Albert McMakin, a 24-year-old farmer, had just given his life to Christ the year before. He heard that Dr. Mordecai Ham was coming to speak at a meeting in a tent. He was so excited that he invited countless friends and family. Many of them agreed to come … except Billy.
Billy was the big handsome man from the local high school campus. He didn’t have much interest or time for Jesus. Albert, however, was smarter than the average bear. He borrowed a truck from a friend and asked Billy to drive it. “You don’t even need to stay for the meeting,” Albert said, “just take me back and forth.” Since Billy did not have a vehicle of his own and desperately wanted to drive, he accepted Albert’s proposal.
Billy stayed outside in the truck the entire time, but heard Ham’s words. However, at the end of the meeting in the store, Jesus had his hooks on him; Young Billy Graham walked forward during the altar call and gave his life to Jesus Christ.
Yes, Billy Graham is a man who has changed the world; but it is not who I am referring to in the title of this post.
You’ve probably heard of Billy Graham, but have any of you ever heard of Albert McMakin? Most likely the answer is no. However, his is not an obscure name in heaven’s ledgers, because his enthusiasm and willingness to share the Good News of Christ to anyone who is willing to listen (and some, like Billy, who were not willing to listen ) has spread through eternity in a great way.
How different would the world be if McMakin had kept the Good News to himself?
Do you have an Albert McMakin in your life? I make. In fact, I have several, and if you remove even one from my life, the trajectory of my steps goes in a very different direction. I am eternally grateful for each of them: Mr. Wenger, Travis, Steve, Matt, Yohan and Darwin (Isn’t it ironic that one of the men who helped lead me to Christ is called “Darwin” ?! that, Richard Dawkins.).
Although sometimes fear and apathy take hold of me, it is men like these and stories like McMakin’s that keep me focused on talking about Jesus whenever I can. Let him be encouraged by his story in the same direction.