Right before Billy Graham passed away at the age of 99, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son to a luncheon in his honor.
Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggled with Parkinson’s disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, “We don’t expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you.” So, he agreed.
After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said,
“Today, I’m reminded of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who Time magazine honored as the Man of the Century.
Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached into his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he went in his trouser pockets.
It wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn’t find it.
The conductor said, ‘Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.’
Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle, punching tickets.
As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist on his hands and knees, looking under his seat for his ticket.
The conductor rushed back and said, ‘Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.’
Einstein looked at him and said, ‘Young Man, I know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.”’
Having said that, Billy Graham continued,
“See the suit I’m wearing? It’s a brand-new suit. My children and grandchildren tell me I’ve gotten slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So, I bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion.
Do you know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to remember the suit I’m wearing immediately.
I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am, I also know where I’m going.”