You can either run away from God or run toward Him. It’s your choice. Listen to Billy Graham explain in this 1981 sermon from Calgary, Canada. Watch more #MondayNightClassics every Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES…
THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.
TONIGHT I WANT YOU
TO TURN WITH ME
TO THE 16TH CHAPTER
OF MATTHEW’S GOSPEL.
THE 16TH CHAPTER
OF MATTHEW’S GOSPEL,
VERSE ONE.
AND I WANT TO TALK TONIGHT
ON JONAH AND THE WHALE.
BUT I WANT TO START
FROM THE 16TH OF MATTHEW ,
RATHER THAN
THE OLD TESTAMENT
WHERE THE STORY
OF JONAH IS TOLD.
“THE PHARISEES ALSO WITH
THE SADDUCEES CAME,
“AND TEMPTING DESIRED HIM
THAT HE WOULD SHOW THEM
“A SIGN FROM HEAVEN.”
THEY WANTED TO SEE
SOMETHING SPECTACULAR.
SOME SIGN THAT WOULD
PROVE TO THEM WHO HE WAS.
“HE ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO
THEM, WHEN IT IS EVENING,
“YE SAY, IT WILL BE FAIR
WEATHER: FOR THE SKY IS RED.
“AND IN THE MORNING,
IT WILL BE FOUL WEATHER TODAY,
“FOR THE SKY IS RED
AND LOWERING.
“O YE HYPOCRITES,
YE CAN DISCERN
THE FACE OF THE SKY;
“BUT CAN YE NOT DISCERN
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES?”
WE NEED TO HEAR THAT TODAY.
WE CAN DISCERN
THE METEOROLOGICAL SIGNS.
WE SEE ON OUR TELEVISION SETS
THE PREDICTION OF THE WEATHER,
THE LOWS AND THE HIGHS
AND THE FRONTS
THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH.
AND WE CAN PRETTY WELL
PREDICT THE WEATHER
THROUGH THE SATELLITE PICTURES
THAT WE’RE NOW ABLE TO TAKE.
AND THERE ARE MANY SIGNS
IN THE SKIES AS SATELLITES
ARE CIRCLING THIS EARTH
CONSTANTLY.
SOMETHING WE NEVER DREAMED OF
25 YEARS AGO.
AND NOW WE’RE PROBING
THE OUTSKIRTS OF SATURN.
ALREADY FINISHED PROBING MARS.
AND GOING ON INTO OUTER SPACE.
SIGNS IN THE SKY.
WE CAN DISCERN THAT.
WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT JESUS SAID,
“YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND
“THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.”
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
THAT POINT TOWARD SALVATION.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
THAT POINT TOWARD
WHEN HE COMES BACK AGAIN.
BECAUSE THE SIGNS
ARE EVERYWHERE.
YOU TAKE THE 24TH CHAPTER
OF MATTHEW AND READ IT.
TAKE THE 21ST CHAPTER
OF LUKE AND READ IT.
TAKE THE 13TH CHAPTER
OF MARK AND READ IT.
AND YOU’LL SEE THERE,
21 SIGNS THAT JESUS GAVE US
AND HE INDICATED WHEN ALL
OF THESE ARE CONVERGING
AT ONE TIME YOU KNOW THAT
YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWS NIGH.
WORLD PEACE IS
GOING TO COME.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
IS GOING TO COME.
BUT BEFORE THEN,
THERE’LL BE ARMAGEDDON.
AND MAN WILL BE ABOUT
READY TO DESTROY HIMSELF
WHEN CHRIST COMES BACK
AND GOING TO SET UP
AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM.
WHO’S GOING TO DEFEAT THE DEVIL?
WHO’S GOING TO STOP THE WARS?
WHO’S GOING TO FEED THE HUNGRY?
HE IS.
JESUS SAID, “YOU CAN DISCERN
THE METEOROLOGICAL SIGNS,
“BUT YOU DON’T SEEM
TO UNDERSTAND
“WHAT IS HAPPENING
IN THE WORLD.”
HE SAID, “A WICKED AND
ADULTEROUS GENERATION
“SEEKETH AFTER A SIGN.
“AND THERE SHALL NO
SIGN BE GIVEN UNTO IT
“BUT THE SIGN OF
THE PROPHET JONAH.”
AND THE BOOK OF JONAH IS
FILLED WITH THE SUPERNATURAL.
THERE WAS A GREAT FISH.
THERE WAS A GOURD.
THERE WAS A WORM.
THERE WAS AN EAST WIND.
ALL OF THAT
PREPARED BY GOD.
AND THEN THERE WAS
THE REPENTANCE OF
AN ENTIRE NATION,
OR AN ENTIRE CITY
WITH OVER
A MILLION POPULATION.
AND AS SOMEONE HAS SAID,
IT REMAINS AN OBJECT OF FAITH
NOT EXPLANATION.
I BELIEVE IT NOT ONLY BECAUSE
IT’S IN THE BIBLE,
I BELIEVE IT BECAUSE
JESUS CONFIRMED IT.
IF IT NEVER HAPPENED AND
JESUS SAID IT HAPPENED,
THEN THAT BRINGS ABOUT
A CREDIBILITY PROBLEM
WITH JESUS.
IF YOU BELIEVE JESUS,
YOU MUST BELIEVE
THE STORY OF JONAH.
AND THERE’S A TREMENDOUS
TRUTHS IN THIS LITTLE BOOK
THAT I WISH I HAD
TIME TO COVER TONIGHT.
BUT I DON’T HAVE
TIME FOR ALL OF THEM.
WE GET SO CONCERNED WHEN
WE COME TO THE BOOK OF JONAH
ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING
TO THE FISH,
THAT WE FORGET ABOUT WHAT
WAS HAPPENING TO JONAH.
YOU SEE, JONAH WAS TRYING
TO FIND THE WILL OF GOD
FOR HIS LIFE.
NOW GOD’S WORD TO
JONAH WAS VERY CLEAR.
GOD SAID, “ARISE,
GO TO NINEVEH,
“THAT GREAT CITY,
AND CRY AGAINST IT
“FOR THEIR WICKEDNESS
HAS COME UP BEFORE ME.”
NOW JONAH DIDN’T LIKE
THAT ORDER FROM GOD.
HE REBELLED AT THE VERY THOUGHT
OF GOING TO NINEVEH.
FIRST OF ALL, I DON’T EXPECT
HE FOUND MUCH GLAMOUR
IN BEING A PREACHER OF JUDGMENT.
SAYING, “THE JUDGMENT IS GOING
TO FALL ON YOU.”
BUT THE SECOND AND
MOST IMPORTANT REASON WAS,
HE DID NOT WANT GOD
TO SPARE NINEVEH.
THERE’S PROBABLY NEVER BEEN
A MORE WICKED, A MORE GODLESS,
A MORE IMMORAL,
A MORE VIOLENT PEOPLE
THAN THE ASSYRIANS THAT DWELT
AT NINEVEH.
HE SAID, “GOD,
THEY DESERVE HELL.
“GET RID OF THEM!
“KILL ‘EM ALL!”
THAT WAS HOW JONAH FELT.
THEY WERE SO WICKED AND
SO AWFUL AND
THEY’D BEEN SO TERRIBLE
TO HIS OWN PEOPLE.
SO WHEN GOD GAVE THE ORDER
FOR HIM TO GO AND
PREACH REPENTANCE IN NINEVEH,
IT SAYS THAT JONAH FLED
FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.
HE SAID, “I JUST CAN’T DO IT.”
HE SAID, “I’M GONNA RUN
FROM GOD, I CAN HIDE FROM GOD.”
SO HE GOT A SHIP THAT WAS
GOING DOWN TO TARSHISH.
NOW TARSHISH WAS
A SEASIDE RESORT.
AND HE THOUGH HE’D TO LIE
IN THE SUN A LITTLE WHILE
BESIDE THE BEACH
AND ENJOY HIMSELF.
AND LET GOD SEND SOMEBODY ELSE
TO DO THIS DIRTY WORK
OF PREACHING JUDGMENT
IN NINEVEH.
BUT YOU KNOW THE WAY OF
DISOBEDIENCE AND SIN
ALWAYS LEADS DOWNWARD.
NOTICE IT SAYS,
HE WENT DOWN TO TARSHISH.
AND IT LEADS DOWN TO GUILT
AND LONELINESS
AND SEPARATION AND HELL.
AND EVERY STEP LEADS LOWER.
EVERY TIME YOU FLEE
FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD
YOU’RE IN TROUBLE,
EVERY TIME.
EVERY TIME YOU MISS
YOUR DEVOTIONAL LIFE.
EVERY TIME YOU MISS
YOUR TIME OF PRAYER.
EVERY TIME YOU MISS YOUR TIME
OF READING THE WORD.
AS A CHRISTIAN,
YOU’RE IN TROUBLE.
AND EVERY TIME
YOU HEAR THE GOSPEL
AND DO NOTHING ABOUT IT,
YOU’RE IN TROUBLE.
YOU’RE IN ETERNAL TROUBLE.
BECAUSE LIVING INSIDE
OF YOUR BODY IS A SPIRIT.
AND THAT SPIRIT LIVES FOREVER
EITHER IN HEAVEN OR HELL.
AND YOU’RE TAKING A CHANCE
EVERY TIME YOU HEAR THE GOSPEL
AND DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
ADAM AND EVE FLED
FROM GOD’S WILL.
THEY REBELLED AGAINST GOD
AND THE HUMAN RACE IS
SUFFERING THE EFFECTS TODAY.
SAMSON WAS RAISED UP OF GOD,
A MIGHT MAN, A STRONG MAN,
A MAN OF GOD WHO HAD TAKEN
THE NAZARITE VOW.
BUT SIN LED HIM ASTRAY.
AND FINALLY HE WAS BLINDED,
PUT IN PRISON
AND GROUND AT THE MILL WHEAT.
DAVID,
THE MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART,
ALSO BECAME GUILTY OF SIN.
HE BECAME GUILTY OF ADULTERY
AND GUILTY OF MURDER.
AND HE SUFFERED FOR IT
THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
GOD FORGAVE HIM,
BUT THE SCARS REMAINED.
AND MANY OF YOU ARE TRYING
TO FLEE FROM GOD TONIGHT.
YOU KNOW THAT YOU NEED
A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH CHRIST.
MANY OF YOU GO TO CHURCH.
MOST OF YOU I IMAGINE
IN THIS AUDIENCE TONIGHT
GO TO CHURCH.
MOST OF YOU’VE BEEN BAPTIZED
OR YOU’VE BEEN CONFIRMED
OR WHATEVER
IN YOUR CHURCH.
BUT YOU ARE NOT SURE THAT
CHRIST LIVES IN YOUR HEART.
YOU’RE NOT SURE THAT
YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.
YOU’RE NOT SURE THAT IF
YOU DIED YOU’VE GO TO HEAVEN.
IF YOU HAVE A DOUBT ABOUT IT
YOU OUGHT TO SETTLE IT
THIS VERY NIGHT.
YOU’RE FLEEING FROM GOD.
MANY OF US FLEE BY TRAVEL.
YOU KNOW WE LIVE
ON AIRPLANES AND IN–
THAT IS WHEN THE CONTROLLERS
ALLOW US TO FLY.
AND WE LIVE IN
HOTELS OR MOTELS.
AND WE SEE PEOPLE
TRAVELING IN AIRPORTS,
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
AND I JUST WONDER
WHERE THEY’RE GOING.
MANY PEOPLE ARE SO
RESTLESS TODAY
THAT THEY JUST WANT TO TRAVEL
FROM PLACE TO PLACE.
THEY CAN’T SIT STILL.
WE MET A COUPLE THIS
SUMMER, MY WIFE AND I DID.
AND THEY HAVE HOMES IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.
AND THEY SAID, “WE’RE SO
RESTLESS, WE CAN’T STAND
“ANY PLACE MORE THAN
TWO WEEKS AT A TIME.”
THEN THEY GET ON A JET
AND GO TO ANOTHER PLACE;
RESTLESS, FLEEING.
AND MAY PEOPLE FLEE INTO
THE LUST FOR THINGS.
YOU SEE, PEOPLE JUST BUYING
FOR THE SAKE OF BUYING.
AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT
HAVE BECOME COMPULSIVE SHOPPERS
JUST AS THERE ARE
COMPULSIVE DRINKERS.
HAVE TO BUY.
CANNOT HAVE ANY MONEY
IN THEIR POCKET.
THEY HAVE TO SPEND IT.
I’LL NOT CALL ANY NAMES.
BUT I’M SURE SOME HUSBANDS HERE
MAY BE THINKING ALONG THAT LINE
AND WIVES TOO.
AND THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT
FLEE INTO THE OBSESSION OF SEX.
IT’S BOTH A FAD
AND A PASSION.
AND TODAY WE’RE FILLED WITH IT,
SATURATED WITH IT,
AND GETTING SICK OF IT.
MANY GERMAN YOUNG PEOPLE
WERE SAYING LAST SUMMER
AS QUOTED IN THE PRESS,
“WE’RE SICK OF IT,
“ALL THIS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
AND PERMISSIVENESS.”
AND MANY OF THEM HAVE TURNED TO
VIOLENCE TO FIND THEIR ESCAPE.
AND THEN WE FLEE IN MYSTICISM
AND OCCULTISM.
LIKE SAUL WHO WENT TO
THE WITCH OF ENDOR
INSTEAD OF GOD
WHEN HE NEEDED HELP.
THEN THERE’S THE ESCAPE
INTO PLEASURE.
“SHE THAT LIVETH IN PLEASURE
IS DEAD WHILE SHE LIVETH.”
AND HOW MANY PEOPLE TONIGHT
ARE FLEEING FROM GOD
BY TRYING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME
AND LIVING IN PLEASURE,
NOT KNOWING THAT
YOU’RE DEAD TOWARD GOD?
WE’RE FLEEING.
BUT THE BIBLE SAYS,
“HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE
“IF WE NEGLECT
SO GREAT A SALVATION?”
WHAT IS THE SALVATION?
THE SALVATION IS JESUS CHRIST
COMING ON THE CROSS
AND DYING FOR OUR SINS
AND SHEDDING HIS BLOOD.
“BEING MADE TO BE SIN FOR US
WHO KNEW NO SIN
“THAT WE MAY BE MADE
“THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
IN HIM.”
THE BIBLE SAYS, “ALL WE LIKE
SHEEP WE’VE GONE ASTRAY,
“WE’VE TURNED EVERYONE
TO HIS OWN WAY.”
WE’RE ALL SINNERS.
ADAM AND EVE SINNED
IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.
CAIN AND ABEL,
THEIR SONS, SINNED.
AND THEY PASS THAT DISEASE
OF SIN DOWN TO YOU AND ME.
AND WE ALL HAVE THE DISEASE
IN OUR HEARTS.
WE’RE ALL UNDER CONDEMNATION.
WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE.
WAR DOESN’T NOT INCREASE DEATH.
DEATH IS TOTAL
IN EVERY GENERATION.
WHAT DIRECTION ARE YOU TAKING?
I READ ABOUT A MAN
THAT WAS WALKING THROUGH
THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE
THAT I LIVE IN,
IN NORTH CAROLINA,
WHERE WE LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS.
AND HE REACHED A SIGN POST
AND ONE DIRECTION POINTED
TO A SMOOTH LEVEL HIGHWAY.
BUT THE ROAD–
THE SIGN THAT POINTED TO
THE ROAD THAT HE WANTED TO TAKE
WAS A ROUGH ROAD TO
THE PLACE THAT HE WANTED TO GO.
AND HE HAD A VERY HAPPY THOUGHT.
HE CLIMBED THE SIGN POST
AND CHANGED THE MARKERS.
AND HE NEVER GOT
TO HIS DESTINATION.
AND MANY OF YOU ARE TRYING
TO CHANGE THE MARKERS
ON THE ROAD OF LIFE.
YOU WANT THE EASY, THE LEVEL,
THE PLEASANT ROAD.
BUT THAT ROAD DOES
NOT LEAD TO GOD.
YOU SEE, IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
IT WAS VERY INTERESTING
THAT WHEN A MAN GAVE
HIS HEART TO GOD
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO
BECOME PROSPEROUS.
BUT THE NEW TESTAMENT
TEACHES THE VERY OPPOSITE.
THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHES
THAT’S THERE’S SUFFERING
AND DEATH FOR THOSE THAT
ARE FOLLOWING CHRIST.
IT’S NOT EASY TO BE
A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
IN THIS GENERATION ESPECIALLY.
IT’S HARD
TO FOLLOW CHRIST!
THERE’RE TWO ROADS
OF LIFE JESUS SAID.
“ENTER YE IN AT
THE STRAIGHT GATE.
“FOR WIDE IS THE GATE
AND BROAD IS THE ROAD
“THAT LEADETH TO DESTRUCTION.
“AND MANY THERE BE THAT GO IN
THERE AT,” HE SAID.
“BECAUSE STRAIGHT IS THE GATE
AND NARROW IS THE WAY
“THAT LEADETH UNTO LIFE.
“AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT.”
HE SAID, “THE BROAD ROAD
THAT LEADS TO HELL IS FILLED.”
AS AN OLD THEOLOGIAN SAID
IN THE MIDDLE AGES,
PEOPLE ARE RUSHING TOWARD HELL
AS THOUGH THEY WERE AFRAID
IT WOULD BE FILLED
BEFORE THEY GOT THERE.
“BROAD IS THE WAY,”
JESUS SAID.
BUT HE SAID,
“THERE’S ANOTHER ROAD
THAT’S NARROW AND RUGGED
AND TOUGH AND HARD.”
AND IN ORDER TO GET ON THAT ROAD
YOU’LL HAVE TO DENY YOURSELF
AND BE WILLING
TO TAKE UP A CROSS.
IDENTIFY YOURSELF WITH CHRIST
AT THE SCHOOL,
AT THE FACTORY,
ON THE FARM AND
WITH YOUR FRIENDS
AND NEIGHBORS.
LET THEM ALL KNOW
WHERE YOU STAND.
THAT YOU STAND FOR CHRIST
AND FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
AND FOR HONESTY
AND FOR GOODNESS
AND FOR MORALITY
AND FOR JUSTICE.
AND THAT’S NOT EASY
IN OUR GENERATION.
THERE’S ANY EASY ROAD
THAT’S A BROAD ROAD.
“BUT THE END,”
JESUS SAID,
“IS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION
AND JUDGMENT AND HELL.”
IT DOESN’T LAST LONG.
LIFE WILL SOON BE OVER.
AND HOW MANY OF YOU
ARE GOING TO WISH THAT
YOU HAD TAKEN
THAT NARROW ROAD.
AND MANY OF YOU STAND
TONIGHT AT THE CROSSROADS.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION
BEFORE YOU LEAVE HERE.
THERE’S NOT A PERSON
LISTENING TO MY VOICE,
YOU MAY BE IN THE CHOIR,
YOU MAY BE IN
THIS GREAT AUDIENCE,
AND YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE
TO MAKE A DECISION.
YOU SAY, “NO, I’M NOT
GOING TO MAKE ONE.”
YES, YOU WILL.
YOU ARE GOING TO SAY YES OR NO
OR YOU’RE GOING TO SAY MAYBE.
OR MAYBE YOU’LL SAY,
“I’LL WAIT.”
BUT YOU’RE GOING
TO MAKE A DECISION.
NOT A PERSON IN THIS PLACE
WILL LEAVE HERE TONIGHT
WITHOUT HAVING MADE
A DECISION
ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO
WITH JESUS CHRIST.
YOU WILL HAVE MADE IT
WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE.
SO JONAH, IT SAYS,
PAID THE FARE THEREOF.
HE GOT ON THE BOAT,
GOT ON THE SHIP, PAID THE FARE.
AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WHEN
YOU FOLLOW THE BROAD ROAD,
LIVE FOR YOURSELF
AND FOR PLEASURE,
“THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.”
“THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR
IS HARD.”
THERE’S A HARDNESS TO BEING
A TRANSGRESSOR TOO
THAT ENDS UP
IN DEATH AND JUDGMENT.
A SERIES OF TRAGEDIES CAME
TO THE SHIP AND THE CREW.
AND THEY BEGAN TO PRAY TO
THEIR GODS WHEN THE STORM CAME.
AND THEY SAID, “OH,
SAVE US, WHAT’S WRONG,
“WHAT’S WRONG, WHAT’S WRONG?”
AND THE SAILORS BECAME
VERY MUCH AFRAID
BECAUSE THEY CAST LOTS.
THE LOT FELL UPON JONAH.
AND JONAH CONFESSED THAT
HE WAS RUNNING
FROM THE LORD GOD.
AND THESE SAILORS WERE BETTER
THAN SOME OF US CHRISTIANS.
THEY TRIED TO SAVE JONAH.
THEY ROWED HARD.
BUT THE COULDN’T MAKE IT.
THE STORM WAS TOO GREAT.
AND SO THEY THREW JONAH
OVERBOARD.
AND GOD HAD PREPARED
THIS GREAT FISH.
YOU SEE YOUR SIN
AND DISOBEDIENCE
NOT ONLY AFFECTS YOUR LIFE,
BUT THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
JONAH’S FLEEING FROM
GOD’S COMMAND AND FROM GOD
AFFECTED THOSE SAILORS.
THEY WERE IN DANGER OF LOSING
THEIR LIVES.
YOU SAY, “IF I WANNA TAKE
THESE DRUGS THAT’S MY BUSINESS.”
WHAT ABOUT YOUR PARENTS?
WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE
YOU STEAL FROM?
WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN
THAT ARE YET UNBORN
THAT’LL BE AFFECTED?
JONAH SAID, “I’LL GO WHERE
I WANT TO GO.
“AND I’LL DO WHAT
I WANNA DO.”
I, I, I.
THAT WAS HIS RIGHT.
JUST AS LONG AS
HE WAS WILLING
TO PAY THE PRICE.
AND THE PRICE IS
JUDGMENT AND HELL
AND LONELINESS
AND DISCOURAGEMENT
AND GUILT.
THERE’S A PRICE
THAT YOU’LL PAY.
“THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.”
“BE SURE YOUR SIN
WILL FIND YOU OUT.”
NO ONE IN THIS AUDIENCE
HAS EVER COMMITTED ONE SIN
THAT WILL NOT BE FOUND OUT.
NOW JONAH WENT TO SLEEP
IN THE BOAT.
ISN’T THAT STRANGE,
RUNNING FROM GOD,
THE BIG STORM,
THE JUDGMENT COMING
AND HE’S ASLEEP?
HOW CAN HE SLEEP?
BECAUSE SIN IS LIKE A SEDATIVE.
JONAH WAS SLEEPING
THE SLEEP OF DISOBEDIENCE.
I TALKED TO A MAN
SOME TIME AGO.
HE’D DEFRAUDED HIS NEIGHBOR
THROUGH DECEIT
AND STOLEN MONEY
FROM HIS NEIGHBOR.
AND HE SAID,
“I FEEL PERFECTLY AT PEACE
ABOUT IT BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT
“MY NEIGHBOR’S FATHER DID
TO MY FATHER
“A GENERATION AGO.”
NOW, THAT’S A FALSE PEACE.
IT’S THE PEACE OF DISOBEDIENCE.
THE PEACE OF BEING
AWAY FROM GOD.
BUT IT’LL SOON END.
AND THEN WILL COME
THE GUILT AND REMORSE
AND THE JUDGMENT
AND THE HELL.
AND TIME IS PASSING FAST.
FIRST, SIN IS FUN,
THEN IT’S BORING,
THEN IT MAKES YOU INSENSITIVE.
AND THERE WAS A TIME WHEN
YOU WERE VERY SENSITIVE TO
THE WORD OF GOD.
IT PRICKED YOUR CONSCIENCE.
IT BROUGHT TEARS TO YOUR EYES.
IT MADE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE.
AND NOW YOU TURN AWAY
WITHOUT ANY FEELING AT ALL.
YOU’RE SLEEPING THE SLEEP.
YOU’VE BEEN SEDATED BY SIN.
NOW JONAH’S SIN AFFECTED
THAT ENTIRE SHIP.
“NONE OF US LIVETH UNTO
OURSELVES,” THE BIBLE SAYS.
WE MUST LEARN TO SAY WITH DAVID,
“SEARCH ME, OH GOD,
AND KNOW MY HEART.
“TRY ME AND KNOW MY THOUGHTS.
“AND SEE IF HERE BE
ANY WICKED WAY IN ME.
“AND LEAD ME IN
THE WAY EVERLASTING.”
SEARCH ME,
SEARCH ME.
ARE YOU ASKING GOD
TO SEARCH YOU TONIGHT?
DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE
YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD?
AND DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE
THAT YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN?
DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE
THAT YOU’RE GOING TO HEAVEN?
“AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME
UNTO JONAH THE SECOND TIME.”
YOU SEE GOD SPOKE
TO HIM THE FIRST TIME.
NOW HE GIVES HIM
A SECOND CHANCE.
NOW THAT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE.
WHEN THE THIEF ON THE CROSS
TURNED TO THE LORD AND SAID,
“REMEMBER ME WHEN THOU
COMEST INTO THY KINGDOM.”
THAT WAS HIS FIRST
AND ONLY MOMENT.
HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT MOMENT
WHEN HE SAID,
“LORD, REMEMBER ME.”
AND CHRIST SAID, “TODAY THOU
SHALT BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”
TONIGHT THERE ARE MANY
OF YOU LIKE THAT.
THIS MAY BE YOUR LAST MOMENT,
YOUR ONLY MOMENT
TO SAY YES TO CHRIST.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN
GOD BEGAN TO SPEAK TO YOU
WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG
AND YOU PUT IT OFF?
AND YOU WOULD SAY TONIGHT,
“BACKWARD, OH BACKWARD,
OH TIME IN IT’S FLIGHT
“AND MAKE ME A CHILD AGAIN
JUST FOR TONIGHT.”
OH, HOW I WOULD LIKE
TO GO BACK THERE.
HOW I’D LIKE TO GO BACK TO
THAT LITTLE CHURCH BACK THERE.
BUT NOW YOU’RE OLDER,
YOU’RE HARDENED.
YOUR CONSCIENCE NO LONGER
PRICKS YOU.
THE WORD OF GOD NO LONGER
APPEALS TO YOU.
AND THERE IS DANGER
LYING AHEAD.
NOT MANY TIMES DOES GOD GIVE
A SECOND CHANCE.
GOD SAID, “ALL RIGHT,
I’LL GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE.
“ARISE AND GO TO NINEVEH,
THAT GREAT CITY,
“AND PREACH TO IT.
“PREACH WHAT I’VE
ALREADY TOLD YOU TO.”
JONAH HAD JUST GRADUATED
FROM FISH UNIVERSITY.
[laughter]
HE’D BEEN SPIT UP
BY THE FISH.
AND HE COULD HAVE WRITTEN
A BEST SELLER ENTITLED JAWS.
[laughter]
OR HE COULD HAVE WRITTEN A STORY
ENTITLED THE INSIDE STORY.
[laughter]
NOW NINEVEH WAS THREE DAYS
JOURNEY AWAY
BUT JONAH WENT SO FAST
HE GOT THERE IN ONE DAY
AND TRAVELED
THROUGH THE CITY.
AND THE PEOPLE OF
NINEVEH BELIEVED HIM.
THAT’S THE THRILLING
THING ABOUT IT,
THE WHOLE CITY REPENTED.
THE GREATEST REVIVAL IN
THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
IT SAYS EVEN THE ANIMALS
GOT IN SACK CLOTH AND ASHES.
THE KING, ALL THE PEOPLE,
A MILLION AND MORE RESIDENTS
REPENTED IN SACK CLOTH AND ASHES
OF THEIR TERRIBLE SINS.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?
GOD FORGAVE THEM.
NO MATTER WHAT YOUR SIN,
NO MATTER HOW DEEP
IN SIN YOU’VE BEEN,
GOD IS IN THE FORGIVING BUSINESS
BECAUSE OF WHAT
CHRIST DID ON THE CROSS.
I’M NOT GOING TO HEAVEN
BECAUSE I’M GOOD.
I’M NOT GOING TO HEAVEN
BECAUSE I’VE PREACHED
TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
I’M GOING TO HEAVEN
LIKE ANYBODY ELSE,
BY THE WAY OF THE CROSS
WHERE CHRIST DIED FOR ME.
YES, THEY BELIEVED.
AND THAT WORD BELIEVED,
BY THE WAY, IS VERY INTERESTING.
IN THAT PARTICULAR PASSAGE
IN THE THIRD CHAPTER OF JONAH.
IT’S WHERE WE GET
OUR WORD AMEN FROM
AND IT MEANS TO BE FIRM,
TO BE SURE.
THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH WERE SURE
THAT THEY WERE FORGIVEN.
THEY WERE CERTAIN
OF THEIR REPENTANCE.
ARE YOU CERTAIN,
ARE YOU SURE?
“THESE THINGS I WRITE
UNTO YOU THAT BELIEVE
“ON THE NAME OF THE SON
OF GOD THAT YOU MAY KNOW
“THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”
YOU CAN KNOW IT,
YOU DON’T HAVE TO GUESS IT.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY,
“I THINK SO, I HOPE SO.”
YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO HOME
WRESTLING WITH YOUR DOUBTS.
YOU CAN HAVE IT
SETTLED ALL TONIGHT.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST THAT WAY?
YES, GOD SPARED NINEVEH.
AND GOD WILL SPARE YOU
IN THAT DAY THAT IS YET TO COME.
REPENTANCE MEANS THAT
YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT GOD,
ABOUT YOURSELF,
AND ABOUT YOUR NEED.
IT MEANS THAT YOU’RE
SAYING TO GOD,
“I’M WILLING TO CHANGE
MY WAY OF LIVING
“AND TURN FROM SIN
AND START ON THE NARROW ROAD.”
YOU WON’T BE PERFECT.
BUT CHRIST WILL BE THERE
IN THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO HELP YOU TO LIVE THE LIFE
OF A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.
YOU CANNOT LIVE IT ALONE.
GOD IS A GOD OF LOVE,
AND MERCY, AND GRACE.
AND HE EXTENDED TO
AN ENTIRE CITY,
AS GOD IS DOING
TO CALGARY, ALBERTA TONIGHT
THROUGH THIS CRUSADE,
HE’S EXTENDING TO A CITY
HIS HAND OF MERCY.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO MAKE SURE TONIGHT
TO RECEIVE HIM.
YOU SAY, “WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?”
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO DO SOMETHING THAT
WE SAW 800 PEOPLE DO
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO GET UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT
AND COME AND STAND
IN FRONT OF THIS PLATFORM.
AND SAY BY COMING,
“I WANT TO KNOW.
“I WANT TO BE SURE.
“I WANT TO BE FIRM ABOUT THIS.
“I WANT CHRIST IN MY HEART.
“I WANT MY SINS FORGIVEN.
“I WANT TO KNOW
I’M GOING TO HEAVEN.”
WE’RE GOING TO WAIT ON YOU.
AND AFTER YOU’VE ALL COME
AND STOOD HERE IN FRONT,
I’M GOING TO SAY A WORD TO YOU
AND HAVE A PRAYER WITH YOU
AND GIVE YOU
SOME LITERATURE
TO HELP YOU
IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE
AND YOU CAN GO BACK
AND JOIN YOUR FRIENDS.
IT’LL ONLY TAKE YOU
ABOUT TWO MINUTES
IF YOU COME FROM
THE TOP UP THERE.
YOU COME AND STAND HERE
FOR A MOMENT.
AND THIS IS AN OUTWARD SIGN
BEFORE GOD
OF AN INWARD COMMITMENT
THAT YOU’RE MAKING.
THAT YOU’RE WILLING TO GO ALL
THE WAY WITH JESUS CHRIST.
JESUS SAID, “IF YOU’RE NOT
WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE ME
“PUBLICLY BEFORE MEN,
“I’LL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE YOU BEFORE
MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.”
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT
DOING IT PUBLICLY AND OPENLY
THAT SETTLES IT IN YOUR HEART.
AND THIS IS
WHAT JESUS SAID.
AND EVERY PERSON HE CALLED
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT,
YOU’LL NOTICE HE
CALLED PUBLICLY.
THERE WAS A REASON FOR IT.
AND I’M GOING TO
ASK YOU TO COME OPENLY
AND MAKE THIS COMMITMENT NOW.
I’M GOING TO ASK NO ONE
TO LEAVE THE STADIUM.
EVERYONE IN AN ATTITUDE
OF PRAYER AS PEOPLE COME.
AND YOU COME RIGHT NOW,
FROM EVERYWHERE,
ALL OVER THE STADIUM.
HUNDREDS OF YOU, JUST GET UP
OUT OF YOUR SEAT AND COME.
YOUNG PEOPLE, MEN,
WOMEN, WHOEVER YOU ARE.
YOU KNOW YOU NEED CHRIST.
YOU COME AND MAKE
THIS COMMITMENT TO HIM NOW.
WE’RE GOING TO
WAIT ON YOU.
♪ JUST AS I AM
WITHOUT ONE PLEA ♪
AS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
MAKE THEIR WAY
OUT OF THE STANDS HERE
AT THE STADIUM IN CALGARY,
MANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO COMMIT YOUR HEART
AND LIFE TO CHRIST.
AND IN A MOMENT BILLY GRAHAM
WILL HAVE A FURTHER WORD
JUST FOR YOU.
HE WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU
TO MAKE THAT TELEPHONE CALL.
THAT NUMBER YOU SEE RIGHT
NOW ON YOUR SCREEN.
I’D LIKE TO REMIND
YOU TO WRITE IT DOWN.
AND AS LONG AS THE CALLS
KEEP COMING IN
OUR COUNSELORS WILL BE
THERE TO HELP YOU.
MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU.
AND NOW HERE’S MR. GRAHAM
WITH A FURTHER WORD.
♪ I COME ♪♪
YOU THAT ARE WATCHING
BY TELEVISION
IN OTHER PARTS OF
THE UNITED STATES,
AND IN OTHER PARTS
OF THE WORLD,
CAN SEE HERE IN CALGARY IN
THIS GREAT, BEAUTIFUL STADIUM
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMING
FROM EVERY DIRECTION
TO MAKE THIS COMMITMENT
TO JESUS CHRIST.
YOU CAN MAKE THAT SAME
COMMITMENT WHEREVER YOU ARE;
IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM,
AT HOME, WHEREVER YOU ARE.
AND SAY YES TO CHRIST.
AND THERE’S A PHONE NUMBER
THERE ON YOUR SCREEN.
YOU CAN PICK UP YOUR PHONE
AND CALL AND
THERE ARE COUNSELORS WAITING
RIGHT NOW TO TALK TO YOU.
JUST LIKE COUNSELORS WILL
TALK TO PEOPLE HERE
AND GIVE THEM THIS LITERATURE.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO HELP
YOU WITH YOUR PROBLEMS
OR WITH YOUR WAY TO CHRIST.
PICK UP THE PHONE RIGHT
NOW AND CALL THAT NUMBER.
GOD HELP YOU TO DO IT
AND BE SURE TO GO TO CHURCH
NEXT SUNDAY.
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)
THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY,
ONLY ONE HOPE.
♪
♪ HERE THE SOUND OF
A BRAND NEW DAY ♪
♪ WITNESS THE STORY
THAT NEVER FA-A-ADES ♪
♪ COME, COME WITH ME ♪
♪ TO THE BILLY GRAHAM LIBRARY ♪