Morrison was, of course, the real-life pugilist who starred in "Rocky V" with Sylvester Stallone way back in 1990. Nicknamed "The Duke" because he claimed to be a distant relative of John Wayne (his manager denied it), Tommy shot to stardom because of his prominent role in the movie.
In 1991 he lost in his first real-life Heavyweight Title bid to Ray Mercer but 25 years ago, in 1993, he won the WBO belt by besting George Foreman. (Morrison also won the vacant IBC title, in 1995, by beating Razor Ruddock.) I saw Tommy fight live one time...as he was filming scenes for "Rocky V," in fact. Interestingly enough, Foreman ALSO fought that night---four years before they fought each other.
Tommy Morrison was very self-destructive, however and though he achieved his dream of being a World Champion, twice, a combo of booze, drugs and women destroyed him physically. He died in 2013 of complications arising from the AIDS Virus at the young age of 44. There is absolutely no evidence that Tommy ever got saved and turned from his sins to trust Christ as his only Savior. As I watched the sad documentary about his life and death, my heart wept. The man could never admit he had AIDS and take treatment for it, so how could he ever then admit to himself that he (like all of us) was a sinner, and reach for the one remedy...washing in the blood of Christ?
When I consider where Tommy's soul probably is today, again, I say my heart weeps but he chose it, sadly.
Anyway, the very next morning, I learned that Billy Graham passed away at the ripe old age of 99.
Totally opposite from Tommy Morrison, Graham was a gentle man who loved the Lord and sought to make CHRIST (not himself) known via his worldwide evangelistic crusades, preaching, and writings.
He and his two Crusade "assistants," George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows, practiced "clean living" and it paid off. Barrows and Bev Shea lived to be over 100, and Billy himself came within 9 months of reaching that mark. I saw Billy preach live two times, both in New York city area. The first was 1991 in Central Park, the second time was his very last Crusade, in Queens, circa 2005. (He did preach a few times after that at Franklin's meetings, but Queens in '05 was his last Crusade.)
There could not be two more different human beings than Billy Graham and Tommy Morrison. One died at 44 and is most likely in Hell, and one died at 99, after a long and useful life, and is in Heaven now because he DID wash in the blood of Christ and was saved. (Note that Dr. Graham was saved not because he preached the Gospel but because he believed it. ANYONE can be saved, simply by believing in Christ, repenting and trusting in Him for their eternal salvation. And that "anyone" included MORRISON, even if he truly repented on his very deathbed.)
USA Today gave Billy an amazing testimonial when they wrote that he was "America's pastor" and described him as having a reputation "untouched by sexual or financial scandals." Considering his 70 year ministry which took him all around the world and thus caused many human eyes to be upon him, his integrity was incredible! He always remembered that GOD'S Eye was watching, and lived before HIM, you see.
Admittedly Tommy Morrison was an extreme example of debauchery and self-destructiveness, but there's still a lesson to be learned because every moment someone lives without Christ IS self-destructive.
And again, Billy Graham was an extreme example of eminent godliness, but if we don't follow the Lord at ALL, we WILL miss Heaven! And the first step to following Christ is to repent and believe the Gospel.
The question is, are you more like Billy or ....Tommy?
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