I knew it was coming. I had seen the report for days. Stage four cancer making its way through a man that rivaled the greatest intellects, toppled the haughtiest athiests and stood bold and strong despite threats to the Great Name, He so valiantly represented.
No one could hold a candle to this shiny-eyed, loving, fearless apologists.
Ravi Zacharias. Do you know him? He didn’t have his own t.v. station with lights and catchy phrases like, “Live Your Best Life Now”.
Still, His timeless message stood alone when the storms of real-life, obstacles and questions railed us.
Tweet ThisIt is fastened to Scripture, and inseparable with the One who stands like a rock against all kinds of ragging weather and temperments.
True Christianity doesn’t bend or melt at the rising of man’s temper, bullying to quiet us, or the authoritative voices trying to use power or achievement to crumble us.
God’s love stands, strong and fearless. Bold, yet compassionate. Tender, yet immoveable…Like the man of Ravi Zacharias.
This morning, word filled my Twitter feed that this giant in the faith and genius mind of apologentics entered the pearly gates, with a thunderous clap of heaven.
And there is no doubt, the Father’s booming voices announced far and wide, “This is my son. With Him, I am well-pleased.”
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Ravi lived, unchallenged by the greatest of thinkers.
He answered Stephan Hawkins, took on science and atheism. He even spoke at Yale about one of man’s five greatest questions about faith…
“What makes Christianity the ONLY exclusive religion?” (Click on the link to hear Ravi Zacharias’ answer first-hand)
Ravi didn’t just shrink his life to fit some tiny bubble of his own ideas, fearful of being addressed or challenged; standing like a lone soldier, blasting the world with some kind of cold theology.
This intellectual and humble man of God expanded his grip on all societies and cultures, to reach all people groups and belief systems with the powerful truth of Jesus.
He wasn’t an “in your face” preacher, standing up on some stage, demanding single minded exclusivity, just to collect his pay and walk away.
This legend sat down with people. He met with individuals face-to-face….Something we all could benefit more from, especially in this internet age.
Ravi listened, debated and spoke with great authority, though his voice was soft, his truth having influence over even the most unbelieving.
Ravi’s website page explains him like this…
“Ravi Zacharis has spent the past 48 years commendng the Christian faith and addressing life’s great existential questions of origin, meaning, morality, and destiny with eloquence and grace.”
How many people nowdays spend 48 years doing anything? Let alone living a life of exemplary faith, sitting in the highest education facilities in the world, tackling questions most of us fear asking, let alone begin answering?
It’s almost like Ravi Zacharias had his eye so on heaven, He lived in a different dimention, and thus changed the world we now live in.
His unshaken, unwavering, unwaffling convictions weren’t boastful and proud, but held such power, they echoed throughout eternity.
At the same time, He was a humble and gentle man.
People of all (or no) faith questioned him. They were drawn to him. They longed to seek out his presence and opinion.
Few carry such weight in the world today, if any.
The world today aches for men and women who seek God’s Word with such great authority, yet also walk in such honest, kind, authenticity.
Ravi is the closest man we might ever find to Jesus.
Let me leave you with some of the quotes from this man who today is singing, “Holy, holy, holy” with all of heavens throng.
Here are 10 quotes from Ravi Zacharias himself:
1) “Love is a commitment that will be tested in the most vulnerable areas of spirituality, a commitment that will force you to make some very difficult choices. It is a commitment that demands that you deal with your lust, your greed, your pride, your power, your desire to control, your temper, you patience, and every area of temptation that the Bible clearly talks about. It demands the quality of commitment that Jesus demonstrates in His relationship to us.”
2) “As I see our world, I have never seen greater confusion, greater loss of meaning, greater uncertainty, and greater fear of what looms in front of us. Politics has gotten out of control everywhere. Nobody sees a mascot or a leader, and everyone wants to know what really lies ahead here.”
3) “A man rejects God neither because of intellectual demands nor because of the scarcity of evidence. A man rejects God because of a moral resistance that refuses to admit his need for God.”
4) “I think the reason we sometimes have a false sense that God is so far away is because that is where we have put him. We have kept him at a distance, and then when we are in need and call on him in prayer, we wonder where he is. He is exactly where we left Him.”
5) “One often sees a call only in retrospect. This too is God’s design. God often reinforces our faith after we trust him, not before.”
6) “The day that each person willingly accepts himself or herself for who he or she is and ackowledges the uniqueness of God’s framing process, marks the beginning of a journey to seeing the handiwork of God in each life.”
7) “If you believe in subjective morality, why do you lock your doors at night?”
8) “You can only learn so much from books. You can only learn so much from education. Ultimately, it is the wisdom of God that will carry you through in the toughest of situations of life.”
9) “Wonder knows that while you cannot look at the light, you cannot look at anything else without it. It is not exhausted by childhood, but finds its key there. It is a journey like a walk thorugh the woods over the unusual obstacles and around the common distractions while the voice of direction leads, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”
10) “Many Christians have so busied themselves with programs and activites that they no longer know how to be silent and meditate on God’s word or recognize the mysteries that lie in the person of Christ.”
Oh, that we might also turn to the same One that is an Anchor of our Soul, shatters sin and death and shines with love supreme.
Might we become like Ravi, kind and gentle, secure on a firm foundation, unimpressed by man, gaining
wealth, or figuring out the scope of every one of life’s problems.
Our hope is Jesus. And He is worth the great prize Ravi has experienced.
What a great joy to know, Ravi is now in the fullness of Christ’s presence today, and even now walks in full glory and healing.
Let’s live for something more. Fight for something greater. Know our Word and not be crumbled by the weight of this world crashing upon us.
He alone will remain, long after heaven and earth has passed away.
Let’s thank God for the life and legacy of a man like Ravi Zacharias, as the world today grieves his loss.
1 Comment
Oh, I had not heard this news. I am so saddened but also inspired as well as excited for this saint to finally be home. Wonderful quotes – thank you so much for sharing. But I am completely taken with the statement/thought that if we will live with our eyes on Heaven, we can change this world. Our world. And, yes, you are right….I’m sure Heaven was applauding!