It isn’t easy to follow Christ. But Billy Graham explains that taking up your cross is the only way to find true purpose in this 1991 message from Seattle, Washington. Watch more #MondayNightClassics every Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES…
THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.
[applause]
I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU.
I WANT YOU TO TURN WITH ME
TONIGHT
TO THE SIXTH CHAPTER
OF MATTHEW’S GOSPEL
AND THE 24th VERSE.
THE SIXTH CHAPTER AND
THE 24th VERSE.
THESE WORDS,
“NO MAN CAN
SERVE TWO MASTERS
“FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE
THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER,
“OR ELSE HE WILL
HOLD TO THE ONE
“AND DESPISE THE OTHER.
“YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD
AND MATERIALISM”
AT THE SAME TIME.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE.
“NO MAN CAN SERVE
TWO MASTERS
“FOR EITHER HE WILL
HATE THE ONE
“OR ELSE HE WILL HOLD TO
THE ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER.
“YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND
MATERIALISM.”
YOU KNOW, THERE’S
A PSYCHOLOGICAL VACUUM
IN AMERICA TONIGHT.
MILLIONS HAVE NO PURPOSE
FOR LIVING AND
NO MOTIVATING CHALLENGE.
THEY WANT A CAUSE
TO BELIEVE IN,
THEY WANT A SONG TO SING,
AND THEY WANT A FLAG TO FOLLOW.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY ONCE SAID,
“I LIVE IN A VACUUM
“THAT IS AS LONELY
AS A RADIO TUBE,
“WHEN THE BATTERIES ARE DEAD
“AND THERE’S NO CURRENT
TO PLUG INTO.”
IRVIN S. COBB ONCE SAID,
“IN POLITICS, I’M A DEMOCRAT.
“IN A RELIGION,
I’M AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER.”
I REMEMBER A STORY THAT
THEY USED TO TELL
OUT OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.
ONE MAN SAID, “I’M NEUTRAL,”
SO HE PUT ON GRAY TROUSERS
AND A BLUE COAT AND THEY SHOT
AT HIM FROM BOTH SIDES.
[laughter]
CHRIST NEVER ALLOWED
PEOPLE TO BE
BYSTANDERS AND SPECTATORS.
THE WORD “CHRISTIAN”
IS FROM THE LATIN,
AND IT LITERALLY MEANS
“PARTISAN FOR CHRIST.”
A PARTISAN FOR CHRIST.
YOU KNOW, THEY’RE HAVING
ALL THAT TROUBLE
DOWN IN YUGOSLAVIA.
AND MR. TITO DIED
SOME TIME AGO
AND LEFT A VACUUM
IN THAT COUNTRY.
AND HIS PEOPLE
THAT FOLLOWED HIM
IN FIGHTING THE NAZIS
DURING THE WAR
WERE CALLED PARTISANS.
I’M OLD ENOUGH TO
REMEMBER THAT MYSELF.
AND THEY WERE
CALLED PARTISANS,
AND THEY COMMITTED
THEMSELVES.
THEY BELIEVED IN
SOMETHING.
AND THOSE PARTISANS
NEVER PLAY IT NEUTRAL.
THEY NEVER PLAY IT SAFE.
THEY NEVER SIT ON THE FENCE.
THEY ARE NEVER SPECTATORS
IN THE STRUGGLE OF THEIR TIMES.
THEY TAKE SIDES,
THEY COMMIT THEMSELVES.
I HEARD ONE IN TEXAS,
THEY ASKED THIS MAN,
“ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?”
AND HE SAID
“NO, THANK GOD I’M A BAPTIST.”
[laughter]
THE WORD CHRISTIAN
IN THE EARLY DAYS
WAS USED IN DERISION.
IT WAS A TERM OF REPROACH.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE A WRONG IDEA
ABOUT WHAT A CHRISTIAN IS.
THEY THINK THAT A CHRISTIAN
IS A PERSON WHO PRAYS,
WHO LIVES BY
THE GOLDEN RULE, WHO IS SINCERE,
WHO GOES TO CHURCH,
AND WHO KEEPS
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
ALL THOSE ARE GOOD THINGS.
THEY’RE PRODUCTS, MANY TIMES,
OF BEING A CHRISTIAN,
BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE
YOU A CHRISTIAN.
THAT DOESN’T REALLY MAKE YOU
A TRUE FOLLOWER OF
JESUS CHRIST.
A CHRISTIAN IS ONE
THAT THREE THINGS
HAS TAKEN PLACE IN HIS LIFE.
FIRST, HE HAS MADE A CHOICE.
ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE BIBLE
WE’RE ASKED TO MAKE A CHOICE.
ADAM AND EVE
MADE THE WRONG CHOICE,
AND IT AFFECTED
THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE,
BECAUSE THEY SINNED AGAINST GOD
AND THAT BECAME A DISEASE
THAT WENT FROM GENERATION
TO GENERATION
AND YOU AND I HAVE A DISEASE
THAT’S GOING TO END
IN PHYSICAL DEATH AND
SPIRITUAL DEATH
UNLESS WE TURN TO CHRIST.
EVERY CHOICE WE MAKE
AFFECTS OTHER PEOPLE.
IN DEUTERONOMY
THE 30th CHAPTER
MOSES CALLED UPON
THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
“I CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH
“TO RECORD THIS DAY AGAINST YOU,
“THAT I’VE SET BEFORE YOU
“LIFE AND DEATH,
“BLESSING AND CURSING.
“THEREFORE, CHOOSE LIFE
“THAT BOTH THOU AND
“THY SEED MAY LIVE.”
CHOOSE!
JOSHUA , THE 24th CHAPTER,
JOSHUA SAID TO THE PEOPLE,
“CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY
“WHOM YOU ARE GOING TO SERVE.”
I’M ASKING YOU TONIGHT
TO MAKE A CHOICE.
MANY OF YOU HAVE
A CHOICE TO MAKE.
I TALKED TO A MAN
ON THE TELEPHONE THIS AFTERNOON
AND I ASKED HIM STRAIGHT OUT:
“WILL YOU RECEIVE
CHRIST AS SAVIOR?”
HE SAID, “NOT NOW,
I’M GOING TO THINK IT OVER.
“I HAVE TOO MANY
QUESTIONS TO ASK,”
AND HE MADE A CHOICE,
BUT HE SAID,
“I’LL WATCH ON TELEVISION,”
AND I’M PRAYING THAT
HE’LL MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.
IN I KINGS , THE 18th CHAPTER,
ELIJAH SAID TO
ALL THE PEOPLE:
“HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO
HALT BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS?
“IF THE LORD GOD BE GOD
FOLLOW HIM.
“IF THE DEVIL IS GOD
SERVE HIM.”
JESUS SAID, “ENTER YE IN
AT THE STRAIGHT GATE,
“FOR WIDE IS THE GATE
AND BROAD IS THE WAY
“THAT LEADETH TO DESTRUCTION,
AND MANY THERE BE THAT GO
“THEREIN BECAUSE STRAIGHT
IS THE GATE AND NARROW IS
“THE WAY WHICH
LEADETH TO LIFE
“AND FEW THERE BE
THAT FIND IT.”
THINK OF IT.
JESUS SAID IT’S
A NARROW GATE,
IT’S A NARROW ROAD
FOR ETERNAL LIFE,
AND ONLY A FEW PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO FIND IT.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO BE ON THE BROAD ROAD
THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION
AND JUDGMENT AND HELL.
WHICH ROAD ARE YOU ON TONIGHT?
YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE
BEFORE YOU LEAVE HERE.
AND THEN SECONDLY,
A CHRISTIAN IS A PERSON
WHO HAS MADE A CHANGE,
A CHANGE IN THE WAY YOU LIVE.
THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES
INTO YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU
RECEIVE CHRIST AND HE GIVES YOU
THE POWER TO CHANGE
YOUR WHOLE WAY OF LIFE.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“THEREFORE IF ANY MAN
“BE IN CHRIST,
HE IS A NEW CREATION.
“OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY,
“BEHOLD ALL THINGS
HAVE BECOME NEW.”
YOUR MIND, YOUR EMOTIONS,
YOUR WILL ARE ALL INVOLVED
IN THAT CHANGE AND IT AFFECTS
YOUR WHOLE LIFE
WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE MADE
STATEMENTS ABOUT
THIS VERY THING.
FREUD SAID, “PEOPLE CHANGE BY
RENEWING THEIR FIXATIONS.”
ADLER, THE GREAT PSYCHIATRIST,
USED TO SAY,
“PEOPLE CHANGE BY RENEWING
THEIR GOALS.”
ROLLO MAY USED TO SAY
THEY CHANGE BY
“RENEWING THEIR EFFORTS
TOWARDS SELF REALIZATION.”
BUT GOD SAYS PEOPLE
CHANGE BY RENEWING THEIR MINDS.
THE BIBLE HAS A LOT
TO SAY ABOUT THE MIND.
WHEN YOU COME TO
JESUS CHRIST,
YOU DON’T COMMIT
INTELLECTUAL SUICIDE.
YOU COME TO CHRIST
WITH YOUR MIND
AND YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND
AND THAT’S REPENTANCE.
YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND
TOWARD GOD,
YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND
TOWARD SIN.
YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND
TOWARD YOURSELF.
AND YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND
TOWARD YOUR NEIGHBOR
AND YOU BEGIN TO LOVE
YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
THE BIBLE IS VERY CLEAR.
TO CHANGE FROM A DEFEATED,
PROBLEM ORIENTED PERSON
DEPENDS ON FIRST
CHANGING THE MIND.
BECAUSE OUR PROBLEMS,
EMOTIONAL UPSETS AND
FEELINGS AND BEHAVIOR AND
GOALS ARE ALL ROOTED IN
WRONG BASIC BELIEFS
ABOUT HOW TO MEET
OUR PERSONAL NEEDS
IN CHRIST.
THE THIRD THING…
A CHRISTIAN IS A PERSON WHO
HAS ACCEPTED A CHALLENGE.
JESUS SAID, “IF ANY MAN
WILL COME AFTER ME,
“LET HIM DENY HIMSELF AND
TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY
“AND FOLLOW ME.”
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE
LOOKING FOR A CHALLENGE?
IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME,
THE FIRST THING HE MUST DO IS
DENY SELF.
YOUR OWN SELFISH AMBITIONS.
YOUR OWN SELF GOALS.
AND YOU MUST COME
TO THE CROSS,
WHERE CHRIST DIED FOR YOU
AND SHED HIS BLOOD.
BECAUSE YOU SEE,
YOU AND I ARE SINNERS.
WE’VE ALL BROKEN GOD’S LAW
AND WE DESERVE JUDGMENT.
WE DESERVE HELL.
WE ARE GOING TO
END UP IN HELL.
WE’RE GOING TO END UP
AT THE JUDGMENT,
BUT CHRIST CAME
ON THE CROSS,
AND BY HIS STRIPES
WE ARE HEALED.
WHEN THEY TOOK THOSE LONG
LEATHER THONGS WITH
STEEL PELLETS AND BEAT HIM
ACROSS THE BACK,
HE WAS DOING THAT FOR YOU.
WHEN THEY PUT THOSE NAILS
IN HIS HANDS,
HE WAS DOING IT FOR YOU.
WHEN THEY PUT THAT SPEAR
IN HIS SIDE
HE WAS DOING IT FOR YOU.
HE WENT TO HELL FOR YOU.
HE TOOK YOUR JUDGMENT
AND YOUR HELL,
SO THAT YOU’LL NEVER HAVE TO
SPEND ONE MINUTE IN HELL,
AND YOU’LL NEVER HAVE TO FACE
THE GREAT JUDGMENT OF GOD.
THAT’S HOW MUCH
GOD LOVES YOU.
GOD LOVES YOU.
[applause]
BUT HE ROSE AGAIN.
WE DON’T WORSHIP A CHRIST
WHO’S STILL ON A CROSS.
WE WORSHIP A LIVING CHRIST.
THAT’S WHAT EASTER
IS ALL ABOUT.
BUT GOD SAYS, THAT IF
YOU’RE TO FOLLOW HIM,
YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO
TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY .
EVERY MORNING,
WHEN YOU GET UP,
YOU TAKE UP YOUR CROSS.
NOW WHAT IS YOUR CROSS?
THE CROSS IS THE FACT
THAT JESUS
WENT OUT TO DIE
ON THE CROSS.
IT WAS LIKE SAYING,
TAKE UP THE ELECTRIC CHAIR
AND FOLLOW ME TODAY.
TAKE UP THE GALLOWS
AND FOLLOW ME.
YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF WITH
CHRIST, OPENLY AND PUBLICLY,
AND YOU’RE NOT
ASHAMED OF CHRIST.
THAT’S WHAT IT MEANS.
HE WOULD WALK
DOWN THE STREET
AND HE WOULD CALL MEN, AND
THEY WOULD FOLLOW HIM.
NOW SOME YOUNG PEOPLE
HERE TONIGHT,
RESIST THE IDEA OF CHOICE
OF ANY SORT.
WE’VE BEEN CALLED THE GENERATION
OF THE UNCOMMITTED.
THEY DON’T WANT TO BE
CALLED NARROW.
THEY DON’T WANT TO
CLOSE THEIR MINDS.
CHRIST TAUGHT CLEARLY THAT
THERE ARE TWO ROADS,
TWO MASTERS AND
TWO DESTINIES.
WE CANNOT TRAVEL BOTH ROADS,
SO WE AVOID THE CHOICE
AS LONG AS WE CAN.
THERE’S DEATH
IN EVERY CHOICE.
YOU DIE TO ONE ROAD
WHEN YOU GO DOWN THE OTHER.
LIFE NEVER ALLOWS NEUTRALITY
WITHOUT EXACTING A PRICE.
TRY TO BE NEUTRAL
IN POLITICS,
AND ONE DAY YOU’LL BE
CONFRONTED WITH
THE BALLOT BOX.
TRY TO BE NEUTRAL ABOUT
THE RACE PROBLEM,
AND YOU’LL BE CONFRONTED
IN YOUR BLOCK,
IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD,
OR ON YOUR STREET
OR IN YOUR SCHOOL.
AND SOMEDAY IT WILL
COME TO YOU.
YOU CAN’T BE NON-INVOLVED
IN THE ISSUES OF OUR DAY,
AND THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS
OF OUR DAY.
YOU CAN’T BE INVOLVED WITH
THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
THAT WALK THE STREETS
OF KING COUNTY
WITH NO PLACE TO SLEEP
AND NOTHING, AND
VERY LITTLE TO EAT.
WE HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
THAT’S THE REASON WE HAVE
LOVE IN ACTION.
WE KNOW WE CAN’T FEED ALL
OF THE HUNGRY PEOPLE.
BUT WE DO IT AS
AN EXAMPLE AS TO WHAT
CHURCHES OUGHT TO BE
DOING ALL THE TIME.
WE OUGHT TO BE EXTENDING
A HELPING HAND
TO HELP ALL OF THOSE
THAT ARE IN NEED.
[applause]
SOME PEOPLE DON’T WANT
TO BE INVOLVED
IN THEIR NEIGHBOR’S PROBLEMS.
THERE IS A TIME, THOUGH,
WHEN YOU MUST STAND UP
AND BE COUNTED.
JESUS CHRIST DEMANDS
THAT YOU DECIDE,
DECIDE ABOUT HIM.
PILATE ASKED, “WHAT SHALL
I DO THEN WITH JESUS,
“WHICH IS CALLED CHRIST?”
PILATE WASHED HIS HANDS.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE
A DECISION ABOUT CHRIST.
“WHOM DO MEN SAY THAT I,
THE SON OF MAN, AM?”
AND SIMON PETER
ANSWERED AND SAID:
“YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON
OF THE LIVING GOD.”
NOW SOME ARE RELUCTANT
TO MAKE THE CHOICE FOR CHRIST
BECAUSE OF THEOLOGY.
YOU DON’T WANT TO
ACCEPT ALL OF THE THINGS
THAT THE SCRIPTURE TEACHES
ABOUT GOD, AND ABOUT CHRIST,
EVEN ABOUT GOD HIMSELF.
THE BIBLE SAYS, “I AM
THE LORD GOD, I CHANGE NOT.”
THE BIBLE SAYS GOD
IS A GOD OF LOVE.
AND THEN THERE
COMES THE BIBLE.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO
ABOUT THE BIBLE?
I CAN’T ACCEPT THE BIBLE.
JOB SAYS, “I’VE ESTEEMED
THE WORDS OF HIS MOUTH
“MORE THAN MY NECESSARY FOOD.”
IN II TIMOTHY
THE THIRD CHAPTER, IT SAYS
“ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN
BY INSPIRATION OF GOD.”
THE BIBLE IS
THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD.
I DON’T EVER SPEND
FIVE MINUTES WONDERING WHETHER
THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD OR NOT.
I ACCEPTED THIS BY FAITH
YEARS AGO,
AND I’VE NEVER HAD A DOUBT
ABOUT IT SINCE.
[applause]
WHEN YOU ACCEPT IT BY FAITH,
NOTHING CAN MOVE YOU.
THERE ARE THINGS
I DON’T UNDERSTAND IN THE BIBLE.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT
ARE ALMOST
APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS,
BUT THEY’RE NOT.
I JUST ACCEPT IT AS
GOD’S WORD BY FAITH.
MY PROBLEM IS, NOT THE THINGS
I DON’T UNDERSTAND
IN THE BIBLE, IT’S THE THINGS
I DO UNDERSTAND.
THINGS THAT I DO UNDERSTAND
THAT I OUGHT TO BE DOING
IN OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST.
THAT’S WHAT DISTURBS ME.
AND THEN THERE ARE A LOT
OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT SAY,
“WELL, I’VE HEARD
ABOUT CONVERSION,
“AND YOU WANT US
TO BE CONVERTED.”
YES, BECAUSE JESUS SAID,
“EXCEPT YE BE CONVERTED
“AND BECOME AS
LITTLE CHILDREN,
“YOU CAN’T SEE
THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”
WHAT DOES CONVERSION MEAN?
IT JUST MEANS TURN AROUND.
I’M GOING THIS DIRECTION–
I TURN AND I START
THIS DIRECTION IN MY LIFE.
THAT’S CONVERSION.
JUST CHANGING OVER.
THAT’S ALL IT MEANS.
DON’T MAKE A BIG THING
OUT OF IT.
BUT IT IS A BIG THING
BECAUSE IT DEPENDS,
YOUR ETERNITY DEPENDS ON
WHETHER YOU’VE BEEN
REALLY CONVERTED OR NOT.
YOU HAVE TO BE CONVERTED
INSIDE, IN YOUR HEART,
NOT JUST THE OUTWARD THINGS.
MANY PEOPLE THINK YOU’RE
A GOOD PERSON BECAUSE
YOU GO TO CHURCH,
YOU’VE BEEN BAPTIZED
OR MAYBE YOU’VE BEEN
CONFIRMED IN YOUR CHURCH.
BUT YOU NEED TO COME
AND RECONFIRM
YOUR CONFIRMATION VOWS;
YOU NEED TO COME AND
RECONFIRM THE BAPTISM VOWS
THAT YOU TOOK OR
THE BAPTISM VOWS THAT
YOUR PARENTS TOOK.
YOU NEED TO COME AND MAKE
CHRIST REAL IN YOUR OWN LIFE.
AND THEN SOME REFUSE CHRIST
BECAUSE OF THE CHURCH.
HOW MANY TIMES
I HEAR THE WORD,
“WELL, THE CHURCH IS
FULL OF HYPOCRITES.”
WELL, THERE’S HYPOCRITES
IN EVERY AREA OF LIFE.
I WAS BORN AND REARED
ON A DAIRY FARM,
AND WE SOLD MILK.
AND WE WOULD DISTRIBUTE
THE MILK TO THE VARIOUS
CUSTOMERS, AND WE’D GET UP
EARLY IN THE MORNING
AND SEND OUR LITTLE
DAIRY TRUCKS OUT.
AND I WOULD MILK THE COWS,
AND SOMETIMES I’D GO
ON THE TRUCK,
AND WE HAD SEVERAL DAIRIES
IN OUR AREA,
AND SO WHEN THE PRICE
OF MILK GOT SO LOW,
THE FARMERS BEGAN TO
PUT WATER IN THE MILK.
NOW, THERE WERE HYPOCRITES
IN THE MILK BUSINESS.
BUT THAT DID NOT MEAN THAT
THERE WERE NOT SOME REAL ONES.
MY FATHER WOULD NEVER STOOP
TO SUCH A THING AS THAT.
NOW THE ONE REQUIREMENT
FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH
IS THAT YOU ARE UNWORTHY TO
BE A MEMBER.
CHRIST HIMSELF
FOUNDED THE CHURCH.
THE CHURCH IS MADE UP OF
SINNERS THAT HAVE BEEN
SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
THERE’S NO SUCH THING
AS A PERFECT CHURCH.
IF YOU FIND A PERFECT CHURCH,
AND YOU JOIN IT,
IT BECOMES IMPERFECT.
[laughter]
THE CHURCH IS FOR FELLOWSHIP.
THE CHURCH IS FOR
STRENGTHENING OUR FAITH.
THE CHURCH HAS MANY THINGS
THAT IT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO YOU.
BUT THERE’S ANOTHER REASON
THAT WE SOMETIMES SAY
WE DON’T WANT TO
COME TO CHRIST.
WE DON’T WANT TO
PAY THE PRICE.
IF YOU WANT AN EDUCATION,
YOU’LL DENY ANYTHING TO GET IT.
IF YOU WANT WEALTH,
YOU’LL GIVE UP ALL SORTS
OF THINGS TO ATTAIN IT.
NOW, GOD GAVE
THE VERY BEST HE HAD FOR YOU.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
HE SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“THE WORLD PASSES AWAY,
AND THE LUST THEREOF,
“BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL
OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER.”
“WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN,
IF HE GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD
“AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?”
AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER
YOUNG PEOPLE THAT
ARE AFRAID OF BEING
MISUNDERSTOOD AND RIDICULED.
DO NOT WANT TO BE IN SUCH
A SMALL MINORITY.
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT
THERE MAY BE PERSECUTION.
THERE WILL BE.
YOU WILL BE MISUNDERSTOOD.
YOU WILL BE AN OUTSIDER
IN MANY GROUPS
AND PEER PRESSURE IS
SO POWERFUL TODAY
IN THE VARIOUS SCHOOL LEVELS
WHETHER IT’S THE UNIVERSITY
OR WHETHER IT’S THE HIGH SCHOOL.
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT
YOU MAY BE AN OUTSIDER.
AND YOU MAY HAVE TO SEEK
SOME NEW FRIENDS,
BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT HAPPENS IS
WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST
YOU ENTER A WHOLE NEW
SOCIAL WORLD.
AND YOU WILL FIND THAT
YOU WILL HAVE
BROTHERS AND SISTERS
IN EVERY COUNTRY OF THE WORLD.
IT’S A GREAT FRATERNITY
THAT WE JOIN
WHEN WE COME TO CHRIST.
AND IT MAY NOT BE JUST
EPISCOPALIANS OR BAPTISTS
OR METHODISTS OR
PENTECOSTALISTS OR
PRESBYTERIANS
OR CATHOLIC.
IT MAY BE WE JUST ARE
“CHRIST ONES.”
I’VE BEEN ALL OVER–
WELL, NOT ALL OVER THE WORLD,
BUT MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD–
AND I’VE MET PEOPLE
THAT WERE ABSOLUTE
STRANGERS TO ME,
BUT THE MOMENT WE MET
WE WERE BROTHERS.
YOU MIGHT NOT BE INVITED
TO CERTAIN PARTIES.
YOU MIGHT NOT BE INVITED
TO CERTAIN THINGS,
AND YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY
A PRICE FOR A LITTLE WHILE
‘TIL YOU MAKE NEW FRIENDS
AMONG BELIEVERS.
TO FOLLOW CHRIST MAY BE
COSTLY BUSINESS.
BUT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID,
“YEA, AND ALL THAT WILL
“LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS
SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION.”
THAT’S A PART OF THE COST.
IT’S NOT EASY TO FOLLOW CHRIST
IN 1991 IN AMERICA.
IT’S HARD.
IT COSTS SOMETHING.
AND THEN THERE ARE
MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
THAT JUST PUT IT OFF.
YOU SAY, “I’M GONNA
WAIT ‘TIL ANOTHER TIME.”
PROVERBS 27 SAYS,
“BOAST NOT THYSELF OF TOMORROW
“FOR YOU KNOW NOT WHAT A DAY
WILL BRING FORTH.”
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“BEHOLD NOW IS
THE ACCEPTED TIME,
“BEHOLD NOW IS THE DAY
OF SALVATION.”
IN LILLIAN ROTH’S STORY,
IN HER BOOK
I’LL CRY TOMORROW ,
AT A CERTAIN POINT,
SHE HAD THIS TO SAY:
“I’M AN ALCOHOLIC
AND I NEED HELP.”
YOU NEED TO SAY TONIGHT,
“I HAVE SINNED AGAINST GOD
AND I NEED HELP.
“I WANT TO KNOW
I’M GOING TO HAVEN.
“I WANT TO KNOW
MY SINS ARE FORGIVEN.
“I WANT TO BE SURE
IF I DIED NOW
“THAT I WOULD GO
STRAIGHT INTO HEAVEN.”
WILL YOU SAY THAT TONIGHT?
AND IF YOU’RE NOT CERTAIN
OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST
TONIGHT, I’M GOING
TO ASK YOU TO MAKE SURE,
SO THAT YOU CAN LEAVE HERE
AND SAY,
“I KNOW THAT CHRIST
LIVES INSIDE OF ME.”
AND I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
IN A MOMENT TO GET UP OUT
OF YOUR SEAT AND SAY THAT.
YOU MUST MAKE
THAT COMMITMENT.
DON’T SIT ON THE FENCE
ANY LONGER.
JUST STAND OUT AND SAY,
“I’M COMING.”
A YOUNG MAN RECOVERING
FROM A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
IN WHICH HE NEARLY DIED,
SAW THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE
IN SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND
FOR A CRUSADE.
AND HE SAID, “I DON’T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT GOD
“BUT I OUGHT TO
HEAR THAT MAN.”
SO HE CAME.
HE DID, AND HE ACCEPTED CHRIST
AND HE TOLD HIS COUNSELOR,
“I ALMOST DIED
WITHOUT FAITH.”
WHEN WE WERE IN
ONE OF THE PLACES,
I FORGET, SOME CITY,
THERE WAS A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL
THAT GAVE HER LIFE TO CHRIST
AND THE NEXT NIGHT,
SHE FOUND HER COUNSELOR
AND SAID, “I WANT TO GIVE YOU
A CHANGE OF ADDRESS.
“I’M GOING BACK TO
LIVE WITH MY PARENTS.
“THEY CAME HERE TONIGHT,
AND WE WERE RECONCILED.”
GEORGE WILLIAMS,
WHO FOUNDED THE YMCA
CAME TO CHRIST IN
THE 19th CENTURY
IN ENGLAND’S WEST COUNTRY,
AND HE WROTE THIS:
“I CANNOT DESCRIBE TO YOU
THE JOY AND THE PEACE
“WHICH FLOWED INTO MY SOUL,
WHEN FIRST I SAW
“THAT THE LORD JESUS HAD
DIED FOR MY SINS,
“AND THAT THEY WERE
ALL FORGIVEN.”
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST?
ARE YOU CERTAIN OF IT?
IF THERE’S A DOUBT IN
YOUR HEART AND MIND,
MAKE SURE TONIGHT.
I READ THE LIFE STORY,
SOME YEARS AGO,
OF FRANCISCO PIZARRO.
IT BROUGHT BACK TO MIND TODAY
WHEN I WAS READING
ABOUT THE TROUBLE
THEY ARE HAVING IN PERU.
IN THE 16th CENTURY,
HE CONQUERED PERU.
IN THE MIDST OF
GREAT DIFFICULTIES,
WHEN HE ONLY HAD
A HANDFUL OF MEN LEFT,
HE DREW A LINE WITH
HIS SWORD ON THE GROUND.
ONE WAY WAS TO PERU,
WITH RICHES AND DANGER
AND THE OTHER WAS BACK
TOWARD PANAMA
WHERE THEIR SHIPS WERE
AND SECURITY.
HE CHOSE TO MARCH
SOUTH TO PERU,
AND BECAME THE FOUNDER
OF THAT GREAT NATION.
TONIGHT, YOU STAND AT
THE CROSSROADS OF YOUR LIFE.
YOU STEP ACROSS THAT LINE
THAT HAS BEEN DRAWN
IN THE SAND
BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
AND HE SAYS,
“REPENT OF YOUR SIN;
“BE CONVERTED.
“COME TO ME.
“I WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE,
“I’LL MAKE YOU A NEW PERSON.
“I’LL GIVE YOU A NEW POWER,
“A NEW JOY.
“A NEW PEACE,
A NEW HAPPINESS.”
I’M GOING TO
ASK YOU TO COME.
AND BY COMING,
YOU ARE SAYING,
“I OPEN MY HEART AND
GIVE MY LIFE TO CHRIST.
“I WANT A CHANGE
IN MY LIFE.”
GET UP AND COME.
I’M GOING TO ASK THAT
NO ONE LEAVE, PLEASE.
[applause]
♪ JUST AS I AM
WITHOUT ONE PLEA ♪
AS HUNDREDS ARE COMING
FORWARD TO RESPOND TO
MR. GRAHAM’S INVITATION
TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO
JESUS CHRIST,
YOU CAN MAKE
THAT SAME COMMITMENT
RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.
JUST PICK UP THE PHONE
AND CALL THE NUMBER
YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.
SPECIAL FRIENDS ARE WAITING
TO TALK WITH YOU
AND TO PRAY WITH YOU ABOUT
THIS MOST IMPORTANT DECISION,
SO PLEASE DON’T WAIT.
MAKE THAT CALL NOW.
IF THE LINE IS BUSY
WRITE THE NUMBER DOWN
AND CALL AGAIN LATER.
♪ OH, LAMB OF GOD,
I COME ♪
♪ I COME ♪♪
I WANT TO SAY A WORD
TO YOU THAT HAVE BEEN
WATCHING BY TELEVISION.
YOU HAVE BEEN HERE IN
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
WITH US IN
THIS GREAT KINGDOME,
ONE OF THE GREAT STADIUMS
OF THE WORLD.
AND WE’VE SEEN
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
COME TO CHRIST TONIGHT.
SIMPLY, NOT KNOWING
ALL ABOUT IT,
BUT COMING TO OFFER THEMSELVES
TO JESUS CHRIST
AND PRAYING AND HOPING
THAT THERE’LL BE
A CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES.
THERE WILL BE,
WITH CHRIST IN THEIR LIVES.
YOU CAN MAKE THAT SAME
COMMITMENT WHERE YOU ARE.
YOU MAKE THE COMMITMENT NOW
AND SAY YES TO CHRIST.
HE’LL COME INTO
YOUR HEART.
AND SAY LORD, “I WANT A CHANGE
TO TAKE PLACE IN ME;
“IN THE RELATIONS
WITH MY FAMILY, MY WIFE,
“MY HUSBAND, MY CHILDREN,
MY PARENTS.
“I NEED YOU LORD,
AND I WANT YOU TO COME IN.”
HE’LL FORGIVE YOUR SIN.
HE’LL GIVE YOU
THE ASSURANCE THAT
YOU’RE GOING TO HEAVEN
WHEN YOU DIE.
GIVE YOUR LIFE
TO HIM TONIGHT.
IF YOU JUST PRAYED THAT PRAYER
WITH MY FATHER,
OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP
WITH JESUS CHRIST,
WHY DON’T YOU CALL
THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN.
THERE WILL BE SOMEONE THERE TO
TALK WITH YOU, PRAY WITH YOU AND
ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND REMEMBER,
GOD LOVES YOU!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMIT
YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST,
PLEASE CALL US RIGHT NOW,
TOLL FREE AT
1-877-772-4559.
THAT’S 1-877-772-4559.
OR YOU CAN WRITE TO US AT:
BILLY GRAHAM
1 BILLY GRAHAM PARKWAY
DEPARTMENT C
CHARLOTTE, NC 28201
OR YOU CAN CONTACT US ON THE WEB
24/7 AT PEACEWITHGOD.TV.
WE’LL GET THE SAME HELPS TO YOU
THAT WE GIVE TO EVERYONE
WHO RESPONDS AT THE INVITATION.
ON BEHALF OF
FRANKLIN GRAHAM AND
THE BILLY GRAHAM
EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.
(Billy Graham)
I KNOW MANY PEOPLE
THAT HAVE TRIED
EVERYTHING IN LIFE
AND THEY’VE NOT FOUND
SATISFACTION,
INWARD PEACE,
JOY, ASSURANCE
AND SECURITY.
AND THEY’RE STILL SEARCHING.
YOU’LL NEVER FIND PEACE
AND JOY AND HAPPINESS
UNTIL YOU YIELD
YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST.
YOU NEVER WILL.
YOU HAVE A MOMENT
RIGHT NOW.
THE BIBLE SAYS,
“NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME,
“TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.”
PEOPLE ARE SEACHING
FOR THE ANSWERS.
YOU MUST MAKE THE CHOICE.
IT’S URGENT!
We are to wait for the coming
of Christ with patience,
(echo) patience,
patience, patience.
We are to watch
with anticipation.
The Scripture says,
Christ is coming when
you’re least expecting him.
Coming as a thief.
He said, be prepared.
Get ready.
Prepare to meet thy God.
Are you prepared?
YOU’RE INVITED ON
A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY.
AT THE BILLY GRAHAM LIBRARY.
RETRACE BILLY GRAHAM’S PATH
FROM HUMBLE FARM BOY
TO INTERNATIONAL AMBASSADOR
OF GOD’S LOVE,
THROUGH MULTI-MEDIA,
PHOTOS AND MEMORABILIA.
BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
IS LOVE.
TOUR THE RESTORED
GRAHAM FAMILY HOME PLACE,
BROWSE RUTH’S ATTIC BOOKSTORE
AND HAVE A MEAL AT
THE GRAHAM BROTHERS DAIRY BARN.
ENJOY SPECIAL EXHIBITS,
EVENTS AND SEASONAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
ADMISSION IS FREE SO COME,
WALK THIS JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
AT THE BILLY GRAHAM LIBRARY.