God's Roadmap

Now may the Lord Jesus Christ and our Father God, who loved us and in his wonderful grace gave us eternal comfort and a beautiful hope that cannot fail, encourage your hearts and inspire you with strength to always do and speak what is good and beautiful in his eyes (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 TPT).


Sunday, February 25, 2018

A Sin-filled Life and a Christ-surrendered Life - Contrasting Two Billy's


by Barbara Latta

Violence, murder and theft – a life of corruption and pain filled the life of the young man
Contrasting two Billy's
known as Billy the Kid as we read last week on this blog.

He was born November 23, 1859 as William Henry McCarty and took on the alias William Bonney and became later known as Billy the Kid due to his youth. During his short life this young man is credited with the killing of eight men and numerous escapades of theft, including cattle rustling.

Only 22 years later, young Billy was sentenced to hang for his murderous exploits and after escaping jail was killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett on July 14, 1881.
His deceptive personality was charming one moment and violent the next which confused those he traveled with into not knowing which Billy they would have from one moment to the next.


Compassion, love and giving – a life of self-sacrifice filled the life of the man who would come to be known as a great evangelist.

Born November 7, 1918, William Franklin Graham, Jr. spent the first part of his life avoiding anything religious. At the age of sixteen, Billy gave his life to Christ. After attending college and becoming an ordained minister, this Billy started on the journey that would take him around the world preaching the gospel of Christ and seeing millions of people’s lives changed.

On February 21, 2018, this Billy was welcomed into the embrace of His heavenly father and left a legacy that will continue until Jesus returns to the earth.

Billy Graham lived almost 100 years and over 80 of it was centered on the love of God,
Contrasting two Billy's
while Billy the Kid only lived 22 years in a life of selfishness and crime.

While our works do not open the gates of heaven for us, the results of our deeds do leave a legacy that can affect others either for good or evil.

The decisions we make will determine those works. Following Jesus shows us the difference between a sin-filled life and a Christ-surrendered life.

While my Christian life has had its ups and downs, a life of backsliding and commitments, I am thankful for the upbringing I had to lead me to Christ. Thankful that His mercies are new every morning and His forgiveness never ends.

That same forgiveness was available to both Billy’s. One accepted that forgiveness and his life showed the evidence of that surrender. As far as we know the other Billy didn’t. Only God knows.

The short time we are on this earth is like a grain of sand compared to an eternity of sandy beaches. This is our opportunity to make a difference.

The important question for us now is, “What will we do with Jesus?”

Please feel free to share your thoughts or testimony.




No comments:

Post a Comment