Monday, November 25, 2013

Last of the Fire Eaters




When Billy Graham passes away, in the not-too-far-off future, who will be left to stand for the truth? We live in a world where truth is continuously twisted, distorted, abused, manipulated, and stretched. We are all guilty of this on some level, including Rev Graham himself. But he was someone whose life purpose was simply to speak the truth. That's all he cared about, and all he lived for. It was, he felt, why God created him. 




In the history of some of the native tribes, there were people referred to as the "fire-eaters". These were people who were acknowledged by their tribes to be not only wise in mind, but people who spoke very powerfully and eloquently, and (most important), spoke truth with weight and conviction. These elders were consulted by the chief and the leaders of the tribe in the decisions. The crowd in a frenzied argument would hush and settle down immediately to listen to the "fire-eater." 
He who speaks with Fire. 

In light of his recent, and likely last public message, I can't think of a better epiteth for Reverend Graham. He was one who spoke  truth with Fire. Will he be the last great Fire-eater?