Ravi Zacharias, a man of God with a message from God, is now in the physical presence of Jesus whom he preached, shared, and loved so much. After a short bout with cancer, Ravi took his last breath on earth and entered into the glorious presence of the Lord Jesus with so great a cloud of witnesses who welcomed him into heaven on May 19, 2020.
In my opinion, he was the world's leading Christian apologist of the late 20th century and early 21st century. Ravi was a true defender of the faith whose aim was always to point others to Jesus who is the only Way, the Truth, and the Life for all who seek forgiveness of sin and new life in Christ. He was also a leading evangelist, preacher, and teacher. His life and ministry touched millions around the world.
Ravi received his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, the same seminary where I received my M.Div. a few years after he graduated. I'm sure it was there that his skills and love for preaching and apologetics were sharpened and he was prepared for a lifetime of influencing academics, world leaders, and all who were seeking the truth found only in Christ and His Word.
He was always be known as a humble servant of Jesus who helped others answer life's greatest questions. Ravi once summarized these questions in the following quote:
"When you think of it, really there are four fundamental questions of life. You've asked them, I've asked them, every thinking person asks them. They boil down to this; origin, meaning, morality and destiny. 'How did I come into being? What brings life meaning? How do I know right from wrong? Where am I headed after I die?'"
This man of God leaves behind with me some valuable lessons about life and ministry:
- Always bring glory and honor to Jesus in how you live and how you serve.
- Always be ready to give an account for the hope that is within you because of Jesus.
- Always be courageous in sharing your faith in Jesus.
- Always treat people as those whom God loves and those for whom Christ died.
- Always grow in the grace and knowledge of God.
- Always seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
- Always love God, love others, and make forever followers of Jesus.
Ravi lived the message that he spoke. This message is found in another quote from his heart and lips: "Jesus does not offer to make bad people good but to make dead people alive."
Ravi Zacharias is now in the presence of God and is fully alive forever! We will miss him. I will miss him. May the Lord comfort his wife Margie, and family. Who will rise up to take his place on earth in these days when the good news of Jesus Christ is needed more than ever?
Read Ravi's story from RZIM, the organization that he founded and led for many years: https://bit.ly/3e8jGML.
Photo from fox5atlanta.com