In July 28, I had the privilege of proclaiming the eternal promises of the Gospel at Washington National Cathedral during the memorial service for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The senior statesman from South Carolina, who died unexpectedly on July 11 from an aortic tear, was remembered as a tireless advocate for faith and freedom and a defender of the U.S. Constitution and Israel. I was glad to hear his longtime pastor at Corinth Baptist Church in Seneca, South Carolina, share about the late senator’s profession of faith in Jesus as his Savior and Lord.
I stood in the same church where my father preached some 25 years ago following the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks on our homeland. I said that for those who have been to the foot of the cross in repentance and believed in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, death is not the end but instead the beginning of eternity in the presence of Almighty God.
Standing before members of our nation’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, I lifted high the Name above all names—Jesus Christ—as I read from God’s inerrant and infallible Word about a glorious eternity for those whose lives are surrendered to Christ:
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son’” (Revelation 21:2-7).
There’s nothing like a funeral—especially near the powerful halls of Congress—to remind us all of the truth of Hebrews 9:27-28: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
The exclusivity of the cross of Christ as the only means through which sinful humanity may be reconciled with a holy and righteous God is not a politically correct message in our nation’s capital or for most places around the world. Nevertheless, Jesus did not lie when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
No matter which way the political winds blow or public opinion sways, I will not back up, stand down or shut up when it comes to preaching that there is “no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). In an age where moral relativism runs amok and tolerance for everything except God’s Word is praised, we need more Christians who will live boldly for Christ regardless of opposition or retribution.
So, when Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen was banned from setting foot on U.K. soil at London’s Heathrow Airport this summer simply for expressing her beliefs about Biblical marriage and human sexuality, it reminded me of Jesus’ warning in the 15th chapter of the Gospel of John.
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me” (John 15:18-21).
Päivi, a physician and grandmother of 12, has been persecuted for seven years in her home country ever since she quoted in a tweet what the Bible says about homosexual sin in Romans 1:24-27.
After being found guilty by the Finnish high court in March for “hate speech” related to a church pamphlet she co-authored 22 years ago about Biblical marriage and sexual ethics, Päivi is making her final appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Let’s pray for this woman as she stands boldly on God’s Word and refuses to back down. This is what’s coming for all Christians unless we stand firm for religious freedom and free speech. God bless her.
Please be praying as the God Loves You Tour returns to the U.K. for the fifth consecutive year. I will be preaching in Manchester, England, on Oct. 3, once again declaring the eternal Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
