Sex, Power, Riches and Materialism | Billy Graham Classics

Many people try to buy happiness, yet remain lonely. If you or someone you know is seeking purpose, listen to Billy Graham’s 1987 message from Columbia, South Carolina

FROM OUR ARCHIVES…

THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.

[applause]

NOW TONIGHT I WANT YOU
TO TURN WITH ME

TO THE 12TH CHAPTER
OF MATTHEW.

THE 12TH CHAPTER
OF MATTHEW,

AND BEGINNING AT VERSE 38.

SOMEBODY ASKED ME
WHAT VERSION I’M USING.

I’M USING THE SAME ONE
PAUL USED–

THE KING JAMES VERSION.

[laughter]

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SO MANY
VERSIONS TODAY

THAT YOU CAN STAND UP
AND QUOTE SCRIPTURE

AND IF YOU MISQUOTE IT,

THEY THINK YOU’RE USING
ANOTHER VERSION!

[laughter]

AND IT’S VERY INTERESTING.

I HAVE, I GUESS…

WELL, I GUESS MY WIFE AND I
MUST HAVE 25 DIFFERENT VERSIONS.

WELL, I’M GOING TO
THE KING JAMES VERSION

AS I NORMALLY DO
IN MY PREACHING.

I LIKE A NUMBER
OF THE VERSIONS,

AND THEY THROW
A LOT OF LIGHT ON IT.

AND I HEARD THE STORY
THAT SOMEONE TOLD

ABOUT UH, THE APOSTLE PAUL,

OR PARDON ME, TIMOTHY
HAD RECEIVED A LETTER

FROM THE APOSTLE PAUL.

AND BEHIND HIM
WERE TWO DONKEYS

LOADED DOWN WITH BAGGAGE,
AND THEY SAID,

“WHAT IS ALL THAT?”

THEY SAID, “WELL, THESE ARE
THE COMMENTARIES

“TO TELL YOU WHAT PAUL
IS SAYING IN THAT LETTER.”

[laughter]

“THEN CERTAIN OF THE SCRIBES
AND OF THE PHARISEES

“ANSWERED SAYING,
MASTER, WE WANT TO SEE YOU

“DO A SIGN,”
WE WANT A SIGN.

“BUT HE ANSWERED AND
SAID UNTO THEM,

“AN EVIL AND ADULTEROUS
GENERATION SEEKETH AFTER A SIGN

“AND THERE SHALL BE NO SIGN
GIVEN IT

“BUT THE SIGN
OF THE PROPHET JONAH.”

ISN’T IT STRANGE THAT
JESUS WOULD USE JONAH?

HE DIDN’T TELL US NOT TO
BELIEVE THE STORY OF JONAH.

HE ACCEPTED THE FACT

THAT JONAH HAD BEEN
SWALLOWED BY A WHALE,

OR A BIG FISH.

“FOR AS JONAH WAS THREE DAYS
AND THREE NIGHTS

“IN THE WHALE’S BELLY,

“SO SHALL THE SON OF MAN
BE THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS

“IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH.”

HE WAS USING THAT AS
AN ILLUSTRATION

OF HIS OWN DEATH
AND RESURRECTION.

“THE MEN OF NINEVEH
SHALL RISE IN JUDGMENT

“WITH THIS GENERATION
AND SHALL CONDEMN IT,

“BECAUSE THEY REPENTED
AT THE PREACHING OF JONAH.

“AND BEHOLD, A GREATER THAN
JONAH IS HERE.”

REMEMBER WHEN JONAH
PREACHED TO NINEVEH?

AND NINEVEH WAS A GREAT CITY

OF SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND
PEOPLE,

AND THE GREATEST REVIVAL
OF ALL TIME TOOK PLACE?

WHEN THAT ENTIRE CITY
TURNED TO GOD IN REPENTANCE.

THEY REPENTED OF THEIR SINS,

AND EVERYONE IN THE WHOLE CITY
TURNED TO GOD,

AND GOD SPARED THAT CITY
THE JUDGMENT.

AND I’VE BEEN PRAYING
FOR AMERICA–

OH, GOD, SPARE AMERICA!

BECAUSE WE SEE
THE POSSIBILITIES

OF OUR WORLD BEING DESTROYED.

NOT ONLY IN ATOMIC WAR,
BUT ALSO BY AIDS

AND OTHER THINGS
THAT ARE GRIPPING OUR WORLD

AT THE MOMENT.

“THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH
SHALL RISE UP IN THE JUDGMENT

“WITH THIS GENERATION
AND SHE’LL CONDEMN IT

“FOR SHE CAME FROM
THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH

“TO HEAR THE WISDOM
OF SOLOMON,

“BUT BEHOLD, A GREATER THAN
SOLOMON IS HERE.”

HOW COULD A GREATER THAN
SOLOMON EVER COME?

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT
TONIGHT.

I WANT TO USE SOLOMON’S LIFE
AS AN ILLUSTRATION

OF THE LIVES OF AMERICANS TODAY
AND AMERICAN YOUNG PEOPLE,

BECAUSE YOU SEE, SOLOMON WAS
A MAN OF GREAT KNOWLEDGE

AND WE LOOK ON EVERY HAND
TODAY AND WE SEE YOUNG PEOPLE

SEEKING KNOWLEDGE,
SECURITY, LOVE.

IT SEEMS THAT
THEY’RE ON A GREAT QUEST.

YOUNG PEOPLE SEEK TO DEFINE
THEMSELVES IN TERMS OF

CLOTHES THEY WEAR,

AND WE HEAR THAT THE MINI SKIRT
IS ON THE WAY BACK.

AND THE CROWD THEY RUN WITH
AND THE THINGS THEY BUY,

AND THE PLACES THEY GO,

AND THE ROCK CONCERTS
THEY ATTEND.

BUT MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
TODAY ARE LONELY.

AND I WAS TALKING TO THE DEAN

OF ONE OF OUR GREAT
EASTERN UNIVERSITIES,

AND I SAID,
“WHAT IS THE GREATEST PROBLEM

“ON THIS CAMPUS?”

AND HE SAID,
“LACK OF PURPOSE AND MEANING.”

THAT WAS DR. BUCK
AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY.

NOW THE RESULTS OF
SOLOMON’S SEARCH

WERE EXPRESSED
TIME AFTER TIME.

HE SAID,
“VANITY OF VANITIES.”

LIFE IS NOTHING
BUT A VANITY.

AND THE WORD
“VANITY”

MEANS A BUBBLE
THAT BURSTS.

HE SOUGHT PLEASURE

BY EVERY CONCEIVABLE MEANS.

BUT IT WAS NOTHING

BUT A BURSTING BUBBLE.

SOLOMON HAD IT ALL,

AND AT THE END HE SAID

IT’S NOT WORTH IT.

FIRST SOLOMON ATTAINED

GREAT KNOWLEDGE.

HE KNEW MORE THAN ANY MAN

THAT EVER LIVED,

EXCEPT JESUS CHRIST.

HE SAID,

“I’VE GOT MORE WISDOM

“THAN ALL THEY THAT HAVE

“BEEN BEFORE ME,

“AND ALL OF THOSE

“THAT ARE GOING TO FOLLOW ME,”

IN ECCLESIASTES 1:16.

IN I KINGS 4:30 IT SAYS,

“SOLOMON’S WISDOM

“EXCELLED THE WISDOM

“OF ALL THE EAST,

“AND ALL THE WISDOM OF EGYPT.”

HE SAID, “I GAVE MY HEART

“TO KNOW WISDOM,

“AND I PERCEIVE THAT THIS ALSO

“IS VEXATION OF SPIRIT,

“FOR IN MUCH WISDOM

“AND KNOWLEDGE,

“THERE IS MUCH GRIEF.”

HE SAID
YOU CAN KNOW IT ALL!

HAVE ALL THE KNOWLEDGE
AND HAVE ALL THE Ph.D.’s

AND ALL THE REST,

BUT IT DOESN’T SATISFY
SOMETHING

DEEP INSIDE OUR HEARTS
AND OUR SOULS.

VANITY OF VANITIES,
ALL IS VANITY.

AND THE STRUGGLE INTENSIFIES
AROUND THE GLOBE RIGHT NOW,

FOR THE HEARTS AND MINDS
OF YOUTH.

BUT CHRIST SAID WE’RE TO
LOVE GOD WITH OUR HEART,

SOUL, STRENGTH AND MIND.

AND YOU CANNOT COME TO GOD ALONE
THROUGH YOUR MIND.

OUR NATURAL MINDS HAVE BEEN
AFFECTED BY SINS.

THE BIBLE SAYS IN
II CORINTHIANS 3:14,

“THEIR MINDS WERE BLINDED.”

IN II CORINTHIANS 4:4,

“THE GOD OF THIS WORLD
HATH BLINDED THE MINDS

“OF THEM THAT BELIEVE NOT.”

THE GOD OF THIS WORLD
IS THE DEVIL.

THE BIBLE TEACHES
THERE IS A DEVIL.

THERE ARE DEMONS.

AND THEY HAVE THE POWER
TO BLIND YOUR MIND

TOWARD SPIRITUAL THINGS.

“IN THE FUTILITY
OF THEIR THINKING

“THEY ARE DARKENED
IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING,”

SAYS PAUL IN EPHESIANS
THE FOURTH CHAPTER.

NOW THAT’S
THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION,

BY THE WAY,

THAT PARTICULAR SCRIPTURE
I JUST QUOTED.

NOW THE BIBLE TEACHES
IN TITUS 1

THAT OUR MINDS ARE DEFILED.

IN DANIEL 5 IT SAYS
THEY’RE FILLED WITH PRIDE.

IN I TIMOTHY 6:5
IT SAYS THEY’RE CORRUPT.

IN EPHESIANS 4 IT SAYS
THEY’RE FILLED WITH VANITY.

IN PROVERBS 21
IT SAYS THEY’RE WICKED.

WITH ALL OF OUR STOCKPILES
OF KNOWLEDGE,

DO YOU KNOW
WHAT WE’VE LEARNED?

WE’VE LEARNED SOMETHING
THAT ADAM AND EVE

DID NOT KNOW
IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

WE’VE LEARNED
THE KNOWLEDGE OF EVIL.

ADAM AND EVE GAINED
THE KNOWLEDGE OF EVIL

WHEN THEY SINNED AGAINST GOD.

GOD NEVER MEANT THAT WE WERE
TO KNOW WHAT EVIL WAS.

HE CREATED US
PERFECT HUMAN BEINGS.

WE WERE TO LIVE THOUSANDS
OF YEARS ON THIS PLANET.

WE WERE TO BUILD A WONDERFUL
WORLD WITH GOD’S HELP,

BUT WE REBELLED AGAINST GOD.

AND WE GAINED
THE KNOWLEDGE OF EVIL,

AND NOW WE’VE REACHED
THE POINT IN CIVILIZATION

WHERE WITH ALL OF OUR KNOWLEDGE,

WE HAVE NOW INVENTED
THE ATOMIC BOMB,

AND THE HYDROGEN BOMB,

AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS.

AND COMPUTERS AND ALL THE REST
THAT MAKE IT

SO THAT MAN CAN BE WIPED OUT
IN A MATTER OF HOURS.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

RECEIVE CHRIST!

LET HIM DOMINATE YOUR MIND.

“LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU

“WHICH WAS ALSO

“IN CHRIST JESUS.”

THE SCRIPTURE SAYS

YOU CAN BE TRANSFORMED

IN YOUR THINKING.

“BE YE TRANSFORMED

“BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND.”

GIVE YOUR MIND TO CHRIST.

YES, THERE’S GOING TO BE PEACE

BECAUSE CHRIST
IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE.

HE’S GOING TO BRING PEACE,

BUT ONLY THROUGH GOD
ARE WE GOING TO FIND PEACE.

YOU CAN HAVE PEACE
IN YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW.

YOU CAN HAVE PEACE OF MIND
RIGHT NOW

BY SURRENDERING YOUR LIFE
AND YOUR HEART TO JESUS CHRIST.

THE BIBLE SAYS,

“GOD MADE THE WISDOM
OF THIS WORLD LOOK FOOLISH.

“THE WORLD FAILED TO FIND HIM
BY ITS WISDOM,

“AND HE CHOSE TO SAVE
THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH

“IN THE FOLLY
OF THE GOSPEL.”

NOTICE HE CALLS THE GOSPEL
FOLLY.

THE GOSPEL IS FOLLY
TO THIS WORLD

THAT HAS ITS MIND BLINDED
AND AFFECTED BY THE DEVIL.

YOU SEE, SIN IS A DISEASE.

IT’S ALSO A DISEASE
OF THE MIND.

IT’S WORSE THAN

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE,

OR ANY OTHER DISEASE

THAT YOU CAN THINK OF.

IT’S DESTRUCTIVE,

AND WE ALL HAVE IT.

THE BIBLE SAYS,

“ALL HAVE SINNED.”

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

COME TO THE CROSS.

LET CHRIST FORGIVE YOURS SINS,

CHANGE YOUR LIFE,

TURN YOU IN A NEW DIRECTION,

AND GIVE YOU A NEW MIND,

BECAUSE CHRIST CAN BECOME
THE LORD OF YOUR MIND

AS WELL AS YOUR BODY
AND AS WELL AS YOUR SOUL.

AND THEN SOLOMON WAS
NOT ONLY THE SMARTEST MAN,

AND THE MOST BRILLIANT MAN
THAT EVER LIVED,

AND THE BEST EDUCATED,

BUT HE GAVE HIMSELF
TO GREAT PLEASURES.

IN ECCLESIASTES 2:1 HE SAID,

“I SAID IN MY HEART,
GO TO NOW,

“I WILL PROVE THEE
WITH LAUGHTER,

“THEREFORE I’M GOING TO
ENJOY PLEASURE!”

HE HAD EVERY SENSUAL PLEASURE
THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.

THE BIBLE DESCRIBES IN DETAIL
ALL THAT HE HAD.

HE HAD THE FINEST SWIMMING POOL
YOU’VE EVER READ ABOUT.

IT WAS FLANKED BY TWELVE LIONS
OF GLEAMING BRONZE.

HE DRANK THE FINEST WINES
IN GOLDEN GOBLETS.

HE HAD 700 WIVES,

AND 300 CONCUBINES.

TALK ABOUT SEX!

HE HAD IT!

[laughter]

MORE THAN ANY OF YOU
WILL EVER HAVE.

[laughter]

AND EVERY PLEASURE
THAT YOU COULD THINK OF

WAS AT HIS BECK AND CALL.

HE DID WHAT MANY OF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO DO

BUT YOU CAN’T AFFORD IT.

SOME PEOPLE ARE GOOD BECAUSE
THEY CAN’T AFFORD TO BE BAD.

[laughter]

BUT GOD DOESN’T COUNT THAT.

SOME SIN IS EXPENSIVE.

WITH EVERY IMAGINABLE DEVICE
OF PLEASURE AND LUST

AT HIS FINGERTIPS,

SOLOMON SAT OUT
UNDER THE STARS ONE NIGHT

AND CONTEMPLATED
THE EMPTINESS OF IT ALL.

HE SAID, “VANITY OF VANITIES,
IT’S ALL VANITY!”

IT’S A BUBBLE THAT BURSTS!

HOW MANY OF YOU ARE
CRYING TONIGHT ON THE INSIDE?

ON THE OUTSIDE,
YOU HAVE A MASK.

INSIDE, THE PEACE AND THE JOY
AND THE HAPPINESS

THAT YOU’VE ALWAYS SEARCHED FOR
IS MISSING.

SOMETHING’S WRONG
IN YOUR MARRIAGE.

SOMETHING’S WRONG
IN YOUR COURTSHIP.

SOMETHING’S WRONG
IN YOUR SCHOOL.

SOMETHING’S WRONG
IN YOUR LIFE.

SOMETHING’S WRONG BETWEEN YOU
AND YOUR PARENTS.

SOMETHING’S WRONG BETWEEN YOU
AND YOUR FRIENDS.

SOMETHING’S JUST MISSING
IN YOUR LIFE.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST?

DO YOU HAVE THE JOY
AND THE PEACE

THAT HE CAN BRING?

BECAUSE IN HIM ARE THE PLEASURES
THAT YOU CAN HAVE.

AND THEN SOLOMON
WAS THE RICHEST MAN

IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.

HIS INCOME WAS STAGGERING.

IT’S ALL LISTED
IN THE BIBLE.

THE WEIGHT OF GOLD THAT CAME TO
SOLOMON IN ONE YEAR

WAS SIX HUNDRED THREESCORE
AND SIX TALENTS OF GOLD.

THAT’S BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

DID YOU KNOW HE HAD A STABLE
OF 40,000 HORSES?

BUT ONE NIGHT HE SAT ON THE TOP
OF HIS HOUSE IN LEBANON

AND WITH INDIGESTION,

HIS HAND CLUTCHED
AT HIS EMPTY HEART,

AND HE SAID,

“VANITY OF VANITIES,
ALL IS VANITY.”

IT’S ALL A BUBBLE THAT BURSTS!

IT’S NOTHING!

ALL THIS PLEASURE,
ALL THESE RICHES AND EVERYTHING

ARE NOTHING!

THE BIBLE SAYS IN PSALM 37,

“A LITTLE THAT
A RIGHTEOUS MAN HATH,

“IS BETTER THAN THE RICHES
OF MANY WICKED.”

I’D RATHER BE AS POOR
AS JOB’S TURKEY,

AND KNOW CHRIST,

THAN TO BE THE RICHEST MAN
IN THE WHOLE WORLD

WITHOUT CHRIST.

IN PROVERBS 23 HE WROTE,

“WILT THOU SET THINE EYES
UPON THAT WHICH IS NOT?

“FOR RICHES CERTAINLY
MAKE THEMSELVES WINGS

“AND THEY FLY AWAY
LIKE AN EAGLE.”

JESUS SAID,
“BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS,

“FOR A MAN’S LIFE
CONSISTETH NOT

“IN THE ABUNDANCE OF THE THINGS
WHICH HE POSSESSETH.”

AND WE LOOK ON WALL STREET.

SOMETIMES THEY SHOW
THOSE PICTURES

OF THOSE MEN GOING CRAZY.

JUST, I DON’T KNOW HOW THEY
KEEP UP WITH IT ALL.

BUT PEOPLE GO CRAZY OVER MONEY.

AND EVEN POOR PEOPLE
LONG FOR MONEY.

THEY SAY, “IF ONLY I HAD
A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS,

“I’D BE HAPPY.”

NO, YOU WOULDN’T.

BECAUSE YOU’D WANT
A FEW THOUSAND MORE.

AND THEN SOLOMON HAD
GREAT POWER.

MEN LIKE POWER
AND PRESTIGE.

AND NO NATION OF THE WORLD
OF THAT DAY DARED DEFY SOLOMON.

HE HAS MORE POWER THAN ANY MAN
OF HIS GENERATION.

HE HAD THE GREATEST ARMY,
HE HAD THE GREATEST NAVY

IN THE WORLD OF THAT DAY.

AND HE LOOKED UPON
HIS MIGHTY MILITARY POWER

AND HE SAID,
“IT’S ALL A BUBBLE THAT BURSTS.”

“WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN,”
JESUS SAID,

“IF HE GAINS THE WHOLE WORLD
AND LOSES HIS SOUL?”

SUPPOSE HE HAD
ALL THE KNOWLEDGE

AND ALL THE WEALTH
AND ALL THE POWER

IN THE WHOLE WORLD TODAY

AND LOST YOUR SOUL.

AND MANY OF YOU

ARE DOING JUST THAT.

YOU’VE GAINED

IN YOUR CIRCLE OF WORLD.

YOU’VE GAINED

ALL THAT YOU CAN GAIN,

BUT YOUR SOUL

YOU’RE NOT SURE ABOUT.

YOU GO TO CHURCH.

YOU HAVE A NAME

ON A CHURCH ROLE.

YOU’VE BEEN BAPTIZED,

AND ALL OF THAT,

BUT DEEP IN
YOUR HEART,

SOMETHING IS
MISSING.

YOU DON’T KNOW
WHAT IT IS.

THE THING
THAT’S MISSING

IS THAT
PERSONAL

RELATIONSHIP
WITH CHRIST.

BUT PAUL
TALKED ABOUT

ANOTHER POWER
THAT COMES.

“FOR GOD HATH
NOT GIVEN US

“THE SPIRIT
OF FEAR,

“BUT OF POWER
AND OF LOVE

“AND A SOUND
MIND.”

SO SOLOMON
TURNED TO

THE AESTHETIC
LIFE.

HE SAID, “WELL,
MAYBE I CAN

“DO SOME
OTHER THINGS

“THAT’LL BRING
HAPPINESS

“AND PEACE AND
JOY TO MY LIFE.”

HE SAID,
“I MADE POOLS OF WATER.

“I GOT ME MEN SINGERS
AND WOMEN SINGERS

“AND THE DELIGHTS
OF THE SONS OF MEN

“AS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.”

HE GOT ORCHESTRAS,
AND HE GOT BALLET,

HE GOT EVERYTHING.

“AND WHATSOEVER MY EYES
DESIRED,” HE SAID,

“I KEPT NOT FROM THEM.

“I HAD EVERYTHING I COULD
EVER THINK ABOUT OR DESIRE,”

BUT HE SAID,
“IT WAS ALL VANITY.”

HE DEVELOPED A LOVE FOR ART
AND MUSIC AND CULTURE.

HE BUILT BEAUTIFUL GARDENS.

HAD MUSICAL RECITALS.

THEN HE SAID, “I LOOKED UPON
ALL THE WORKS THAT MY HANDS

“HAD WROUGHT AND ON THE LABOR
THAT I HAD LABORED TO DO,

“AND BEHOLD, IT WAS ALL VANITY
AND VEXATION OF SPIRIT,

“AND THERE’S NO PROFIT
UNDER THE SUN.”

YOU SEE, IF YOU HAD IT ALL
THAT YOU’RE STRIVING AFTER,

IT WOULDN’T BRING THE PEACE
AND THE HAPPINESS

YOU’RE LOOKING FOR.

WHY?

BECAUSE IT’S FOUND IN CHRIST.

THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

“BEHOLD A GREATER THAN
SOLOMON IS HERE.”

NOW SOLOMON ALSO TRIED
RELIGION.

HE VOWED TO BUILD
THE GREATEST TEMPLE

THAT THE WORLD
HAD EVER SEEN.

SOLOMON’S TEMPLE
TOOK SEVEN YEARS TO BUILD,

AND WAS CALLED ONE OF
THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD.

HIS TEMPLE WAS
AN ARCHITECTURAL WONDER.

IT WAS MADE READY
AT A QUARRY,

SO THAT WHEN IT WAS BUILT,

THEY DIDN’T USE
ANY HAMMERS OR AXES

OR ANY TOOLS
OF IRON WAS HEARD

WHILE IT WAS
BEING PUT TOGETHER.

IT WAS SO PERFECT.

HE OVERLAID THE TEMPLE
WITH PURE GOLD.

THE FLOOR WAS MADE OF GOLD.

IT TOOK 150,000 LABORERS
WORKING SEVEN YEARS TO BUILD IT.

BUT RELIGION WITHOUT
A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST

WILL NOT SAVE THE SOUL.

IT WON’T BRING PEACE
TO YOUR SOUL,

THAT YOUR SOUL LONGS FOR.

WHERE IS PEACE?

WHERE IS FULFILLMENT?

WHERE IS LIFE’S PURPOSE
AND MEANING?

FINALLY SOLOMON CAME TO
THIS CONCLUSION.

HE SAID,
“LET US HEAR THE CONCLUSION

“OF THE WHOLE MATTER.

“FEAR GOD,
KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS,

“FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE
DUTY OF MAN,

“FOR GOD SHALL BRING
EVERY WORK INTO JUDGMENT

“EVERY SECRET THING

“WHETHER IT BE GOOD
OR WHETHER IT BE EVIL.”

IN OTHER WORDS,

HE SAID

THERE’S A JUDGMENT COMING

AND TO BE PREPARED

FOR THAT JUDGMENT

IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

COME TO THE CROSS!

THAT’S THE ONLY PLACE

YOU CAN FIND FORGIVENESS.

AND JESUS SAID, “BEHOLD,

“A GREATER THAN SOLOMON

“IS HERE.”

JESUS SAID,

“YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH,

“AND THE TRUTH

“SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.”

JESUS SAID WHAT WE SEE

ON THAT SIGN:

“I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH,
AND THE LIFE.”

I AM THE EMBODIMENT
OF ALL TRUTH.

THINK OF A MAN
STANDING IN FRONT OF THE WORLD

AND SAYING, “I AM THE EMBODIMENT
OF ALL TRUTH.”

HE’S EITHER CRAZY,
OR HE’S LYING,

OR HE’S WHAT HE CLAIMS TO BE.

JESUS SAID,
“I AM THE TRUTH.”

“AND I CAN SET YOU FREE.

“FREE FROM YOUR ANXIETIES,

“FREE FROM YOUR TROUBLES AND
PROBLEMS.

“I CAN GIVE YOU A PEACE
TO GO THROUGH THEM.”

NOW HE DOESN’T TAKE
YOUR TROUBLES AND PROBLEMS AWAY

AS DAWN TOLD US
A FEW MOMENTS AGO,

BUT HE GIVES YOU A PEACE
AND A JOY

THAT’LL ENABLE YOU TO
GO THROUGH THEM

AND LIVE THROUGH THEM

IF YOU PUT YOUR TRUST
AND YOUR FAITH IN HIM.

YES, JESUS WAS GREATER
IN WISDOM.

IT SAYS, “IN WHOM ARE HID
ALL THE TREASURES

“OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE.”

IT’S IN CHRIST,
IN COLOSSIANS 2.

IN JESUS CHRIST.

IF YOU KNOW CHRIST,

YOU KNOW MORE THAN
THE PROFESSOR

AT THE GREATEST UNIVERSITY,

BECAUSE THAT PROFESSOR
IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING

THAT YOU’VE FOUND.

CHRIST WAS GREATER
IN GIVING PLEASURE,

BECAUSE THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
IN HEBREWS 12,

“WHO FOR THE JOY
THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM.”

YOU SEE,

WHEN YOU RECEIVE CHRIST

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO

LIVE IN YOUR LIFE

AND HE PRODUCES IN YOU JOY.

IT’S SUPERNATURAL JOY.

AND THERE’S PLEASURE

BEYOND ANYTHING

THAT YOU EVER DREAMED

IN JESUS CHRIST.

I REMEMBER MY MOTHER WAS DYING,

A FEW YEARS AGO,

UP HERE IN CHARLOTTE.

AND THE LAST WORDS

MY MOTHER WAS HEARD TO SAY

WAS IN A LOUD VOICE

AT FIVE O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

SHE’D BEEN IN A COMA.

SHE HADN’T SAID A WORD,

SHE HADN’T MOVED.

AND SHE WAS A GREAT

WOMAN OF GOD.

BUT SHE SUDDENLY SAT UP IN BED,

THE DAY SHE DIED,

AND SHOUTED OUT!

” PSALM 149:5 , LET THE SAINTS

“BE JOYFUL IN GLORY

“AND LET THEM SING

“UPON THEIR BEDS.”

CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?

I THINK SHE WAS ALREADY

IN HEAVEN.

IN I PETER 1 IT SAYS,

“WHOM HAVING NOT SEEN YOU LOVE,

“IN WHOM THOUGH YE NOW

“SEE HIM NOT,

“YET BELIEVING, YOU REJOICE

“WITH JOY UNSPEAKABLE

“AND FULL OF GLORY.”

“IN THY PRESENCE

“IS FULLNESS OF JOY.

“AT THY RIGHT HAND

“THERE ARE PLEASURES

“FOREVERMORE,”

THE BIBLE SAYS, PSALM 16:11.

DO YOU KNOW THAT?

DO YOU KNOW THAT KIND OF JOY?

THAT’S SOMETHING THAT’S

SUPERNATURALLY PRODUCED.

YOU CAN’T FIND IT ANYWHERE ELSE.

YOU CAN’T FIND IT
IN SEX EXPERIENCE.

YOU CAN’T FIND IT
IN DRUGS.

YOU SEE, THE WHOLE COUNTRY’S
ON A QUEST FOR SOMETHING.

IN DRUGS, IN SEX,
IN ENTERTAINMENT.

WE WANT SOMETHING.

WE DON’T QUITE KNOW
WHAT IT IS.

AND IT’S ILLUSIVE.

WE HAVEN’T-,
WE DON’T FIND IT.

OH, YOU CAN GO OUT
AND HAVE A GOOD TIME AT A PARTY

AND PROM IS GONNA BE
AROUND THE CORNER.

YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT TIME
ON YOUR PROM NIGHT,

IF YOU GET THE RIGHT GUY.

BUT…

SOMETHING’LL BE MISSING.

ALL OF A SUDDEN,
IN THE MIDST OF A CROWD,

IN THE MIDST OF A DANCE,

IN THE MIDST
OF THE ORCHESTRA PLAYING,

IN THE MIDST
OF THE BAND PLAYING,

YOUR FACE WILL SUDDENLY
HAVE A LITTLE CLOUD OVER IT.

JUST FOR AN INSTANT.

IT’S JUST A MOMENT
IN WHICH IT SEEMS

THAT IT’S NOT
ALL PUT TOGETHER.

THE PUZZLE IS NOT
PUT TOGETHER,

AND THEN YOU FORGET IT
AND YOU GO ON.

BUT IT’S THERE,

AND IT’LL GROW
THROUGH THE YEARS.

HE WAS ALSO GREATER
IN RICHES.

IT SAYS,
“THOUGH HE WAS RICH

“YET FOR YOUR SAKES
HE BECAME POOR

“THAT YE THROUGH HIS POVERTY
MIGHT BE RICH.”

THERE’S NO RICHES
COMPARED TO THE RICHES

IN JESUS CHRIST.

COME TO CHRIST,

AND HE GIVES YOU
THE REAL THINGS OF LIFE.

AND THEN HE WAS GREATER
IN POWER.

IT SAYS, “ALL POWER
IS GIVEN UNTO HIM

“IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH.”

AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT
SOMEDAY HE’S GOING TO COME BACK

IN POWER AND GREAT GLORY,
AND HIS HOLY ANGELS WITH HIM.

NO WONDER THE APOSTLE PAUL
SAID, “I AM NOT ASHAMED

“OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST,

“FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD
UNTO SALVATION

“TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVES.”

DO YOU KNOW THAT POWER?

HAS THAT POWER

COME INTO YOUR HEART?

HAVE YOU RECEIVED HIM?

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TONIGHT

TO MAKE SURE OF

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU

TO ENTER INTO HIS FORCE,

AND MARCH UNDER HIS BANNER,

UNDER HIS FLAG,

AND SAY, “FROM THIS MOMENT ON,

“I’M FOLLOWING CHRIST,”

LIKE DAWN SAID

A FEW MOMENTS AGO.

DO YOU KNOW HIM?

ARE YOU SURE OF IT?

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU

TO COME AND STAND IN FRONT

OF THIS PLATFORM

AND SAY BY COMING,

“I WANT TO COME TO CHRIST

“WITH ALL MY HEART.

“I WANT TO SURRENDER TO HIM.

“I WANT TO MAKE SURE.”

YOU WANT TO RECEIVE HIM

INTO YOUR HEART,

OR YOU WANT TO REDEDICATE

YOUR LIFE TO HIM,

YOU GET UP AND COME

AND STAND HERE.

AND AFTER YOU’VE ALL COME

AND STOOD HERE,

I’M GOING TO SAY A WORD TO YOU

AND HAVE A PRAYER WITH YOU,

THEN GIVE YOU SOME LITERATURE
TO HELP YOU

IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.

YOU SAY, “WELL, WHY DO YOU
ASK PEOPLE PUBLICLY?”

WELL, THE REASON I ASK PEOPLE
PUBLICLY IS BECAUSE

EVERY PERSON JESUS EVER CALLED,
HE CALLED PUBLICLY.

HE HUNG ON THE CROSS
PUBLICLY.

HE SAID, “IF YOU WILL NOT
ACKNOWLEDGE ME BEFORE MEN,

“I’LL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE YOU
BEFORE MY FATHER

“WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.”

THE SCRIPTURE ALSO SAYS,

“HE THAT HARDENETH HIS HEART,
BEING OFTEN REPROVED,

“SHALL SUDDENLY BE CUT OFF
AND THAT WITHOUT REMEDY.”

YOU MAY NEVER AGAIN
IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE

HAVE A MOMENT LIKE THIS TONIGHT.

WHAT A GORGEOUS EVENING.

THERE MAY NEVER BE
ANOTHER MOMENT

WHEN YOU’RE SO CLOSE
TO THE KINGDOM

AS YOU ARE TONIGHT,

AND THE BIBLE WARNS
TIME AFTER TIME,

“NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME,

“TODAY IS THE DAY
OF SALVATION.”

YOU HAVE NO PROMISE
OF TOMORROW.

YOU HAVE NO PROMISE
THAT YOUR HEART

WILL BE FEELING THE WAY
IT FEELS TONIGHT.

GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU.

YOU’RE MAKING A CHOICE TONIGHT.

YOU’RE MAKING A CHOICE
BETWEEN CHRIST

AND ALL THAT THE WORLD
HAS TO OFFER

AND YOU’RE SAYING,

“LORD, I’M PUTTING YOU FIRST
FROM THIS MOMENT ON.

“I WANT TO GET ON YOUR SIDE.”

YOU GET UP AND COME
RIGHT NOW, HUNDREDS OF YOU.

♪ 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 ♪

NOW TO YOU THAT HAVE BEEN

WATCHING BY TELEVISION,

YOU’RE SEEING THAT HERE

IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA,

IN THIS GREAT FOOTBALL STADIUM

AT THE UNIVERSITY,

THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE

THAT ARE MAKING THEIR COMMITMENT

TO JESUS CHRIST.

MANY OF THEM YOUNG PEOPLE,

FINDING PURPOSE AND MEANING

IN THEIR LIVES,

AND DIRECTION IN THEIR LIVES.

THEY’RE CHOOSING CHRIST.

I’M ASKING YOU TO MAKE

THE SAME CHOICE

WHEREVER YOU ARE.

IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM,

IN YOUR HOME,

WHEREVER.

GIVE YOUR HEART AND YOUR LIFE

TO CHRIST WHERE YOU ARE.

AND PICK UP THE TELEPHONE

AND CALL THAT NUMBER

ON THE SCREEN.

THERE ARE PEOPLE STANDING BY

TO TALK TO YOU.

♪ JUST AS I AM… ♪

AND AS HUNDREDS ARE MAKING
THEIR COMMITMENTS TO CHRIST

HERE AT THE WILLIAMS-BRICE
STADIUM IN COLUMBIA,

SOUTH CAROLINA,

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DECISION
FOR CHRIST RIGHT NOW.

MR. GRAHAM HAS ALREADY
ENCOURAGED YOU

TO MAKE THAT TELEPHONE CALL.

WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL.

SPECIAL FRIENDS
ARE STANDING BY

READY TO TALK TO YOU.

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 ♪