Billy Graham, often referred to as “America’s preacher,” expressed one primary regret he had in life. “Although I have much to be grateful for as I look back over my life,” Graham once said, “I also have many regrets.” But residing on the top of his list was that he wished he had spent more time studying God’s word. If he could go back, he said, “I would spend more time studying the Bible and meditating on its truth, not only for sermon preparation but to apply its message to my life.”
Considering Graham read through the entire Bible innumerable times throughout his life, it’s almost surprising to hear that his biggest regret was not being in it enough. It begs the question: Why was that his biggest regret? Surely there are various interviews where Graham pieces together his own personal reasons for feeling the way he did, but I cannot speak for him. However, what I can try to do is help explain, from a broader perspective, why all Christians could likely end up having the same regret.
First, the Bible is not just some book. It is the very Word of God. Jesus, “the Word [that] became flesh and dwelt among us,” said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
Moreover, we can clearly see the way Jesus emphasized the necessity of Scripture during His earthly ministry. Not only because He is the Word, but because He understood the Word as both “spirit and life” (John 6:63). Simon Peter acknowledged this truth when he said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). The Word gives life; the Word sanctifies; the Word protects us. What was it that Jesus used to counter the lies of satan during His time in the wilderness? What is it the psalmist proclaimed is the lamp to our feet and the light to our path? What is truth? The answer to these questions is the Word of God. Needless to say, it’s an important book.
But beyond being important, the author of Hebrews wrote that Scripture is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (4:12). It’s how God speaks to us, and it’s designed to give us instruction on how to live. In fact, if you want to know God’s will for your life, pick it up and read! Because everything we could ever need to know for the sake of fortitude, hope, joy, discernment, wisdom, and whatever else you can think of is in the pages of sacred Scripture. Through His Word, God actively guides us through the toils of life. He walks us through the valleys and keeps us secure on the mountaintops. Perhaps the best example I have of Scripture truly coming alive, and making me feel alive, was my year at Bible college.
Born and raised in a Christian household, I can’t recall a single moment where I didn’t identify as a believer. Even after a highly secular university experience, I never doubted that I was a sinner in need of saving by my one and only Lord, Jesus Christ. And yet, laziness overwhelmed me. Bible reading, time in prayer, and being active in a godly community felt like more work than I thought worth committing to. But after facing some harsh realities during my undergrad, being biblically lethargic was no longer an option. So, I enrolled in Bible college. And then one year and a certificate in theology later, if nothing else, I grew completely confident in one thing: We will never, ever be able to read the Bible enough. Nor is there any other material object we could ever need in this life.
You see, when I went to Bible college, one of the most striking revelations I had was just how powerful God’s word is. Simply because, once reading Scripture became my homework and my primary textbook, my whole life changed. I genuinely became a happier, more energetic, patient, and well-rounded person. Am I perfect? Certainly not! But it’s as though the eyes through which I see, the ears through which I hear, and the mind through which I perceive completely transformed. And with each day that the Word became more and more of a priority came a sense that I really couldn’t go a day without it.
Like spiritual oxygen, it became as necessary as the air we breathe. The more obvious this became, the more increasingly obvious it was that Scripture wasn’t the priority, life began to feel chaotic. But this can’t be surprising, can it? I mean, what do we have to counter the lies we consume (and believe) every day if not God’s truth?
When we think we’re not enough, Scripture says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” absolutely “precious” in the eyes of God. When we feel life lacks purpose and meaning, Scripture says we are God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” When we feel lost, God says we are found in Him. When we feel weak, the Lord says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” When we feel lonely, God promises to never leave us nor forsake us. And when we feel alone and unloved, God Almighty says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”
There aren’t enough books in the world to fully explain the beauty, necessity, and richness of God’s word. While at the same time, Scripture is the one book that perfectly explains and offers everything we could ever need. So, maybe it’s not hard to guess why Rev. Graham regretted not being in the Bible enough after all. But do you know what he never regretted? Well, as he put it: “About one thing I have absolutely no regrets … and that is my commitment many years ago to accept God’s calling to serve Him as an evangelist of the Gospel of Christ.”
I’m thankful to work for an organization, Family Research Council, that believes in the Bible’s necessity. Not only is Scripture the foundation upon which FRC was built, but it’s a continual part of our day. It’s why we have a daily Bible reading plan. It’s why we have a Center for Biblical Worldview. By God’s grace, I went from Bible college to a city that, while often quite chaotic, is still full of men and women who understand that nothing is as important as God’s Word.
It goes without saying that as finite, imperfect people, we will all face regrets. If only we could turn back time and fix some of those mistakes, right? But the truth is, we can’t do that. All we have is today, and right now is what counts forever. Right now is a gift, and it’s one we can use to grow closer to our Lord. On behalf of myself and all who call upon the name of the Lord, I pray we can learn to value the Word as the life-giving, stabilizing, joyous truth that it is.
pray, as we strive to center our hearts and our minds on His Word daily, that our only regret is not being in it more.
Sarah Holliday is a reporter at The Washington Stand.