The last published book by Ravi Zacharias, Seeing Jesus from the East, published this year, was delivered to me just days before he died. I was in the midst of reading it as he was in the midst of taking his last breaths and I finished it days after he passed on May 19, 2020.
In the book, I read this line from Ravi: “The story of the Gospel is the story of eternal life. My life is unique and will endure eternally in God’s presence. I will never be ‘no more.’ I will never be lost because I will be with the One who saves me.”
I cried when I read that line because I knew it would likely only be days before Ravi was no longer with us here on earth. However, my faith also felt strengthened as I read that passage from him. I knew Ravi wrote those words long before he was dealt a diagnosis of a rare form of spinal cancer earlier this year. I knew his faith was so strong that he only sees that our temporary time on this earth is just a preparation for eternal life, where we will be in the glory of our Creator, who reconciled us through His sacrifice on the Cross.
The title, Seeing Jesus from the East, co-authored with his friend and colleague, Abdu Murray, is certainly fitting as his last book. It seems to me, that his life of being born in India and living mostly in the West since his early 20s had come full circle and he chose to tell us why we too should see Jesus from the Eastern point of view. While still in India, Ravi came to his faith in Christ as a 17-year old, laying in a hospital bed after a suicide attempt. He was lost in the darkness and someone brought him a Bible. The words from Christ in John 14:14, illuminated his soul: “Because I live, you also will live.”
Ravi could have been another suicide victim, but God granted him another chance – and really, God granted the rest of us Ravi Zacharias – for his impact was enormous. He dedicated the rest of his life, the next 57 years, towards building his relationship with Christ and evangelizing to the world. Millions of people heard his voice and were strengthened by his message. He built RZIM into an international ministry with over 200 staff in more than 30 countries, speaking on all six inhabited continents, tirelessly bringing people the Christian message in a way that the Apostle Peter would have certainly approved and perhaps have been impressed with.
In 1 Peter 3:15-16, he encourages us: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” As someone who has listened to many of Ravi’s lectures over the past 15 years, I can’t imagine how much more closely Ravi could have followed the advice from St. Peter.
I met Ravi in person, for the first time, almost exactly a year ago, on May 23, 2019. While in Atlanta for a work function, my friend Ruth Malhotra who worked for Ravi at RZIM invited me to their headquarters and made an introduction. I will never forget it. And I will always be thankful for Ruth for making that happen. Had we not taken this opportunity then, I don’t think I ever would have gotten an opportunity to meet him in person and see that the gracious, kind soul I met in person lived up to the man I heard on those lectures for so many years.
Knowing I worked for National Review Institute, Ravi’s first words to me were about National Review’s famous founder, William F. Buckley Jr. Ravi revealed to me that he and his wife were longtime readers of National Review and fans of Buckley. He lit up with a huge smile as he recalled watching many of Buckley’s Firing Line shows, and especially loved it when Buckley had Malcom Muggeridge on. Muggeridge was a British intellectual, writer, and journalist. For much of his life, Muggeridge was an atheist and a socialist. But he too was a Christian convert and became a great apologist for the faith and turned against his previous socialist ways, finding them incompatible with the Christian worldview.
When Ravi mentioned Muggeridge on Firing Line a little “a ha” moment entered my brain. I have listened to so many of Ravi’s lectures over the years and it’s hard to find some that do not mention Malcolm Muggeridge. He loved Muggeridge so much even having the opportunity to spend time with him. Buckley also had a friendship with Muggeridge. I remember thinking to myself later that I couldn’t believe I never made that connection between Ravi and Muggeridge and Muggeridge and Buckley. And as Ravi had his opportunity to meet his hero, Muggeridge, I now had been given my opportunity to meet one of my heroes, Ravi Zacharias. Most of us are not this lucky.
As Ruth was snapping a photo of Ravi and I, she chimed in and told Ravi that I had a podcast (unrelated to my work at National Review Institute) and suggested to him that maybe he could be on it. I totally froze in my tracks as this was not planned and I never even thought about that possibility. Ravi did not hesitate. He said he would love to do that sometime. I thought he was just being nice and saying that. Later, when Ruth and I were walking back to her office, I brought it up and she said, let’s look at the calendar. I told her I would be back in Atlanta the next month for a conference. A few days later, she confirmed with me that Ravi could do it when I was there on Friday, June 14. On top of that, she offered the opportunity to have it recorded in their studio. It seemed too good to be true. But God works in mysterious ways.
What’s a little crazy is that I almost missed my flight to Atlanta the night before – I was coming in from New York City. My plane was delayed, and I got in very late, but it actually gave me more time to prep for the interview. I interviewed him at 10am that morning. They told me we had 30 minutes. I took 37 minutes (Forgive me Jesus!).
I have listened to the interview at least six or seven times since I posted it last July. I learn so much and I feel so privileged to have been able to sit down with this man in a one-on-one conversation, walking through the major events and moments of his life and his career as the world’s preeminent Christian apologist. Many people, including myself, have called him “The C.S. Lewis of our times.” Considering C.S. Lewis is perhaps my favorite author of all-time, this adds to my esteem and respect for Ravi, but also my gratitude for having this opportunity to sit down with one of my true heroes and one of the great men who have walked this planet.
Before the interview, I asked a few friends and family to pray for me that I would have the right questions and right responses in this interview. I prayed to God that he would fill me with his Spirit to be able to use this as an opportunity to bring Ravi’s wisdom and knowledge to help bring people to faith – or at least to help open some doors in their lives.
One of the great takeaways from the interview was near the end when I asked Ravi what people of faith could learn from entrepreneurs and what entrepreneurs could learn from people of faith. He answered with such wisdom. It was mind-blowing listening to him from across the table in this private studio. If you listen closely, you can probably almost hear my breath being taken away. I was in awe that this was even happening and then in another sense of awe of seeing true brilliance across the table. I have said this to a few friends since – it was almost like what I would expect having a conversation with Jesus would feel like. This man was imperfect like the rest of us, but he was truly a saint.
Ravi delivered this advice: “Before one decides what they are going to do with their lives, they have to decide who they are. Otherwise, you become an existential entrepreneur, when you really need to be an essential person. So, defining who one is, is the starting point for what they are going to do. Once you define yourself as a creature of essential value created by God, then the parameters for which you will work are already set for you in the entrepreneurial zeal that you’re going to express.”
After the interview, I knew the Holy Spirit was working through both of us to reach a new audience. I even heard Ruth say something to Ravi and me afterwards that this interview could help Ravi reach outside of his traditional audience. Praise Jesus! I hope so. What might have been even more amazing was when RZIM posted our interview on Ravi’s “Just Thinking Podcast,” breaking it into three parts in December 2019. That was one of the strangest things I’ve ever experienced because that’s the very way I started listening to Ravi when my friend Chad Kifer first introduced his lectures to me around 2005. To hear the RZIM narrator say my name in conjunction with his was beyond belief!
When I received the news on May 19 that Ravi had passed away, I wept profusely. I don’t know why. I met this man on two occasions. I listened to his lectures many times. I knew he was with God, but I wept. I guess in some way I had hoped to see him again, to talk to him again. Even more so, I wept for the world that this saint was no longer with us, that he would no longer be there for the important moments this world would need him. Selfishly, I wept. But I think I also wept because I knew that story of his suicide attempt 57 years ago and thought about how marvelous it was he was given a second chance and the gift that millions of us around the world were given through that redemption. I also thought back to last May 28 when I met him; and last June 14, when I interviewed him. If you would have told any of us there in that room that in less than 365 days Ravi would have been diagnosed with cancer and passed from this earth, I don’t think we would have believed you. He was 74 years old when he passed and very much still on top of his game. I think I also wept because of the gratitude I had for getting the opportunity to meet and converse with him less than a year before his passing. Needless to say, the emotions were overwhelming.
His memorial service took place on May 29, 2020 at Passion City Church in Atlanta and is available to watch online. I watched it all a few days after it happened. I also finished his book Seeing Jesus from the East. And I even listened to a few more of his more recent podcasts and lectures available on his YouTube channel. I texted my friend Ruth a few days ago and told her that I have taken a social media break for the month of June. The 2020 news cycle has been too much to deal with – and social media seems to be “the devil’s workshop” as one friend put it to me recently. But in my time away from social media, I have turned to watching more and more of Ravi’s lectures – and even listening to one by his co-author and RZIM colleague Abdu Murray. I texted Ruth one more text this past week: “I’m now watching more Ravi videos. He is alive!” She replied “He is more alive than he’s ever been. But I still can’t believe he’s no longer with us on earth.”
This to me is the real pain of loss, of death, of sorrow. It’s not that our loved one is no longer alive. Ravi is now fully alive, walking with Jesus, being thanked by Peter, as an advocate in a long line of advocates over two millennia. What pains us is our temporary separation from our loved one. Thankfully we have Ravi’s words and we have his recorded lectures in both audio and video format to listen to and share with others the Good News he shared with us.
And for me and the listeners of the Agents of Innovation podcast, we will always have that special bond, recorded over 37 minutes, on Episode 62, where he spoke directly with me and my audience and answered our most essential questions.
Thank you, Ravi. You have made an immense impact on me, my faith, and the life I am building with Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There is no greater gift you could have given. May you continue to enjoy your walk with Him who gave all for us. We’ll see you both soon. In the meantime, please pray for us.
Oh dear..how lovely.Ravi was indeed amazing!