Even Jesus felt lonely at times. Hear Billy Graham explain how you can tackle the root cause of loneliness in this 1987 message from Denver, Colorado.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES…
THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.
[applause]
NOW, TONIGHT,
THE 102nd PSALM
AND BEGINNING WITH VERSE FIVE,
WELL, SAY JUST SIX,
“I’M LIKE A PELICAN
OF THE WILDERNESS,
“I’M LIKE AN OWL
OF THE DESERT.
“I WATCH AND AM AS
A SPARROW, ALONE,
“UPON THE HOUSETOP”.
TODAY, I WENT FOR A FEW MINUTES
OUT INTO THE FOOTHILLS.
TOOK A LITTLE WALK
DOWN A LITTLE ROAD.
I DIDN’T WANT TO GO TOO FAR
BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME
THERE WERE RATTLESNAKES
AROUND THERE.
I’M NOT A FRIEND OF
RATTLESNAKES FOR SOME REASON
OR THEY’RE NOT MY FRIEND.
WE HAVE A LOT OF
THEM WHERE I LIVE,
SO WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THEM.
I LET MY WIFE KILL THOSE.
AND SHE DOES, SHE’S NOT
AFRAID OF, WELL,
SHE’S NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING,
THAT I EVER HEARD OF.
BUT SHE’S CERTAINLY
NOT AFRAID OF SNAKES.
SHE WAS BORN AND REARED
IN CHINA IN A TOWN THAT
SHE SAID SHE NEVER WENT
TO SLEEP A SINGLE NIGHT
THAT SHE DIDN’T HEAR GUNSHOTS.
AND SO SHE LEARNED
NOT TO BE AFRAID.
BECAUSE SHE NEVER SAW FEAR
IN HER FATHER AND MOTHER
BECAUSE THE TOWN WOULD CHANGE
HANDS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE
AS BANDITS OR WARLORDS
WOULD COME IN
AND THEN FINALLY THE JAPANESE
CAME AND MY FATHER-IN-LAW
HAD A BIG HOSPITAL AND
HE LIVED THROUGH ALL THAT.
AND SHE WAS THERE
SEVENTEEN YEARS.
BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT
TODAY AS I WALKED OUT
ON THAT LITTLE PLACE,
I BEGAN TO THINK
AND MEDITATE A LITTLE BIT.
AND I WATCHED A BIRD.
I DON’T KNOW
THE NAME OF THAT BIRD.
IT’S A BIG BIRD AND
IT HAS DIFFERENT COLORS.
IT MAY BE A MAGPIE,
I’M NOT SURE,
BUT IT CERTAINLY HAS A STRANGE
SOUND TO NORTH CAROLINA EARS.
AND THEN THE BIRD SAT
ON A FENCE POST
AND HE SAT THERE
BY HIMSELF.
NO MATE CAME AROUND.
NOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF
DOVES WHERE I LIVE,
AS YOU KNOW,
THEY MATE FOR LIFE.
AND THEY’LL GO AROUND
TOGETHER.
AND THEY HAVE FRIENDSHIP
AND FELLOWSHIP.
AND PRODUCE LITTLE
CHILDREN, LITTLE BIRDS.
[laughter]
BUT THIS BIRD TODAY SEEMED
TO BE ALL ALONE
AND I THOUGHT ABOUT
THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE
THAT’S FOUND IN
THE 102nd PSALM .
“I’M LIKE A PELICAN
IN THE WILDERNESS,
“I’M LIKE AN OWL
IN THE DESERT.
“I WATCH AND AM AS
A SPARROW, ALONE,
“UPON THE HOUSETOP”.
DO YOU KNOW, TONIGHT, THERE
ARE MANY LONELY PEOPLE HERE.
MANY SINGLE PEOPLE IN
THE CITY OF DENVER.
FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OF
YOUR POPULATION IS SINGLE.
AND MANY OF THOSE
PEOPLE ARE LONELY.
AND ONE OF THE SUPREME
PROBLEMS OF MODERN SOCIETY
IS LONELINESS.
THE MODERN CITY IS
A LONELY PLACE.
HERE IN AMERICA, SEVENTY
PERCENT MORE PEOPLE
ARE LIVING ALONE IN ONE PERSON
DWELLINGS THAN TEN YEARS AGO.
A NEW YORK PSYCHIATRIST WAS
QUOTED THE OTHER DAY AS SAYING,
“NEW YORK CITY IS
THE LONELIEST PLACE
“IN THE WORLD
FOR MILLIONS.”
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
ABOUT DENVER,
OR THE TOWN
YOU COME FROM?
AN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
STUDY REPORTED
THAT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
ARE THE LONELIEST PEOPLE
IN THE UNITED STATES,
FOLLOWED BY DIVORCED PEOPLE.
ARE YOU LONELY?
ONE OF THE PRINCIPLE
CAUSES OF LONELINESS
IS ALCOHOLISM
AND DRUG USE.
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS ARE EFFORTS
TO ESCAPE LONELINESS.
DRUGS TAKE YOU ON A TRIP AND
BEING DRUNK MAKES YOU FEEL
THAT YOU’VE GOT
SOMEBODY WITH YOU.
ON THE OTHER HAND,
GOING WITH CHRIST IS A TRIP
IN WHICH YOU REALLY,
ALWAYS HAVE JESUS WITH YOU
AS YOUR LORD AND COMPANION.
YOU CANNOT DRINK YOUR WAY
OUT OF LONELINESS.
MOST YOUNG PEOPLE TURN
TO DRUGS FOR KICKS
AND GET HOOKED,
OR PEER PRESSURE.
BUT THOUSANDS TURN TO DRUGS
BECAUSE OF LONELINESS.
A MAGAZINE COVER STORY RECENTLY
HAD OUR NEGLECTED YOUTH.
IT SAID THAT ACTUALLY
MOST OF THEM
ARE PROPERLY CLOTHED AND FED,
BUT SOMETHING IS MISSING
IN THE LIVES OF MILLIONS.
IT’S A NEGLECT OF THE SPIRIT,
THE ARTICLE SAID,
WHICH LEAVES THEM LONELY AND
PRONE TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.
BUT ALL TOO OFTEN,
LEADS TO SUICIDE.
WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?
ONE OF THE KEY WORDS IN
THE BIBLE IS COMMUNION
FROM WHICH WE GET OUR WORD,
COMMUNICATION.
JESUS CAME TO A MAN ONE TIME
THAT WAS LONELY AND
SICK AND PARALYZED.
THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS
HE’D SAT IN THE SAME SPOT.
LONELY AND TIRED,
WITHOUT A FRIEND
AND JESUS LOOKED AT HIM AND
SAID, “DO YOU NEED A FRIEND?”
AND HE SAID, “YES.”
THIS BUNDLE OF LONELINESS
AND HUMAN PAIN
HAD BEEN BUFFETED BY THE SURGING
TIDES OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
BUT JESUS SINGLED HIM OUT.
HE BECAME HIS FRIEND
THAT DAY AND HE HEALED HIM.
HE CAN BECOME YOUR FRIEND
TONIGHT, IF YOU’LL LET HIM.
LONELINESS BEGAN, ACTUALLY,
IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.
IN A PERFECT PARADISE.
WHEN MAN AND WOMAN DECLARED
THEIR INDEPENDENCE OF GOD.
THEY SAID, “WE DON’T
NEED YOU, GOD,
“WE CAN BUILD THIS
WORLD WITHOUT YOU.”
SO THEY MADE
A TERRIBLE CHOICE.
THEY CHOSE TO TURN
AWAY FROM GOD.
THEY WENT THEIR OWN WAY.
TRIED TO BUILD THEIR WORLD
AND SIN ENTERED
AT THAT BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.
AND IT WAS GIVEN
TO THE NEXT GENERATION,
THE NEXT GENERATION, THE NEXT,
THE NEXT, DOWN TO YOU AND ME.
AND WE ALL HAVE THE DISEASE
AND IT’S A FATAL DISEASE.
NOBODY EVER ESCAPES THE JUDGMENT
OF THE DISEASE OF SIN.
SO THE ROOTS OF LONELINESS
WERE PLANTED IN THE HUMAN SOUL
AND IT HAS BEEN INHERITED
BY EVERY INHABITANT EVER.
BECAUSE YOU SEE, IN THAT GARDEN
GOD WENT LOOKING FOR ADAM.
HE KNEW WHERE HE WAS.
BUT HE WENT LOOKING FOR HIM.
HE WANTED ADAM TO KNOW
WHERE HE WAS.
HE SAID, “ADAM,
WHERE ARE YOU?”
AND ADAM TRIED TO HIDE.
GOT SOME FIG LEAVES
AND SEWED THEM ON.
HE DIDN’T KNOW HE
WAS NAKED TILL THEN.
BUT HE COULDN’T HIDE.
LONELINESS HAS NEVER BEEN
A RESPECTER OF PERSONS.
THE WORLD’S GREATEST
ARTISTS, WRITERS AND COMPOSERS,
KINGS AND QUEENS AND CARPENTERS
AND PLUMBERS AND EVERYBODY,
HAVE FELT THIS TERRIBLE
THING CALLED LONELINESS.
IN JOHN 13 IT TELLS
ABOUT THE LAST SUPPER.
AND IT TELLS ABOUT
THE BETRAYAL OF JUDAS.
AND THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“HE WENT OUT AND IT WAS NIGHT.”
NO ONE EVER WENT AWAY FROM
JESUS BUT WHAT IT WAS NIGHT.
PERHAPS THERE WAS A TIME
THAT YOU KNEW THE FELLOWSHIP
OF GOD’S PEOPLE AND
YOU HAD PEACE WITH GOD.
BUT YOU’VE BACKSLIDDEN,
YOU’VE GONE AWAY,
YOU’VE TURNED AWAY.
YOU’VE FALLEN ASIDE.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN YOU KNEW
CHRIST, YOU FELT YOU KNEW HIM.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN YOU FELT
YOU MEANT BUSINESS WITH GOD.
BUT NOW YOUR HEART
HAS GROWN COLD AND HARD
TOWARDS SPIRITUAL THINGS.
YOU’VE BEEN PULLED AWAY BY
OTHERS, AND OTHER THINGS
AND OTHER GODS
AND OTHER PLEASURES
THAT YOU KNOW TO BE WRONG.
AND YOU WENT OUT
FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD
AND YOU HAVE FOUND
THAT IT’S NIGHT OUT THERE.
YOU DON’T HAVE FELLOWSHIP
WITH TRUE BELIEVERS AND
YOU DON’T FEEL
REALLY FEEL AT HOME
IN THE WORLD
YOU’RE LIVING IN.
AND CERTAINLY YOU NO LONGER
HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST.
AND THERE IS NO LONELINESS
QUITE SO BITTER AS
THE LONELINESS OF
A BACKSLIDDEN CHRISTIAN
WHO CLAIMS WITH HIS MOUTH
THAT HE KNOWS CHRIST,
BUT DEEP IN HIS HEART
HE KNOWS HE DOESN’T.
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE
STRADDLING THE FENCE,
TRYING TO PUT ONE FOOT
IN GOD’S KINGDOM
AND ONE FOOT IN
THE WORLD’S KINGDOM?
SIN MAKES US LONELY BECAUSE
IT SEPARATES US FROM GOD.
AND IT WAS NEVER IN GOD’S
INTENTION FOR YOU TO BE LONELY.
HUNDREDS OF SURVEYS
PROVE THAT OUR SOCIETY
HAS NOT MADE US A BETTER
ADJUSTED OR HAPPIER SOCIETY.
OH YES, WE CAN HAVE FLEETING
MOMENTS OF SENSUAL SATISFACTION.
CREATES A BITTERNESS AND
A LOSS OF SENSE OF PLEASURE
THAT NO PSYCHIATRIST
CAN CURE.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT
“THE WICKED ARE LIKE
“A TROUBLED SEA
WHEN IT CANNOT REST.
“WHOSE WATER CASTS
UP MIRE AND DIRT.”
REMEMBER THE STORY OF JESUS
WITH THE WOMAN AT THE WELL?
SHE WAS A LONELY WOMAN.
SHE HAD SEVERAL HUSBANDS.
HAD HAD SEVERAL HUSBANDS, NO
SATISFACTION, NO PEACE, NO JOY.
JESUS CAME AND TALKED TO HER,
FORGAVE HER HER SINS,
TRANSFORMED HER LIFE,
MADE HER A NEW PERSON.
SHE WENT INTO THE VILLAGE
OF SYCHAR AND TOLD ALL
THE PEOPLE THAT HERE WAS SOMEONE
THAT KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU.
COME AND SEE HIM.
AND THEY ALL WENT
OUT TO SEE JESUS.
THE BIBLE SAYS, “HE’S
DESPISED AND REJECTED OF MEN.
“A MAN OF SORROWS AND
ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF.”
EVEN THOUGH GREAT CROWDS
SURROUNDED HIM AT TIMES,
HE WAS ALONE.
EVEN AT THE END
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
ALL THE DISCIPLES
FORSOOK HIM AND FLED.
THE CROWDS WHO SHOUTED
ONE DAY, “HOSANNA!”
THAT SAME WEEK,
FIVE DAYS LATER,
THEY WERE CRUCIFYING HIM.
AND AT LAST,
WE HEAR FROM THE CROSS.
JESUS, ON THE CROSS,
DYING FOR YOU AND FOR ME.
GOD LAYING ON HIM ALL OF
OUR SINS AND OUR JUDGMENT
AND OUR HELL,
WHICH HE TOOK ON THAT CROSS.
HE SAYS, “MY GOD, MY GOD,
WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?”
IN THAT TERRIBLE MOMENT,
SOMETHING MYSTERIOUS HAPPENED.
NO THEOLOGIAN CAN EXPLAIN IT.
JESUS TOOK YOUR SINS,
YOUR JUDGMENT, YOUR HELL.
ALL THE PENALTY
THAT I DESERVE FOR MY SINS,
HE TOOK ON THAT CROSS,
AND IT WAS A LONELY MOMENT.
A LONELY PERIOD WHEN
HE ALONE HAD TO BEAR THE CROSS.
AND HE BECAME GUILTY OF ALL
THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD!
HE EXPERIENCED
ULTIMATE LONELINESS
AS HE DIED FOR YOU
AND DIED FOR ME.
I’VE NEVER UNDERSTOOD
HOW A PERSON CAN TURN
AWAY FROM JESUS
WHEN THEY ACTUALLY SEE HIM
ON THAT CROSS,
DYING FOR YOU,
AND TO REJECT HIM,
TO TURN AWAY WHEN
HE OFFERS YOU FORGIVENESS,
HE OFFERS YOU A NEW LIFE.
HE OFFERS YOU PEACE AND
JOY AND FRIENDSHIP.
NEVER TO BE LONELY AGAIN.
THROUGH HIS DEATH
CHRIST DEALT WITH
THE PRIMARY CAUSE
OF HUMAN LONELINESS.
SEPARATION FROM GOD.
BECAUSE HELL, ESSENTIALLY,
IS SEPARATION FROM GOD.
HELL IS THE LONELIEST
PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE.
JESUS SUFFERED
ITS AGONIES FOR YOU.
JESUS WAS LONELY FOR YOU.
I REMEMBER WHEN
MY GRANDMOTHER DIED
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF
BEING THERE AT THAT TIME.
SHE SAT UP IN BED WITH
A SMILE AND A GLOW ON HER FACE.
HER HUSBAND HAD BEEN
WOUNDED AT GETTYSBURG.
LOST AN EYE, LOST A LEG
AT GETTYSBURG.
AND SHE SAT UP AND SAID,
“I SEE BEN,” HER HUSBAND.
WHO HAD DIED SOME
YEARS EARLIER.
AND SHE SAID, “OH,
THE MUSIC IS SO BEAUTIFUL!”
AND THEN SHE FELL BACK
ON THE PILLOW
OUT IN ETERNITY.
I REMEMBER WHEN
MY MOTHER WAS DYING
A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME AGO.
AND ALL
THE WONDERFUL SAYINGS
THAT SHE LEFT BEHIND
ON HER DEATH BED
BECAUSE SHE JUST
LIVED ONLY FOR THE LORD.
SHE HAD A JOY AND A PEACE.
YOU NEVER WENT INTO HER ROOM
THAT YOU DIDN’T COME OUT
AND FEEL THAT SHE WAS
MINISTERING TO YOU.
YOU DIDN’T MINISTER TO HER.
AND EVEN WHEN
SHE WAS IN A COMA,
SHE WOKE UP ONE NIGHT
AND QUOTED SCRIPTURE.
AND THE NURSE SAID SHE NEVER SAW
SUCH A LOOK ON ANYBODY’S FACE.
AND FELL BACK INTO HER COMA
AND WENT INTO ETERNITY.
THERE’S A GREAT DIFFERENCE,
EVEN IN THE LAST HOUR,
BETWEEN THOSE WHO KNOW CHRIST
AND THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW HIM.
THEN THERE’S THE LONELINESS
OF YOUR DECISION.
BECAUSE, YOU SEE,
CHRIST DIED FOR YOU,
HE ROSE AGAIN,
HE’S LIVING.
HE WANTS TO COME
INTO YOUR HEART.
HE OFFERS YOU FORGIVENESS
AND SALVATION
AND ASSURANCE AND
PEACE AND JOY.
AND HE OFFERS YOU
A TOUGH LIFE.
I’M NOT GOING TO PLAY
GAMES WITH YOU
AND TELL YOU THAT
IT’S EASY TO FOLLOW CHRIST.
IT’S NOT.
HE SAID IF YOU’RE NOT
WILLING TO DENY SELF
AND TAKE UP A CROSS
AND FOLLOW ME,
YOU CAN’T BE MY DISCIPLE.
NOW THE CROSS WAS A PLACE
WHERE THEY EXECUTED CRIMINALS.
IT WOULD BE LIKE TODAY HE’D SAY,
“TAKE UP THE ELECTRIC CHAIR,
AND FOLLOW ME.”
HE SAID, I’M GOING TO SUFFER,
I’M GOING TO DIE.
AND HE SAID,
“IF YOU FOLLOW ME,”
HE SAID, “YOU’RE GOING TO
HAVE TROUBLES AND DIFFICULTIES
“AND PROBLEMS AND PERSECUTION
AND MAYBE DEATH!”
ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THAT?
ARE YOU WILLING TO GO ALL
THE WAY WITH ME TO THE CROSS?
OH YES, IN THE MIDST OF IT
THERE’LL BE HIS PEACE
AND HIS JOY AND HIS FRIENDSHIP
AND HIS FORGIVENESS
AND HIS PROMISE AND THE HOPE
THAT HE OFFERS FOR THE FUTURE.
BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE
THE POSSIBILITY OF PERSECUTION
AND SUFFERING AND PROBLEMS
THAT YOU NEVER DREAMED OF
WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST.
WE’VE BEEN IN THOSE PARTS
OF THE WORLD
WHERE PEOPLE SUFFER BECAUSE
THEY COME TO CHRIST.
YOU MUST MAKE THE DECISION
ABOUT CHRIST YOURSELF.
OUR REACTION TO LONELINESS
IS OFTEN TO DEAL
WITH THE SYMPTOMS
RATHER THAN THE CAUSE.
WE GET INVOLVED IN PLEASURES,
PARTIES, GOOD TIMES, SEX.
WE GET INVOLVED
IN OUR WORK.
WE THROW OURSELVES INTO
THE SOCIAL WHIRL AT THE SCHOOL.
WE READ ONE OF THE BEST
SELLING BOOKS
WHICH URGES US TO TAKE
CONTROL OF OUR LIVES.
ANY WE ATTEMPT
TO DEAL WITH SIN
WITHOUT CONVERSION IS LIKE
STRUGGLING IN QUICKSAND.
AND HOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
TODAY AND OLDER PEOPLE
ARE STRUGGLING
IN QUICKSAND?
TRYING TO SAVE YOURSELF,
BUT YOU CAN’T!
YOU’VE COME TO
THE END OF YOUR ROPE.
TURN YOUR LIFE
OVER TO CHRIST.
LET HIM BEAR YOUR BURDENS.
HELP YOU SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS.
HELP DIRECT AND LEAD YOU
IN YOUR LIFE.
HOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HERE
TONIGHT DO NOT REALLY KNOW
WHAT YOU WANT
TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE?
OR HELP YOU
IN YOUR MARRIAGE.
WHO YOU OUGHT TO MARRY.
THERE’S A LADY
TALKED TO ME TONIGHT
WHO SAID SHE’S JUST WAITING
FOR THE RIGHT MAN TO COME ALONG.
AND THERE ARE MANY LIKE THAT.
BE SURE IT’S
GOD’S MAN OR GOD’S WOMAN.
I REMEMBER I TOOK MY THREE
DAUGHTERS ASIDE
WHEN THEY WERE,
OH, THEY COULDN’T HAVE BEEN
MORE THAN EIGHT, NINE OR TEN
YEARS OF AGE.
AND I SAID, “LET’S STOP
HERE IN THE MOUNTAIN
“AND PRAY FOR YOUR HUSBANDS
WHO YOU’RE GOING TO MARRY.
“THEY’RE BOYS SOMEWHERE.
“AND LET’S JUST PRAY THAT
GOD WILL LEAD THEM
“AND LEAD YOU AND THAT
THEY WILL BE MEN OF GOD.”
WELL THEY LOOKED AT ME AS THOUGH
THEIR DAD HAD GONE CRAZY.
[laughter]
BUT WE PRAYED AND
THEY GOT THE RIGHT MEN TOO!
ONE OF THEM’S HERE TONIGHT.
AND WE PRAYED
THE SAME WAY FOR OUR SONS.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
MANY, SEVERAL YEARS, AT LEAST
BOTH OF MY SONS
ARE HERE TONIGHT.
I DON’T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE,
BUT THEY’RE HERE SOMEWHERE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE
THIS DECISION ALONE.
IF WE SEARCH FOR
AN ANTIDOTE TO LONELINESS
IN DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AND SEX
AND ENCOUNTER GROUPS
AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCES
OFTEN IT ONLY SERVES TO
MIRE US DEEPER IN DESPAIR,
WITHOUT A REMEDY.
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
WE CAN HAVE
THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL
RELATIONSHIP IN LIFE RESTORED.
HE SAYS, “BEHOLD, I STAND
AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK.
“IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE
AND OPEN THE DOOR,
“I WILL COME IN TO HIM AND WILL
SUP WITH HIM AND HE WITH ME.”
THE PSALMIST THAT WROTE THAT
ABOUT THE PELICAN AND THE OWL,
SAID, “OH MY SOUL, WHY BE
SO GLOOMY AND DISCOURAGED?
“TRUST IN GOD!
“I SHALL AGAIN PRAISE HIM
FOR HIS WONDROUS HELP.
“HE WILL MAKE ME SMILE AGAIN
FOR HE IS MY GOD.”
LONELINESS IS OFTEN
GOD’S WAY OF LETTING US KNOW
IT IS TIME TO REACH OUT,
REACH OUT TO THE CROSS.
AND YOU’LL NEVER BE
LONELY AGAIN.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO
I RECEIVED A LETTER WHICH SAID,
QUOTE, “ABOUT A MONTH AGO,
MY WIFE AND I SEPARATED.
“SHE MOVED OUT OF OUR HOUSE
SAYING THAT SHE COULD NOT STAND
“TO BE AROUND ME ANYMORE.
“WE’D GOTTEN TO A POINT
WHERE WE COULD NOT COMMUNICATE
“WITH EACH OTHER ANYMORE.
“WE WERE THROWING ACCUSATIONS,
SOME FOUNDED AND SOME NOT
“AND BITTER, SPITEFUL
WORDS AT EACH OTHER.
“SO SHE MOVED OUT AND WENT
TO LIVE WITH ANOTHER MAN
“UNTIL SHE COULD GET
AN APARTMENT OF HER OWN.
“ON JUNE THE EIGHTH,
THIS YEAR,
“I HAD COME HOME FROM WORK,
AND AFTER DINNER,
“I FELT A COMPULSION
TO TURN ON THE TUBE.
“I ATTRIBUTED IT TO
THE LONELINESS AND FRUSTRATION
“I WAS FEELING.
“SOMETIMES THE TUBE CAN BE
AN EXCELLENT FIRE ESCAPE
“FOR A SHORT WHILE,
“BUT IT’S NOT A GOOD
FIRE EXTINGUISHER,” HE SAID.
“ANYWAY, I TURNED THE SET ON
AND RANDOMLY FLIPPED THE DIAL.
“THE STATION I HAD CHOSEN WAS
JUST ANNOUNCING THE BEGINNING
“OF THE BILLY GRAHAM CRUSADE
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
“I DON’T MIND TELLING YOU, I WAS
MORE THAN A LITTLE SKEPTICAL
“ABOUT TELEVISED
RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS,
“BUT I CONTINUED TO WATCH.
“AT THE END OF YOUR SERMON,
“WHICH I FELT WAS DIRECTED
AT ME AND MY SITUATION.
“WHEN YOU CALLED THOSE
PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO CHANGE
“THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LIVES
“TO COME FORWARD AND RECEIVE
CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR,
“I HESITATED,
BUT THEN I DID.
“AT THIS TIME,
MY WIFE AND I ARE STARTING
“TO PUT THINGS BACK ON TRACK.
ANOTHER ONE.
LAST NIGHT,
I PREACHED ON JOHN 3:16
AND THE PEOPLE HERE
SAID IT ALL TOGETHER.
“FOR GOD SO LOVED
THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE
“HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT
WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM
“SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT
HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.”
AND LAST NIGHT MORE THAN
SEVENTEEN HUNDRED PEOPLE CAME
AND MADE THEIR COMMITMENT
TO CHRIST.
A FEW WEEKS AGO.
NO, NO…
[applause]
A FEW WEEKS AGO IN
ONE OF OUR CRUSADES
A MAN LOOKED AT THAT SAME VERSE,
AND THE COUNSELOR TOLD HIM
YOU CAN PUT YOUR NAME
IN THAT VERSE.
YOU ARE THE “WHOSOEVER.”
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD
THAT HE GAVE
HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT
WHOSO, AND PUT YOUR NAME THERE.
WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH OR
COMMITTED HIS LIFE TO HIM
WILL NEVER PERISH
BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.
THEN HE HAD A GRIN ON HIS FACE
AND HE SAID “I LIKE THAT.”
YOU CAN PUT YOUR NAME
TONIGHT IN THAT SAME WAY
AS ALL OF THOSE DID
LAST NIGHT.
GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD,
FOR YOU, THAT HE GAVE HIS SON
AND YOU PUT YOUR NAME
AND SAY, “LORD,
“I OPEN MY HEART AND
MY LIFE TO YOU.
“I COMMIT MYSELF TO YOU.”
FOR SOME OF YOU, IT MAY
BE THAT YOU ARE GOING
TO RECOMMIT YOUR LIFE.
FOR OTHERS, YOU’RE GOING
TO MAKE A BRAND NEW START.
YOU WANT TO BE SURE HOW
YOU STAND BEFORE GOD TONIGHT.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO
WHAT WE SAW THOSE PEOPLE DO
LAST NIGHT AND
WE’VE SEEN PEOPLE
IN EVERY CONTINENT
OF THE WORLD DO.
IN MORE THAN THREE SCORE
COUNTRIES WE’VE SEEN PEOPLE
DO WHAT I’M ASKING YOU TO DO.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO GET OUT OF YOUR SEAT,
HUNDREDS OF YOU.
AND SAY TONIGHT,
“I WANT TO SERVE CHRIST,
“I WANT TO FOLLOW CHRIST.
“I WANT TO RECEIVE CHRIST.
“I WANT TO COME TO THE CROSS.
“I WANT TO PUT MY CONFIDENCE
AND MY TRUST IN HIM.
“I WANT MY SINS FORGIVEN.
“I WANT TO KNOW
I’M GOING TO HEAVEN.
“I WANT TO BE SURE THAT
CHRIST LIVES IN MY HEART.”
AND AFTER YOU’VE ALL COME,
I’M GOING TO SAY A WORD TO YOU
AND HAVE A PRAYER WITH YOU.
YOU SAY, “WELL, BILLY,
“WHY DO YOU ASK PEOPLE
TO COME FORWARD PUBLICLY?”
BECAUSE, JESUS,
EVERY PERSON JESUS CALLED,
HE CALLED PUBLICLY.
AND HE SAID,
“IF YOU’RE NOT WILLING
“TO ACKNOWLEDGE ME
BEFORE MEN
“I’LL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE YOU
BEFORE MY FATHER,
“WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.”
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT
COMING FORWARD PUBLICLY
AND TAKING A STAND IN PUBLIC
THAT MAKES IT COUNT.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU,
IF YOU COME FROM
THAT GALLERY UP ON TOP,
IT’S GOING TO TAKE
YOU TWO OR THREE MINUTES,
SO START NOW.
AND I’M GOING TO ASK THAT NO
ONE LEAVE THE STADIUM, PLEASE.
THIS IS THE HOLY MOMENT
AND GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU,
WHEREVER YOU ARE.
AND IF YOU’RE WITH FRIENDS OR
RELATIVES, THEY’LL WAIT ON YOU.
IF YOU’VE COME IN A BUS,
THEY’LL WAIT ON YOU.
AND AFTER YOU’VE ALL COME,
I’LL SAY A WORD TO YOU,
HAVE A PRAYER WITH YOU,
GIVE YOU SOME LITERATURE
TO HELP YOU IN
YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.
OR YOU CAN BRING
YOUR FRIEND WITH YOU,
BUT JUST GET UP
AND COME, QUICKLY,
HUNDREDS OF YOU.
BACK OVER HERE,
OVER THERE, UPSTAIRS.
YOU MAY BE IN THE CHOIR
AND GOD HAS SPOKEN TO YOU
EVEN THOUGH YOU’RE
IN THE CHOIR.
YOU MAY BE A SUNDAY
SCHOOL TEACHER,
YOU MAY BE A LEADER
IN YOUR CHURCH,
BUT GOD HAS SPOKEN TO YOU
ABOUT YOUR NEED OF CHRIST.
YOU GET UP AND COME.
OVER HERE ON THE ENDS,
EVERYWHERE, QUICKLY.
♪
♪ JUST AS I AM
WITHOUT ONE PLEA ♪
♪ BUT THAT THY BLOOD
WAS SHED FOR ME ♪
♪ AND THAT THOU BIDST ME
COME TO THEE ♪
♪ O LAMB OF GOD,
I COME ♪
♪ I COME ♪
AS YOU CAN SEE,
MANY HUNDREDS ARE RESPONDING TO
THE INVITATION OF MR. GRAHAM
TO MAKE JESUS CHRIST
LORD OF THEIR LIFE.
YOU TOO CAN MAKE
THAT SAME DECISION.
THERE’S A PHONE NUMBER
ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS YOUR NUMBER FOR
SPIRITUAL HELP AND COUNSELING.
WRITE THE NUMBER DOWN.
IF THE LINES ARE BUSY JUST WAIT
A FEW MOMENTS AND CALL AGAIN.
SPECIAL FRIENDS ARE STANDING BY
TO TALK WITH YOU
AND PRAY WITH YOU.
MAKE THAT CALL NOW.
♪ O LAMB OF GOD,
I COME, I COME ♪
AND YOU IN OTHER PARTS
OF THE COUNTRY
THAT HAVE BEEN WATCHING
BY TELEVISION,
YOU CAN MAKE THIS SAME
COMMITMENT TONIGHT.
AND WHETHER YOU’RE AT HOME
OR IN A BAR OR IN A HOTEL ROOM,
YOU CAN HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE
THAT YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.
THAT YOU’RE JUSTIFIED.
AND THE WORD JUSTIFIED
MEANS JUST AS THOUGH
YOU HAVE NEVER SINNED
IN YOUR LIFE.
THAT’S HOW GOD LOOKS AT YOU
THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
HE WILL COME INTO YOUR HEART
WHERE YOU ARE.
AND IF YOU’LL MAKE
THAT COMMITMENT,
PICK UP THE TELEPHONE
AND CALL THAT NUMBER
THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.
MAY GOD HELP YOU TO MAKE
THAT COMMITMENT
THAT SO MANY HUNDREDS HERE
IN COLORADO ARE MAKING ON
THIS BEAUTIFUL
COLORADO EVENING.
GOD BLESS YOU.
AND THIS REMINDER AGAIN, AS
MR. GRAHAM HAS JUST TOLD YOU.
WE’D LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU
AND PRAY WITH YOU,
SO MAKE THAT
TELEPHONE CALL NOW.
THE NUMBER IS THERE
ON YOUR SCREEN.
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 ♪