Jerry Seinfeld, that famous philosopher of the nineties, said, "Everybody is looking for good sex, good food, and a good laugh because they are ‘little islands of relief’ in what's often a very painful existence."
Hugh Hefner lived his life offering islands of relief for many a man who didn't have peace with God or himself. Billy Graham, on the other hand has spent most his life pointing people to more than an island of relief...but to a haven of rest. Hefner preached temporary satisfaction while Billy preached eternal contentment.
The guru of pleasure himself, Hugh Hefner, has passed away at the age of 91. Billy Graham, a preacher of the Gospel of Christ, is still pressing on at the age of 98. In Billy's pursuit of God I believe he found a pleasure Hugh Hefner never knew. It's interesting indeed to compare the lives of these two men, from the same era, and the impact they have had on the world. Hefner may have had an impact on society, but Billy offered hope to the world.
While it'd be easy to write a blog about the tragic ripple effects of the pornography industry Hefner helped create, and easy to extol the virtues of Dr. Graham and the message of hope he helped spread...My time is better spent taking a look in the mirror at myself. What kind of difference am I making in the world?
Maybe I can begin by loving God and loving people. Jesus said those were the two greatest commands. Maybe, more than providing islands of relief such as Hefner did, I can point people to a haven of rest that, according to the Bible, is found only in Christ.
Hugh Hefner is dead. Billy Graham will one day die as well. And so will I. As the poet C. T. Studd wrote, "Only one life, twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last." amen
