From Ruth to Rich: There Is One Thing that Is Stronger Than Sin

As I read late Billy Graham’s Just As I Am (1997) autobiography, I’m encouraged by his wife, Ruth Bell, for her life, support, and works in the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association ministry. About Ruth, Billy writes, “God gave Ruth many, many gifts, one of which was writing.” I agree. In this series, I try to imagine (one of God’s greatest gifts to humankind) what would Ruth Bell says to encourage young man like me – and perhaps, you. I hope you enjoy it!

Dear son, Rich,

I feel the urge to write to you about the love of God, the strongest love there is. You see, to save us from eternal death, God had to give the very life of His Son, Jesus Christ. God would send His Son to earth as a human baby too weak to lift up His own head. He would learn how to crawl, how to stand, how to run.

When He had grown to manhood, He would bring men back to the God whom they had forgotten. He would tell them: “The Lord our God loves you” (see John 3:16), “You must love Him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength” (see Matthew 22:37), and “You must love others as much as you love yourself” (see Matthew 22:39). Then He would show them, as well as tell them, what God meant by “love” when He fed the hungry, healed the sick and made the blind see.

Finally, He would show them the greatest love of all: He would die for them so that the way to God would be opened. After that, no matter how far a person wandered, no matter how big the sin, there would still be this way back to God. For love like this would be stronger than sin – stronger than death itself.pray

Remember the Bible that I and your dad bought for you? Look for Romans 5:6-8 that we underline for you: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Pray, my son, pray: Thank you Father, for sending Jesus Christ to die for my sins. I will tell others of His great sacrifice so that they may find new life through Him. Amen.

Your dad and I miss you,

Ruth

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.