Living on Death Row | Billy Graham Classic Sermon

We try to soften the reality of death. Are you prepared to die? Watch Billy Graham’s 1985 message from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Watch more #MondayNightClassics every Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES…

THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO TURN WITH ME

TO THE THIRD CHAPTER
OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS.

AND AT THE END OF THAT CHAPTER
IT SAYS THIS:

“AND THE LORD GOD SAID,

“BEHOLD, THE MAN HAS BECOME
AS ONE OF US,

“TO KNOW GOOD AND EVIL.

“AND NOW, LEST HE PUT FORTH
HIS HAND AND TAKE ALSO

“THE TREE OF LIFE AND EAT
AND LIVE FOREVER,

“THEREFORE THE LORD GOD
SENT HIM FORTH

“FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN
TO TILL THE GROUND

“FROM WHICH HE HAD TAKEN.

“SO HE DROVE OUT

“THE MAN
AND HE PLACED

AT THE EAST
OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN,

“A CHERUBIM
AND A FLAMING SWORD

“WHICH TURNED EVERY ONE
TO KEEP THE WAY

“OF THE TREE OF LIFE.”

IN OTHER WORDS,

GOD WAS KEEPING MAN
AWAY FROM THE TREE OF LIFE,

BECAUSE IF MAN HAD EATEN
THE TREE OF LIFE,

HE WOULD HAVE LIVED FOREVER
IN HIS SINS

WITHOUT ANY HOPE
OF REDEMPTION.

SUPPOSE, FOR EXAMPLE,
THAT A MAN LIKE HITLER

CAME ALONG AND ATE
OF THE TREE OF LIFE

AND LIVED FOREVER.

AND WE WOULD HAVE HITLER
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

AND MANY MORE HITLERS,

AND THEY WOULD CONTROL
THE EARTH.

AND SO GOD SENT DEATH ALONG
AS A JUDGMENT,

BUT ALSO A BLESSING.

BECAUSE EVERY GENERATION COMES
AND DIES

AND A NEW GENERATION IS BORN.

AND ALL THE HITLERS
OF THE WORLD DIE EVENTUALLY.

AND THE BIBLE SAYS
IN ECCLESIASTES 3:2,

THERE’S A TIME TO BE BORN
AND A TIME TO DIE.

“IT’S APPOINTED UNTO MAN
ONCE TO DIE,

“BUT AFTER THAT,
THE JUDGMENT.”

BUT OFTEN I FIND,
AS A CLERGYMAN,

THAT PEOPLE DO NOT WISH
TO TALK ABOUT DEATH.

WHY?

IN AMERICA, 17-YEAR-OLDS,
BY THE TIME THEY’RE 17,

HAVE SEEN AN AVERAGE OF
15,000 MURDERS ON TELEVISION.

AND THERE’S A RASH OF
BEST SELLERS ON DEATH RIGHT NOW.

AND SOME THINK OF DEATH
AS A PERIOD OF LIFE.

SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL
ONCE SAID,

“THE OLDER YOU GET,
THE MORE SLEEP YOU NEED,

“FINALLY YOU SLEEP
ALL THE TIME.

“IN LIFE THERE
ARE MANY AVENUES,” HE SAID,

“BUT ALL LEAD TO THAT
ALL-EMBRACING DEATH.”

AND I WANT TO ASK YOU TONIGHT,

ARE YOU PREPARED TO DIE?

HAVE YOU MADE ANY PREPARATION
AT ALL FOR YOUR DEATH?

OH, YES, MAYBE FINANCIALLY
YOU HAVE.

BUT WHAT ABOUT YOUR SPIRIT,
YOUR SOUL,

THAT’S GOING TO LIVE FOREVER?

HAVE YOU MADE A STUDY OF IT?

OH, IT OCCUPIES A LOT
OF YOUR THINKING.

I KNOW THAT.

BUT THE LOSS AND THE SEVERANCE
OF THINGS YOU LOVE,

DO NOT LIKE TO LEAVE BEHIND
FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

AND FOR OTHERS,

IT’S NOT ONLY A TIME
OF LIFE,

BUT IT’S A QUESTION MARK.

DEATH USHERS IN
SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY,

AND WE ASK YOURSELVES,
WHY? WHY? WHY?

YOU SEE A YOUNG MAN

CUT DOWN IN THE PRIME OF LIFE,
AND YOU ASK, WHY?

OR YOU SEE A BOY OR GIRL,
AND YOU ASK, WHY?

WHY DOES ALL THIS HAVE TO
HAPPEN?

PART OF IT IS THE TERROR
AND THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN.

PEOPLE NEVER LIKE TO BE
UNPREPARED.

THEY’RE ANXIOUS
ABOUT THE FUTURE.

AND I WANT TO QUOTE
ONE PASSAGE FROM AMOS

THE FOURTH CHAPTER THAT SAYS,
“PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD.”

ARE YOU PREPARED?

IF YOU’RE NOT PREPARED,
AND HAVE A DOUBT ABOUT IT,

PICK UP THE TELEPHONE
AND CALL THE NUMBER

ON YOUR SCREEN.

THERE’LL BE COUNSELORS THERE
THAT WILL TALK TO YOU

ABOUT HOW YOU CAN PREPARE
TO MEET DEATH AND JUDGMENT.

NOW WE WANT TO SOFTEN
THE REALITY OF DEATH.

WE DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT,

SOME OF US DON’T WANT TO
THINK ABOUT IT,

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF COSMETICS
AND FACELIFTS,

AND THE FRANTIC SEARCH

FOR THE MYTHICAL
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH THAT GOES ON.

BUT I DON’T WANT TO TURN TONIGHT
TO THE PSYCHOLOGISTS,

OR THE SOCIOLOGISTS,
OR THE MEDICAL STUDENTS,

BUT TO THE BIBLE.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY
ABOUT DEATH?

FIRST, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT
DEATH IS AN ENEMY

OF MAN AND GOD.

PAUL CALLS IT AN ENEMY.

HE SAYS, I CORINTHIANS 15,

THE LAST ENEMY THAT SHALL BE
DESTROYED IS DEATH.

NOW IT’S AN ENEMY TO GOD

BECAUSE GOD NEVER MEANT
FOR MAN TO DIE.

WHEN HE CREATED US,

HE MEANT FOR US TO LIVE FOREVER.

BUT WE BROKE HIS LAW,
WE REBELLED AGAINST HIM.

AND HE SAID IF YOU DO THAT,
YOU’RE GOING TO DIE.

HE HAD TO KEEP HIS WORD.

NEITHER SIN NOR PAIN
NOR DISEASE NOR DEATH

WERE PART OF GOD’S
ORIGINAL PLAN FOR MAN.

DEATH WAS THE PENALTY FOR SIN

WHEN HE SAID
THOU SHALT SURELY DIE.

AND THE JUDGMENT,

“DUST THOU ART AND UNTO DUST
THOU SHALT RETURN”

CAME AFTER MAN’S REBELLION.

ARE YOU PREPARED?

AND THEN SECONDLY,

THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT
THIS ENEMY OF DEATH

IS GOING TO BE DESTROYED.

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:26,

THE LAST ENEMY TO BE DESTROYED
IS DEATH.

WHEN WE WERE TOURING RUSSIA
THIS PAST YEAR,

AND WE WENT TO THESE GREAT
ORTHODOX CATHEDRALS,

AND IT WAS MY PRIVILEGE
TO PREACH IN THEM THE GOSPEL,

JUST LIKE I DO HERE,

AND IN THE SOVIET UNION
I HAD A THEOLOGIAN

FROM THE THEOLOGICAL ACADEMY
IN LENINGRAD

SAY TO ME IN THE CAR
AS WE WERE RIDING ALONG,

HE SAID, “MR. GRAHAM,”
HE SAID, “I WOULD LIKE TO

“SEE YOU PUT MORE EMPHASIS
ON THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

“BECAUSE,” HE SAID,
“IF CHRIST BE NOT RISEN,

“OUR FAITH IS IN VAIN.”

AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
HERE I AM,

LEARNING AT THE FEET OF A MAN
IN THE SOVIET UNION

ABOUT THE RESURRECTION
OF JESUS CHRIST.

NOW SOME PEOPLE QUESTION
THE RESURRECTION

IN THIS SCIENTIFIC AGE.

BUT ARNOLD OF RUGBY SAID,

“I KNOW OF NO FACT IN HISTORY
OF MANKIND

“WHICH IS ATTESTED BY FULLER
AND BETTER EVIDENCE

“OF EVERY SORT.”

SIR EDWARD CLARK,
THE ENGLISH HIGH COURT JUDGE,

SAID SOME TIME AGO,

“THE EVIDENCE OF
THE RESURRECTION

“I ACCEPT UNRESERVEDLY
AS FACT.

“OVER AND OVER AGAIN
IN THE HIGH COURT

“I’VE SECURED A VERDICT
ON EVIDENCE

“NOT NEARLY SO COMPELLING.”

MANY OF OUR SCIENTISTS

BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION
OF JESUS CHRIST.

NOW THIRDLY, THE BIBLE TEACHES
THAT THIS ENEMY OF DEATH

HAS ALREADY BEEN DEFEATED.

ALREADY DEFEATED.

PAUL SAYS, “O DEATH,
WHERE IS THY STING?

“O GRAVE, WHERE IS
THY VICTORY?”

BY DEATH AND RESURRECTION
OF CHRIST

HE SAID, “I AM HE THAT LIVETH
AND WAS DEAD,

“AND BEHOLD,
I’M ALIVE FOREVERMORE,

“AND HAVE THE KEYS OF HELL
AND DEATH.”

THINK OF IT–

HE HAS THE KEYS OF HELL
AND THE KEYS OF DEATH.

NOW WHAT IS THIS DEFEAT
OF DEATH?

PAUL LIKENS IT
TO A POISONOUS INSECT

WHOSE STING HAS BEEN
WITHDRAWN.

HE SAYS THE STING OF DEATH
IS SIN.

NOW I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT
DEATH FOR A PERSON

WHO DOES NOT KNOW CHRIST,
FOR AN UNBELIEVER.

DISC JOCKEYS ARE REVIVING
THAT OLD POP SONG

OF DAVID CLAYTON THOMAS
WHICH GOES,

“AND WHEN I DIE,
I PRAY THERE AIN’T NO HELL.”

BUT THE BIBLE TEACHES
THERE WILL BE A JUDGMENT.

YOU CANNOT READ THE BIBLE
AND MISS THE REFERENCES TO HELL.

AND I DON’T SEE HOW
A CLERGYMAN CAN PREACH

WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT IT.

BECAUSE IT’S SO MUCH
IN THE SCRIPTURES.

AND THE ONE THAT TAUGHT
SO MUCH ABOUT IT IS JESUS,

MORE THAN ANY OTHER PERSON
IN THE BIBLE.

TO BE IN HELL IS TO
BE OUT OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

WHAT IS HELL?

I’M NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU
MY IMAGINATION.

I’M NOT GOING TO DO WHAT
SOME HAVE DONE IN THE PAST

AND USED THEIR IMAGINATION
TO FRIGHTEN PEOPLE.

WE OUGHT TO BE FRIGHTENED,

BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT
I BELIEVE THE BIBLE TEACHES.

THERE ARE THREE WORDS
THAT DESCRIBE HELL

IN THE BIBLE FOR ME.

ONE IS FIRE.

“FOR OUR GOD IS
A CONSUMING FIRE,”

SAYS HEBREWS 12.

BUT THE BIBLE ALSO TEACHES

THAT FIRE IS USED
SYMBOLICALLY.

IT SAYS, “OUR TONGUES
ARE SET ON FIRE OF HELL.”

THAT DOESN’T MEAN LITERAL
COMBUSTION IN JAMES,

IT’S SYMBOLIC.

AND JESUS USED THIS SYMBOL
OVER AND OVER.

I BELIEVE THAT THE FIRE
IS A THIRST FOR ALMIGHTY GOD

THAT CAN NEVER BE QUENCHED.

YOU’LL GO OUT INTO ETERNITY
THIRSTING FOR GOD

AND YOU CAN NEVER FIND HIM.

AND YOU CAN NEVER FIND
THE FULFILLMENT

THAT YOU MISSED IN THIS LIFE.

AND THEN SECONDLY,
THE WORD DARKNESS.

THE BIBLE SAYS,
“GOD IS LIGHT.”

AND MATTHEW 8:12 SAYS,

“BUT THE CHILDREN
OF THE KINGDOM

“SHALL BE CAST OUT
INTO OUTER DARKNESS.”

HELL IS CALLED
OUTER DARKNESS.

IT’S SEPARATION FROM GOD
IN DARKNESS.

THAT’S THE REASON
THOSE THAT GO TO HELL

WILL NOT SEE ANYBODY ELSE.

IT’LL BE TOO DARK.

YOU’RE NOT GOING TO
GO DOWN THERE

AND SET UP A NIGHT CLUB
AND HAVE A BIG TIME,

AND HAVE BEAUTIFUL
GOLF COURSES

AND ALL THE REST OF IT,
AS SOME PEOPLE THINK.

NO.

IT’S SEPARATION FROM GOD,

FROM DARKNESS-,
FROM LIGHT.

AND THEN THE THIRD PHRASE
THAT JESUS USES

IS THE SECOND DEATH.

GOD IS LIFE.

IT IS SEPARATED FROM LIFE.

“AND DEATH AND HELL WERE CAST
INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE,

“THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH,”
REVELATION 20:14 SAYS.

YOU DIE THE FIRST TIME
NATURALLY.

YOUR BODY DIES.

NOW YOUR SOUL,
YOUR SPIRIT IS STILL ALIVE

BUT IT’S DEAD.

IT’S DEAD TOWARD GOD,
JUST LIKE IT IS TONIGHT.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
HERE IN THIS AUDIENCE

IN SOUTH FLORIDA TONIGHT
WHOSE SPIRIT IS DEAD TOWARD GOD.

YOUR BODY IS ALIVE,
YOU GO TO CHURCH,

YOU’RE RELIGIOUS,

AS MOST PEOPLE ARE
AROUND THE WORLD.

YOU GO TO INDIA,

AND YOU’LL FIND MORE RELIGION
THAN ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

BUT DEEP IN YOUR HEART
YOU DON’T REALLY KNOW CHRIST.

YOU HAVEN’T MADE
YOUR PEACE WITH GOD.

NOW GOD DOESN’T TAKE
ANY DELIGHT IN HELL.

HE DIDN’T CREATE HELL FOR YOU.

HE MADE HELL
FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS.

BUT IF YOU PERSIST
IN GOING THE DEVIL’S WAY,

THAT’S WHERE YOU’RE GOING.

NOW WHEN JESUS CHRIST
DIED ON THE CROSS,

THAT WAS A JUDGMENT.

GOD JUDGED CHRIST
IN YOUR PLACE,

AND JESUS,
BEING WHO HE WAS,

HAD THE CAPACITY TO ENDURE
HELL FOR YOU.

AND WHEN CHRIST SAID,

“MY GOD, MY GOD,
WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?”

IN THAT TERRIBLE MOMENT,

IN A WAY THAT WE CANNOT
POSSIBLY FATHOM OR UNDERSTAND,

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
AND HIS FATHER WERE SEPARATED,

AND JESUS TOOK
THE PANGS OF HELL

AND HE SUFFERED
IN THAT MOMENT

EVERYTHING THAT MAN WILL EVER
BE CALLED UPON TO SUFFER.

HE DID IT FOR YOU
BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU.

AND NOW GOD SAYS YOU MUST
REPENT OF YOUR SINS

AND RECEIVE HIM
INTO YOUR HEART.

AND IF YOU DON’T DO IT,

AND YOU PERSIST IN LISTENING
TO THE VOICE OF THE DEVIL,

WHO SAYS YOU HAVE PLENTY
OF TIME,

OR TELLS YOU THAT
IT’S NOT TRUE,

OR WHATEVER
HE’S WHISPERING TO YOU.

YES, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE
BETWEEN SOME THINGS

THAT ARE WRONG IN YOUR LIFE,

AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE
A CHOICE WITH CHRIST.

WHICH WILL IT BE?

WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE?

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE
A CHOICE TONIGHT FOR CHRIST,

OR IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT,

PICK UP THE TELEPHONE

AND CALL THE PERSON
THAT’S ON THE OTHER END

ON THAT NUMBER
THAT’S ON YOUR SCREEN.

WRITE IT DOWN.

NOW YOU MAY DIAL
SEVERAL TIMES

AND KEEP ON DIALING,

THEY’LL BE THERE ALL EVENING.

THE DEATH OF CHRIST
WAS A JUDGMENT.

AND THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
THAT GOD’S DESIRE IS THAT

ALL MEN SHOULD BE SAVED,

ALL WOMEN SHOULD BE SAVED.

THAT’S GOD’S DESIRE.

HE WANTS IT SO MUCH

THAT HE GAVE HIS SON TO DIE
ON THE CROSS FOR YOU.

AND THE WORDS USED
IN THOSE SCRIPTURES ARE

DESIRE AND WISH;
NOT WILL AND PURPOSE.

IT’S NOT GOD’S WILL
OR PURPOSE THAT YOU DIE.

IT’S HIS DESIRE
THAT YOU BE SAVED.

AND YOU HAVE A CHOICE.

NOW, WHAT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS
TO THE BELIEVER?

SO MUCH COULD BE SAID
ABOUT THIS.

I COULD TALK ALL EVENING
ABOUT HEAVEN

AND ABOUT THE JOYS
AND THE THRILL

AND THE EXCITEMENT

IT’S GOING TO BE IN HEAVEN
FOR ALL OF US WHO KNOW CHRIST.

IN CHRIST,
THE JUDGMENT IS PAST.

THE STORM IS OVER.

THE HELL IS PAST.

IF YOU KNOW CHRIST,
THERE’LL BE NO JUDGMENT FOR YOU.

“THERE IS THEREFORE NOW
NO JUDGMENT TO THEM

“THAT ARE IN CHRIST JESUS.”

THERE IS NO HELL FOR YOU.

YOU WILL LIVE ETERNITY
WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,

AND WITH THE SAINTS
OF ALL THE AGES.

BY HIS DEATH,
HE DESTROYED DEATH.

IN CHRIST, WE NO LONGER
REGARD DEATH

AS THE KING OF TERRORS.

PAUL SAID,
“I HAVE A DESIRE TO DEPART

“TO BE WITH CHRIST,
WHICH IS FAR BETTER.”

HE SAID TO BE WITH CHRIST
IS BETTER

THAN LIVING HERE AND NOW.

“I WANT TO BE WITH HIM,”
SAID THE APOSTLE PAUL.

WHY?

WAS IT BECAUSE HE WORKED
SO HARD FOR CHRIST?

OR BECAUSE HE’D SUFFERED
SO MUCH?

NO.

HE WAS READY BECAUSE
LONG AGO

HE HAD MET CHRIST
ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD

AND HAD AN EXPERIENCE
WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,

AND CHRIST CAME INTO
HIS HEART,

AND HE HAD FOUND
A FULFILLMENT,

AND A PEACE AND A JOY.

HE FOUND THE PURPOSE
AND THE MEANING OF HIS LIFE,

WHEN HE HAD THAT ENCOUNTER
WITH CHRIST.

YOU CAN HAVE THAT SAME
EXPERIENCE WITH CHRIST TONIGHT,

RIGHT HERE,
BEFORE YOU LEAVE HERE.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THINK
THAT IT’S A LONG PROCESS

AND THERE MAY BE A PROCESS

IN WHICH YOU’RE CONVICTED
BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.

AND THERE MAY BE A PROCESS
LIKE BIRTH–

THERE’S THE MOMENT
OF CONCEPTION,

THERE’S THE MONTHS
OF GESTATION,

THEN COMES BIRTH.

AND THEN THERE COMES GROWING.

ALL OF THOSE ARE DIFFERENT
STEPS AND DIFFERENT PROCESSES.

SOME MAY TAKE PLACE
ALMOST ALL AT ONCE.

WE DO NOT KNOW HOW
THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS

AT THAT POINT
IN EACH INDIVIDUAL LIFE.

SOMETIMES IT’S INDIVIDUAL.

BUT TONIGHT YOU NEED TO
TAKE A STEP TO CHRIST,

AND MAKE SURE!

IF YOU DON’T KNOW
AND YOU’RE NOT CERTAIN,

BE SURE.

MANY PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE
A DATE WHEN THEY CAME TO CHRIST,

BUT IT’S GOOD FOR MANY PEOPLE
TO COME AND MAKE A DATE,

AND SAY, YES, THAT WAS
THE NIGHT THAT I BECAME SURE.

NOW THE CONQUEST OF DEATH
IS THE FINAL GREAT ACHIEVEMENT

OF WHAT WE CALL CHRISTIANITY
AND JUDAISM.

PHYSICAL DEATH IS BUT
A TRANSITION

FROM LIFE ON EARTH
WITH CHRIST

TO ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN
WITH CHRIST.

IT’S LIKE GOING THROUGH
A DOOR, WHEN YOU DIE.

YOU LEAVE ONE ROOM
AND YOU ENTER ANOTHER,

BIGGER ROOM,
WHICH IS MORE BEAUTIFUL

AND MORE WONDERFUL,

AND THE TRANSITION
WHICH WE CALL DEATH

IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT
JESUS WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD.

“FOR WE KNOW THAT CHRIST
BEING RAISED FROM THE DEAD

“WILL NEVER DIE AGAIN,

“DEATH NO LONGER HAS ANY
DOMINION OVER HIM,”

SAYS ROMANS 6.

“FOR AS IN ADAM, ALL DIE,

“SO ALSO IN CHRIST
SHALL ALL BE MADE ALIVE.”

YOU’RE NOT GOING TO DIE ALONE
IF YOU KNOW CHRIST.

I BELIEVE AS I SAID IN
A BOOK THAT I WROTE ON ANGELS,

THAT THERE IS A DEATH ANGEL,

AND THAT ANGEL COMES
AND TAKES YOU BY THE HAND,

AND LEADS YOU INTO
THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST.

IT’S A WONDERFUL THING
TO DIE AS A BELIEVER.

I’VE SEEN BELIEVERS DIE,

AND I’VE SEEN THOSE
THAT DID NOT KNOW CHRIST DIE,

AND THERE’S A VAST DIFFERENCE
IN THE WAY THEY DIE.

TODAY PEOPLE ARE SO SEDATED,

WE DON’T HAVE THEIR FINAL WORDS
AS WE USED TO HAVE.

BUT I HAVE MANY MEMORIES
OF PEOPLE DYING,

TALKING ABOUT THE MUSIC
THAT THEY HEAR.

TALKING ABOUT WHO THEY SEE.

MY OWN MOTHER WAS ONE.

SHE SEEMED AS THOUGH
SHE COULD HEAR AND SEE

INTO THE FUTURE.

JESUS SAID, “HE THAT BELIEVETH
ON ME SHALL NEVER DIE.”

“BELIEVEST THOU THIS,”

HE MEANT THAT
YOU’LL NEVER DIE SPIRITUALLY.

AN ATHEIST ONLY SEES
A HOPELESS END TO LIFE,

BUT THE CHRISTIAN SEES
AN ENDLESS HOPE.

WE LOOK BEYOND OUR PRESENT
SORROW TO THE TRIUMPH OF CHRIST.

BLESSED ARE THE DEAD
WHO DIE IN THE LORD.

BUT CHRIST BRINGS
A PERMANENT FREEDOM FROM EVIL

TO THE BELIEVER
WHO DIES IN HIM.

THOSE THAT DON’T KNOW CHRIST
MAY NOT DESIRE THIS.

THEY MAY PREFER,

GO ON LIVING IN YOUR SINS.

YOU HAVE ONLY A SHORT TIME
SO LIVE IT UP!

AS WE GET OLDER,

LIFE IS PRESSING IN ON US.

GET ALL YOU CAN OUT OF IT NOW,
THAT’S THE PHILOSOPHY OF MANY,

HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA,
AS WELL AS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

YOU DON’T HAVE LONG.

YOU’LL BE IN ETERNITY,

AND THE DECISION
YOU MAKE TONIGHT

MAY DECIDE WHERE YOU’LL BE.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST?

THE WORD “DEPART,”

THE BIBLE USES THE WORD DEPART.

YOU SEE,
THE BIBLE TEACHES

THAT WE’RE CITIZENS OF
TWO WORLDS NOW.

I’M A CITIZEN
OF THE UNITED STATES,

BUT I’M ALSO A CITIZEN
OF HEAVEN.

I’M A CITIZEN
OF ANOTHER WORLD,

HEAVEN,
AND THAT’S WHERE I’M GOING.

AND I’LL BE THERE,

IT WON’T BE TOO MANY MONTHS
OR YEARS BEFORE I GO.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY LIFE
HAS ALREADY BEEN LIVED.

MY RECORD HAS ALREADY
BEEN MADE.

I DON’T HAVE VERY MUCH LONGER,
I KNOW THAT.

I DON’T PLAN TO RETIRE.

I FEEL LIKE I’M EIGHTEEN
YEARS OF AGE,

BUT I KNOW THAT I’M NOT.

I CAN LOOK AT THE X-RAYS
WHEN THEY TAKE THE X-RAYS

AND SEE DETERIORATION
OF A BONE HERE AND THERE

THROUGH SOMETHING THAT
I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS.

I CAN’T FEEL IT,

BUT I KNOW AT SOME POINT
I’LL FEEL IT.

IT’LL START HAVING ITS EFFECT
ON THE BODY.

WE ALL DIE!

I’M NOT GOING TO ESCAPE IT.

I DON’T WANT TO ESCAPE IT.

I WANT TO GO!

BECAUSE TO BE WITH CHRIST
IS FAR BETTER

THAN TO BE EVEN IN FLORIDA.

[laughter and applause]

THE BIBLE SAYS,

“WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM,

“FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM
AS HE IS.”

NAPOLEON ONCE SAID,
“I DIE BEFORE MY TIME,

“AND MY BODY WILL BE GIVEN
BACK TO THE EARTH

“TO BECOME THE FOOD OF WORMS.

“SUCH IS THE FATE SOON
OF THE GREAT NAPOLEON.”

WHAT A CONTRAST
TO THE WORDS OF JOB.

HE SAID,
“I KNOW MY REDEEMER LIVETH,

“AND THOUGH AFTER MY SKIN
WORMS DESTROY THIS BODY,

“YET IN MY FLESH
SHALL I SEE GOD.”

I’M LOOKING FORWARD
TO SEEING HIM.

FACE TO FACE.

THERE’S AN OLD ENGLISH PRAYER
THAT SAYS,

“LORD, GRANT THAT MY LAST HOUR
MAY BE MY FINEST HOUR.”

PAUL SAID, “I’VE FOUGHT
THE GOOD FIGHT,

“I’VE FINISHED THE RACE,

“I’VE KEPT THE FAITH.”

AN ANGLICAN BISHOP
OF THE LAST CENTURY SAID,

“I HOPE WHEN I COME TO DIE
I SHALL NOT HAVE TO SAY

“I WISH I HAD
LOVED CHRIST MORE.”

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TONIGHT
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU’RE READY.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO?

FATHER, MOTHER?

SENIOR CITIZEN?

BOY OR GIRL?

WE NEVER KNOW IN THIS WORLD
IN WHICH WE LIVE

WHEN ANYONE IS GOING TO GO.

YOU GET OUT ON THESE HIGHWAYS
AND STREETS AND YOU NEVER KNOW.

ARE YOU READY?

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO
TO BE READY?

FIRST, THE BIBLE TEACHES,
YOU MUST REPENT OF YOUR SINS.

AND YOU SAY,
“WELL, WHAT IS REPENTANCE?”

REPENTANCE IS CHANGING,
CHANGING YOUR MIND TOWARD GOD,

AND TOWARD YOURSELF.

SEEING YOURSELF A SINNER,

AND SEEING THE HOLINESS
AND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.

LOOKING AT THE CROSS OF CHRIST

AND SEEING THAT
HE DIED FOR YOU.

BUT IT ALSO MEANS
A CHANGE OF LIVING.

YOU’RE GONNA CHANGE
YOUR HABITS.

FROM THIS MOMENT ON,

YOU’RE GOING TO ASK GOD
TO HELP YOU.

YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE
THE STRENGTH TO.

BUT IF YOU’LL ASK GOD
TO HELP YOU, HE’LL HELP YOU.

AND THEN THE SECOND THING
YOU MUST DO IS TO BELIEVE.

THAT WORD “BELIEVE” MEANS MORE

THAN JUST BELIEVING
WITH YOUR MIND.

IT MEANS COMMITTING YOURSELF,
YOUR TOTAL SELF, TO CHRIST

AS SAVIOR AND LORD.

AND THEN THE THIRD THING,

YOU MUST BE WILLING TO

FOLLOW HIM AND SERVE HIM.

ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THAT?

YOU SAY, “BILLY,

“I DECIDED THAT YEARS AGO.”

DID YOU REALLY?

IS THERE A DOUBT ABOUT IT?

MANY OLDER PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN RELIGIOUS,

AND YOUNGER PEOPLE, TOO.

BECAUSE I WAS YOUNG
WHEN I ACCEPTED CHRIST.

SIXTEEN OR SEVENTEEN YEARS
OF AGE,

AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE YOUNG
PEOPLE’S SOCIETY IN MY CHURCH,

BUT I KNEW THAT I REALLY
DIDN’T KNOW CHRIST.

I ALREADY KNEW THAT.

AND WHEN THEY ASK PEOPLE
TO COME AND MAKE IT CERTAIN,

I WENT, AND I’M SO GLAD
THAT I DID THAT NIGHT.

YOU CAN MAKE SURE TONIGHT.

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO COME

AND STAND IN FRONT
OF THIS PLATFORM,

AS WE HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS
EVERY NIGHT DO.

I’M ASKING YOU TO COME
PUBLICLY.

HE 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
COMING PUBLICLY

THAT HELPS SETTLE IT.

AND I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO COME.

IF YOU’RE WITH FRIENDS
OR RELATIVES, THEY’LL WAIT.

AND AFTER YOU’VE ALL COME,

I’M GOING TO SAY A WORD TO YOU
AND HAVE A PRAYER WITH YOU,

GIVE YOU SOME LITERATURE

TO HELP YOU
IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.

YOU GET UP AND COME.

WE’RE GOING TO WAIT ON YOU.

HUNDREDS OF YOU.

IF YOU COME FROM THIS STAND
BACK HERE,

IT’LL TAKE ABOUT A MINUTE,
MAYBE A MINUTE AND A HALF.

THIS STAND
AND THIS ONE OVER HERE,

CLOSE TO TWO MINUTES.

GET UP AND COME RIGHT NOW.

AND AFTER YOU’VE COME,

WE’LL STAND HERE
A FEW MINUTES

THEN HAVE A PRAYER,

AND THEN YOU GO BACK
AND JOIN YOUR FRIENDS.

VERY SIMPLE,
BUT VERY IMPORTANT.

BECAUSE
YOUR WHOLE ETERNAL FUTURE

MAY HANG ON
WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT.

AND YOU
THAT ARE WATCHING BY TELEVISION,

PICK UP THE TELEPHONE AND
CALL THAT NUMBER

AND MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT
TO CHRIST,

AS PEOPLE ARE ALREADY
BEGINNING TO COME

HERE IN THIS STADIUM
IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA.

JUST GET UP AND COME NOW,

HUNDREDS OF YOU.

WE’RE GOING TO WAIT ON YOU.

♪ JUST AS I AM
WITHOUT ONE PLEA ♪

♪ BUT THAT THY BLOOD
WAS SHED FOR ME ♪

JUST AS MANY HUNDREDS
ARE MAKING THEIR COMMITMENT

TO JESUS CHRIST
HERE AT LOCKHART STADIUM,

YOU CAN, TOO, BY CALLING
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER

ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS PROBABLY
THE MOST IMPORTANT CALL

YOU COULD EVER MAKE,
SO CALL NOW.

♪ I COME. ♪

TO YOU THAT ARE WATCHING
BY TELEVISION,

YOU CAN SEE THAT HERE
IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA,

MANY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
ARE COMING

TO MAKE THEIR COMMITMENT
TO CHRIST,

TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW HIM
AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR.

YOU CAN MAKE SURE
WHERE YOU ARE.

YOU MAY BE IN A HOTEL ROOM,

MAYBE IN YOUR BEDROOM,
LIVING ROOM.

MAYBE IN A BAR SOMEWHERE.

I DON’T KNOW WHERE.

YOU CAN SAY, YES, LORD JESUS,
COME INTO MY HEART.

AND BE SURE AND 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.

♪ HEAR THE SOUND OF
A BRAND NEW DAY ♪

♪ WITNESS THE STORY
THAT NEVER FA-A-ADES ♪

♪ COME, COME WITH ME ♪

♪ TO THE BILLY GRAHAM LIBRARY ♪

TOWARD THE BATTLE.

INTO THE DARKNESS.

ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.

THIS IS OUR MISSION.

SHARING HOPE.

(Child whispers)
JESUS.

THE BILLY GRAHAM
EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION.

ALWAYS BRINGING GOOD NEWS.