotted him and dropped a smoke canister and radioed a Coast Guard cutter that was 12 minutes away, saying: “Hurry! There’s a man down there surrounded by sharks.” The Coast Guard swooped in and rescued him. The man did not need a new swimming technique in order to be saved; he needed outside intervention.

All of mankind needs to be rescued. We all need outside intervention if we are going to live eternally with God in Heaven someday.

It is not arrogant or narrow-minded to claim that there is only one way of salvation or that the way we follow is the right way. After all, do we fault a pilot for being narrow-minded when he or she follows the instrument panel while landing in a rainstorm? No, we want the pilot to remain narrowly focused! Millions of people today want salvation and the hope of Heaven, but on their own terms. Christians do not proclaim salvation in any other but Jesus Christ; “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Q: Why do Christians close their prayers in Jesus’ name?

A: This wonderful name reminds us—and those listening—that Jesus has opened the door to Heaven for us. We can approach Him, and speak directly to Him, only because of what He has done for us. The phrase “in Jesus’ name” is not a magic formula we add in order to make God answer our prayers. God answers our prayers solely because of His Son Jesus Christ.

God knows what is best for us. When we pray, therefore, we seek God’s will in our prayers. This pleases Him because He wants to show us the way to life, the way to peace—the way to Him. We gain access to the Lord by faith in Him and He brings us into His wonderful grace (Romans 5:1-2).

Thank God for the wonderful privilege of prayer. It should be an integral part of our lives at all times. “We will give ourselves continually to prayer” (Acts 6:4).

In the morning, prayer is the key that opens to us the treasures of God’s mercies and blessings; in the evening, it is the key that envelops us under His protection and safeguard.

Throughout Scripture we see Jesus demonstrating the power of prayer as He prayed to His Father in Heaven. How much more should we go to Him in prayer? Nothing can replace a daily time spent alone with God in prayer. We can also be in an attitude of prayer throughout the day—sitting in a car or at our desks or visiting with someone in the neighborhood. “Let us therefore come boldly … that we may obtain (God’s) mercy and find grace” (Hebrews 4:16).