Superman's Message Still Flies
The recent chatter about a certain preacher fallen from grace sent me to my journals. The man had been the keynote speaker at my son’s graduation from Liberty University. Decades have passed, but I enjoyed reading again how the Lord made a way for my husband and me to be in attendance.
It was amazing that the trip to Virginia had ever taken place.
We had cancelled our hotel reservations when Brian said he would not be allowed to walk in graduation. The dean said he could not graduate because his CLEP scores were not in. When I sensed Brian really wanted to take part, I said I would contact the Dean of Academics who had made the decision, and if I didn’t get anywhere with Dr. Stickler (name changed to save him embarrassment), I’d email Jerry Falwell, the founder of the university.
Being a single mother for thirteen years taught me to ‘be the man’ and fight for my children.
I couldn’t find an email for Dr. Stickler, but I found one for who I thought to be Dr. Falwell. Turned out, I’d emailed my petition to Jerry Falwell Jr. He responded saying he’d forwarded my email to his father and to the college president, Dr. Borek.
Two hours later Dr. Stickler emailed to say Brian could participate in graduation ceremonies. But by now Brian had an attitude. He made a deal with God. If we could get a hotel room two days before graduation, it’d be the miracle-evidence that he should participate. It just so happened Best Western—right next to the campus—had a cancelation moments before my call. Brian would walk.
The room cost $236 for two nights. (That used to be a lot of money.) Brock had a conniption fit about the price. Must be a man/woman thing. I rejoiced at the provision of God, and my husband gets a keel-over pain in his gut. Go figure.
The day of the ceremony, we arrived at the Vine Center one hour and twenty minutes early to find most of the seats “saved.” I determined I’d email Jerry about it.
The speaker was Dr. Tony Evans. I won’t defend him. But I will defend how God used him that day, and I’ll defend the message. Using the analogy of Superman, he spoke to the graduates about being a superman. Clark Kent was transformed when he put on the cape. And we as believers in Jesus Christ are transformed when we put on the Holy Spirit. Kent was from another planet. Our citizenship is in heaven. He used many other parallels to encourage the graduates to rely on the power of Christ and to pursue the course God had set before them.
I haven’t paid any attention to the recent news regarding Mr. Evans. I wasn’t there. I don’t know the man. I read the news with one blind eye and listen to it with one deaf ear since only half of it is true. What I do know is the Word of God stands forever. The message of the cross will not fail regardless of the failures of the messenger.
We can use the sins of others as an excuse to reject the Bible, but it isn’t the Dr. Evanses we will appeal to in our final day. Not even to the Dr. Falwells. God alone is the one to whom we will give account. With all the gossiping and finger pointing, I prefer to gossip about the message and point my fingers toward the Savior.
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 (Hebrews 9:27-28).