March 26, 1946 – May 19, 2020
The appointed hour arrived early Tuesday morning, on the 19th of May 2020 for Bro Ravi Zacharias.
This wonderful ambassador of Christ Jesus had fulfilled his purpose and mandate.
He is now with the LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR ALL ETERNITY.
Bro Ravi Zacharias deeply challenged and impacted just about every soul that came across his path both directly and indirectly, through his travels, his meetings and through media. Millions who have never met him personally, yet feel they know him so, because they have been left deeply impacted by Bro Ravi in some way or the other. Bro Ravi Zacharias has left each one of them with something that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
I am one of those who has never met or known Bro Ravi Zacharias personally.
However, if I had to single out just one aspect of his wonderful ministry, or one single incident about his life, which impacted me, and that would certainly not be easy, but it would be this:
A Story Told
Ravi Zacharias was once invited to a discussion with Sheikh Hussein of Damascus, a powerful figure in the Shiite Muslim world.
At the end of the meeting, Ravi told the Sheikh, “Not far from here is a mount. Five thousand years ago Abraham took his son up that mountain to offer him as a sacrifice of an expression of his faith in God.
Do you remember the story?” The Sheikh said, “Yes.”
Ravi said, “Let’s not discuss now which son. Let’s just agree he took his son.”
And the Sheikh said, “All right.”
Ravi said, “And as the axe was about to come down, God says stop!”
And Ravi asked, “What did God say then?”
The Sheikh was silent.
I Will Provide
Ravi said, “God said, I myself will provide.”
The Sheikh said, “That’s right.”
Ravi said, “Sheikh, very close to where you and I are sitting now is a hill called Calvary.
Two thousand years ago God kept that promise and made the provision.
He took his own Son up that hill, and, Sheikh, this time the axe did not stop”.
God sacrificed his Son.
Until you and I receive the Son God has provided, we will be offering our own sons and daughters on the battlefields of this world for position and power and land and prestige.”
Ravi wasn’t sure how the Sheikh would react to that, but the Sheikh was touched.
The Sheikh came over, hugged him, and said, “You’re a good man, Mr. Zacharias. I hope I see you again.”
I do hope Sheikh Hussein of Damascus did receive the Son God provided, that Bro Ravi Zacharias told him about. And that yes, he would have that infallible hope of seeing his friend ‘Mr. Zacharias’, both again and for all eternity.
If you have not received Jesus, the Son of God as yet, I hope this message of Bro Ravi Zacharias will encourage you to do so.
And if you have received Jesus, the Son of God, by believing in His Death, Burial and Resurrection, I hope and pray that you would boldly proclaim the same message, that your hearers would be given at least that one opportunity, to choose between life and death.
A Final Word About Bro Ravi Zacharias
“Bro Ravi, you fought the good fight, you have finished your course, you have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for you a crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give you at that day: and not to you only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” [2 Timothy 4:7-8]
