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For 30 years, Christian leader and spiritual adviser Billy Graham has been offering advice to the thousands of readers who share their problems ...
Read more about By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services.
For 30 years, Christian leader and spiritual adviser Billy Graham has been offering advice to the thousands of readers who share their problems ...
Read more about By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services.
How Could My Friend Turn to God in Combat, Then Turn Away?
By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services
Q: Recently, I reconnected with an old Army buddy who was with me
during the first Gulf war. He almost lost his life during one of the
battles, and claimed it made him turn to God. But when I asked him if
God still meant anything to him, he just laughed and said that was all
in the past. What's happened to him? -- T.H.
A: Only God knows your friend's heart, and whether or not he had truly believed in Jesus and given his life to Him. But the Bible also warns us against false belief -- thinking we have turned to God, when in reality we haven't.
How can this happen? Jesus warned us that sometimes people seemingly welcome the Word -- but in reality their hearts are so hardened to God that the Gospel can't take root and grow. The Word of God, He said, is like the seed a farmer scatters -- but sometimes the seed lands on soil that is too hard or rocky for it to grow: "Those (seeds) on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. ... In the time of testing they fall away" (Luke 8:13).
Pray for your friend, that he will remember how good God was to him during a very dangerous time. Then pray that he will turn to Christ for the forgiveness and new life he needs. He may think giving his life to Jesus is a sign of weakness -- but it isn't. It takes courage to follow Him.
Then examine your own life, and ask God for a heart that is open and ready to receive His Word -- not just when you first believe, but every day of your life.
========
Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.
(c)2008 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
This news arrived on: 09/19/2008
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Posted Comments:
09-21-2008 16:22
Terri Arcangel wrote:
how can my friend turn away from god
I understand that he must not have given himself to god in the first place because if he did it would be very hard to turn the other way .
09-19-2008 13:38
ANDREW OLIVER SATCHELL wrote:
ANDREW OLIVER SATCHELL
I AM INDEPENDANT
09-19-2008 05:14
wrote:
my name is alvin as well and i had a sisyer who had a tumor on her head and had to have it removed it was cancerous.she prayed to god to live,it just fell on the floor they said aint ever seen anything like it the drs. said when they opened her up.she got out of the hospital,turned her back on god,got lung cancer ,ate her in no time.now i have cancer and i am 47 she was about the same age i believe.I wont make the same mistake but then i love god and jesus and am gratefull for his hoy spirit.its sad to see how people take this life for theeee life that god speaks of as eternal.stomping grounds is what they are,proving ground
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