I was speaking recently at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove when I received the message that Billy wanted my wife, Cathe, and me to come visit him at his home in Montreat. We were excited to see him again, and quickly agreed.

Around 11 a.m. on that day, we made the familiar drive up the winding road that leads to the home of the man whom I believe to be the greatest evangelist in human history. I've had the privilege of being alone with Billy on many occasions, but have always had a bit of trepidation. After all, he is Billy Graham!

That's not to say that Billy acts like a "famous person." In fact, he's one of the most humble and down-to-earth men I have ever met. He's the kind of person who will ask you how you are or what you think about a certain thing, and then actually listen to your answer with great interest.

It always surprises me when he does that. I think to myself, "What could I possibly say to Billy Graham that he hasn't already heard?" But one of this great man's qualities is that he is always hungry to know more, to grow more spiritually and to become more like Jesus.

When we arrived, we were given a seat at the table where we sat on a previous occasion with his beloved wife, Ruth (now in heaven), and his son Franklin. The food was arranged on the same lazy Susan, placed so that you could turn it and get what you wanted.

The last time I sat at that table, however, Ruth herself had prepared the meal – and washed the dishes beneath a little sign that hung over her sink: "Divine service will be conducted here three times daily."

Her presence was greatly missed.

Some tasty BBQ and all the fixings were placed on the table, and we waited for Billy to come join us. He entered the room, and there was that familiar face – the gentle smile and piercing eyes we've all come to know so well.

Billy is 91 now. But he is still every bit Billy Graham. My wife described him as "a lion in winter."

He asked me to pray over our food, and we chatted a bit about different things. I brought up Ruth and recalled the happy memory I had of being with her here at this same table.

"Thank you for remembering her," he said.

This is something that people tend to forget when someone is grieving over a loved one who is gone. The one left behind still thinks about their departed loved one all the time, but others seem to forget – or at least they don't bring up their name, for fear of adding to their friend's sorrow. In fact, remembering a loved one who has died may bring joy and a smile to the bereaved person.

I told Billy about our son Christopher going to heaven the previous year, and that he was in heaven with Ruth now. Billy remembered and told us he had prayed for us. One of the things that had so touched us was a letter he had written shortly after Christopher died and the way he spoke of Christopher's "sudden departure to heaven." I liked the way he said that and have used that same phrase myself many times in the days since.

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Billy's daughter Gigi joined us, and we chatted about many things, but Billy said very little. He hasn't lost his sense of humor, however, and would occasionally say something amusing, including the moment when he looked at me and said, "Never get this old!"

He asked me my age, and I told him (56).

"You're still a young man!" he said.

I liked hearing that, too!

When Gigi asked me what I was going to speak on that night at The Cove, I told her that my topic was heaven. I mentioned how heaven is a lot different than many people think and that the Bible says quite a bit about it. Billy asked me to tell him more, so I gave him a four-minute overview of my message.

I said that in heaven, we will worship the Lord, serve Him and eat together. I talked about how heaven is a city, a country and a paradise. These are all things that have become far more real to me with my son Christopher now in heaven.

Billy was totally tuned in, listening carefully. I could see that familiar twinkle in his eyes as he drank in these biblical truths.

When I was done, he repeated each point I made back to me and then said, "That is wonderful! Thank you for sharing that with us!" Then he said that he didn't know who he would see first when he got to heaven, Ruth or Jesus.

"Perhaps both," I told him.

The time had come for us to leave, so we said our goodbyes. I told Billy that I loved him and would see him again. He looked me in the eyes and said, "I will see you again in heaven!"

I told him I would see him before that, I was sure, but he said nothing else about it. He told us that he prayed for us often and listened to me speak on the radio and TV, and he thanked me for my ministry.

We hugged, said goodbye and then made our way back down the driveway of his mountain home.

I thought to myself that Billy Graham is the most godly man I have ever met. And his Ruth was the most godly woman I had ever met. What an honor it has been for me to know them.

And even if I do see him again on this earth, I know that I will see Billy in heaven, along with my son Christopher, Billy's wife, Ruth, and many others who have gone before us. That is our hope that Billy has so faithfully preached about all these years. And he has lived it as well. What a wonderful legacy!

Thank God for Billy Graham.