RIP Ravi
This morning, Ravi Zacharias went to be with the Lord. He was 74 years old.
I have been listening to Ravi Zacharias since I came to faith in Jesus in 1997. I was always mesmerized by his ability to tell stories that did not illustrate a point but were the point like any of the greatest homileticians in recent Christian history. He drew from a wide range of literature, history and popular culture in nearly every talk as well if not better than Tim Keller. He could field questions and forcefully, but gracefully, leave skeptics speechless. He was the master, as Greg Koukl would put it, at placing “a stone in the shoe” of an unbeliever. In other words, he helped those outside the faith doubt their doubts.
Ravi has told the story many times of attempting suicide as a teenage atheist. His mother read John 14 to him in his hospital bed the inspired words were the Lord’s tool to bring him to faith. He not only pledged allegiance to King Jesus, he served His kingdom with zeal yet with an ever pleasant manner and transparency that drew believers and unbelievers alike to hear him out.
I had the pleasure of meeting a man in Lancaster, Pennsylvania who had founded Turkey Hill products. He heard Ravi speak several times in the 1970’s. Ravi had preached around the world commissioned by The Christian Missionary Alliance and by Billy Graham. Ravi’s travels convinced him of the need for engagement in Christian apologetics. The founder of Turkey Hill asked him over dinner what he would need to launch his own ministry and, before dinner was over, wrote a sizable check that would help launch RZIM.
Even with searing back pain, Ravi continued to travel the world defending the Word of God and the Lordship of Jesus Christ at every opportunity. He told my parents when they met him at Camp-of-the Woods in upstate New York how much pain he was in but it didn’t stop him from teaching and amiably socializing. Ravi suffered but was driven by his love for and loyalty to the Kingdom of God.
I will miss him but I am confident that his talks and books will continue to challenge and bless until the Lord returns.
Now, Ravi is with King Jesus. His pain is gone, his schedule is clear and he can now enjoy being in the presence of God and worshipping at the throne.
RIP Ravi. I’ll see you when I get there, maestro!