The University of Life | Billy Graham Classic Sermon

FROM OUR ARCHIVES…

THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.

[applause]

TONIGHT I WANT YOU
TO TURN WITH ME

TO THE 11TH CHAPTER OF MATTHEW,

THE 11TH CHAPTER OF MATTHEW.

“COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT
LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN,

“AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.

“TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU,
AND LEARN OF ME;

“FOR I AM MEEK
AND LOWLY IN HEART:

“AND YE SHALL FIND REST
UNTO YOUR SOULS.

“FOR MY YOKE IS EASY,
AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT.”

I WANT TO SPEAK TONIGHT
ON THE UNIVERSITY OF LIFE.

I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUNG PEOPLE,
AS WELL AS OLDER PEOPLE

ON THE SUBJECT OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF LIFE.

NOW WE USUALLY
THINK OF THIS TEXT

THAT A PASTOR WILL TAKE
AND USE AT LABOR DAY.

BUT THAT’S WRONG
IN ONE SENSE

AND YET IN ANOTHER SENSE
IT IS CORRECT.

BUT THIS IS AN INVITATION TO MEN
AND WOMEN WHO ARE EXHAUSTED

WITH THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH.

JESUS SAID, “YOU’VE BEEN
SEARCHING FOR TRUTH,

“YOU’RE TIRED.

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

“YOU’VE FOUND IT.

“THE SEARCH ENDS WITH ME.”

NOW AT THIS UNIVERSITY
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT

YOU CAN FAIL,
BUT YOU CAN NEVER DROP OUT.

ALL OVER THE WORLD PEOPLE ARE
BEGINNING TO ASK QUESTIONS

ABOUT WHERE
CIVILIZATION IS HEADED.

ONE OF THE FOREIGN EXPERTS
LEFT WASHINGTON IN DESPAIR

THIS PAST SUMMER AND WENT BACK
TO THE UNIVERSITY TO TEACH.

AND HE WAS ASKED WHY.

AND HE SAID, “SOMETIMES
I GET THE FEELING

“I’M SITTING ON A HILLTOP
WATCHING TWO TRAINS

“RACING TOWARD EACH OTHER
ON THE SAME TRACK.”

VICE PREMIER DENG, OF CHINA,
STATED RECENTLY,

THIS PAST SUMMER, THAT
“WORLD WAR III IS INEVITABLE

“AND INDEPENDENT OF MAN’S WILL
IN THIS DECADE.”

A BRITISH EDITORIAL
SAID RECENTLY,

“THE WORLD IS ON A COLLISION
COURSE WITH DISASTER.”

NOW WHEN WE COME BACK TO AMERICA

AND SEE THE AFFLUENCE
OF AMERICA;

I ALSO READ AND HEAR ABOUT
THE NEW SURGE OF PROBLEMS

THAT OUR AFFLUENCY HAS CREATED.

PSYCHOLOGISTS, ECONOMISTS,
CLERGY, POLITICIANS

ARE DEALING WITH SOCIAL
AND MORAL PROBLEMS

ON A SCALE THAT THEY’VE NEVER
HAD TO DEAL WITH BEFORE.

FOR EXAMPLE,
THE MARRIAGE BREAK UPS

EVEN AMONG SO CALLED
PROFESSING CHRISTIANS.

SOME OF THEM WELL KNOWN
CHRISTIANS

IN OUR NEWSPAPERS EVEN TODAY.

MARRIED WOMEN HAVING
ADULTEROUS AFFAIRS

HAS TRIPLED IN
THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

BUT THE PRICE THEY PAY
IS ESCALATING;

DRUG ADDICTION, ALCOHOLISM,
AND SUICIDE.

RACIAL TENSIONS, WE THOUGHT
THE RACE PROBLEM

IN AMERICA WAS SETTLED,
IT’S NOT SETTLED.

LOOK AT MIAMI OR PHILADELPHIA
THIS PAST SUMMER.

THE PSALMIST SAID, “AND I SAID,
OH, THAT I HAD WINGS LIKE A DOVE

“FOR THEN I WOULD
FLY AWAY AND REST.”

HAVE YOU EVER FELT THAT WAY?

YOU’D LIKE TO FLY AWAY
FROM LIFE AND REST.

YOU’D LIKE TO GET OUT
OF THAT KITCHEN AND REST.

YOU’D LIKE TO GET OUT
OF THAT JOB AND REST.

YOU’D LIKE TO FLY
AWAY SOMEWHERE.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT EAST
COME TO NEVADA AND TO CALIFORNIA

THINKING THAT THEY’RE
GOING TO FIND IT HERE.

AND THEY MAY FIND
SOMETHING HERE BUT…

THEY FIND WONDERFUL AIR HERE
IN RENO, I’LL TELL YOU THAT.

THEY FIND BEAUTIFUL
MOUNTAINS HERE.

AND THEY FIND A LOT
OF ACTIVITY HERE.

BUT THE REAL THING
THEY’RE SEARCHING FOR IS GOD.

BECAUSE YOU SEE THEY WERE
MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

AND WITHOUT GOD
THEIR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS

‘TIL THEY COME TO KNOW GOD.

YOU CAN NEVER FIND TRUE REST
UNTIL YOU KNOW GOD.

AND YOU THAT ARE
WATCHING BY TELEVISION,

IF YOU WANT TO FIND
PEACE WITH GOD

AND REST IN YOUR OWN SOULS

CALL THAT NUMBER
ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW

AND LET SOMEBODY TALK TO YOU,

AS MANY PEOPLE HERE WILL DO
LATER ON IN THE EVENING.

YOU SEE, THE PSALMIST LONGING
TO ESCAPE HAS BECOME

THE CRY OF THE WORLD TODAY.

THE PSALMIST ALSO SAID,
“I’M FULL OF HEAVINESS

“AND LOOKED FOR SOME
TO TAKE PITY,

“BUT THERE WAS NONE.

“AND FOR COMFORTERS,
BUT I FOUND NONE.”

THE BIBLE ALSO SAYS,

“BUT THE EYES OF THE WICKED
WILL FAIL

“AND ESCAPE WILL ELUDE THEM,

“THEIR HOPE WILL BECOME
A DYING GASP.”

NO WAY OUT!

JESUS SAID, “I AM THE WAY OUT.”

HE SAID, “THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY
TO ESCAPE, ONE WAY OUT,

“AND I’M IT.”

YOU HAVE TO COME BY THE WAY OF
THE CROSS AND THE EMPTY TOMB.

AND FIND RECONCILIATION WITH
GOD AND PEACE IN YOUR HEART

AND JOY IN YOUR HEART
THAT YOU HAVE LOST.

AND HOW MANY OF YOU
ARE TRYING TO ESCAPE?

YOU’VE COME OUT HERE FROM
SOMEWHERE ELSE TO ESCAPE

ALL THE RIGORS OF LIFE
SOMEWHERE ELSE.

BUT YOU HAVEN’T
REALLY FOUND IT YET.

YOU HAVEN’T FOUND THAT
JOY AND THAT PEACE

THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU’D FIND.

OR THAT SENSE OF FULFILLMENT.

YOU DON’T HAVE THE ANSWER
TO THE QUESTIONS,

WHERE DID YOU COME FROM,
WHAT IS LIFE ALL ABOUT,

WHERE ARE YOU GOING
WHEN YOU DIE?

YOU DON’T HAVE
THOSE ANSWERS YET.

YOU CAN FIND IT TONIGHT BY
COMING TO JESUS CHRIST.

YOU SEE JESUS SAID,
“LEARN OF ME.”

IT’S A PICTURE OF JESUS CHRIST
AS THE GREAT PROFESSOR

AT THE UNIVERSITY.

HE’S THE GREATEST TEACHER
THAT EVER WAS.

THE BIBLE SAYS, “HE TAUGHT THEM
AS ONE HAVING AUTHORITY.”

HE SPOKE WITH AUTHORITY.

YOU NEVER FIND JESUS SAYING,
“I HOPE THIS IS THE WAY.

“I THINK THIS IS THE WAY.”

THE BIBLE SAYS,

“THERE’S A WAY THAT SEEMETH
RIGHT UNTO MAN

“BUT THE ENDS THEREOF
ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH.”

THERE ARE MANY WAYS IN LIFE
THAT SEEM RIGHT,

BUT THE END IS DEATH,
DESTRUCTION, JUDGMENT, AND HELL.

AND JESUS WARNED ABOUT THAT.

JESUS SAID, “I AM THE WAY.”

NOW MOST OF THE WORLD
WOULD AGREE THAT

HE’S THE GREATEST TEACHER
THAT EVER LIVED.

AND SO TONIGHT I WANT YOU
TO SIT FOR A FEW MOMENTS

AT THE FEET OF THE WORLD’S
GREATEST TEACHER.

IN MOST AMERICAN
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES

THEY HAVE WHAT IS CALLED
REQUIRED COURSES

AND ELECTIVE COURSES.

NOW, IN LIFE THERE ARE
CERTAIN REQUIRED COURSES.

WHAT ARE THEY?

THERE ARE THREE,
THREE REQUIRED COURSES

AND THREE ELECTIVE COURSES

THAT I WANT YOU TO
THINK ABOUT TONIGHT.

THE FIRST REQUIRED COURSE
IS LIFE ITSELF.

PHILOSOPHY MEANS THE STUDY OF
LIFE AND IDEAS CONCERNING LIFE.

AND ONE OF THE MOST DISCUSSED
NEW BOOKS PUBLISHED LAST SUMMER

WAS THE PHILOSOPHERS ,

IN WHICH 20 OF THE MOST
INFLUENTIAL PHILOSOPHERS

OF THE WESTERN WORLD,

IN MODERN TIMES WERE
PSYCHOANALYZED

AS TO THE AMOUNT OF
FULFILLMENT

THAT THEY THEMSELVES ENJOY.

AND IT DEMONSTRATED THAT ALL
20 OF THEM THAT THEY STUDIED,

WERE CHARACTERIZED BY
LONELINESS AND ANXIETY.

YOU SEE, WE DID NOT
CHOOSE TO BE BORN.

WE WERE NOT CONSULTED
ABOUT LIVING.

AND THERE’S NOTHING
YOU CAN DO TO STOP LIVING.

WE DID NOT CHOOSE
WHERE TO BE BORN.

WE DID NOT CHOOSE
WHAT COLOR OF SKIN WE HAVE.

THERE’S NO ESCAPING LIFE.

“OH,” YOU SAY,
“I CAN COMMIT SUICIDE.”

THAT DOESN’T GET YOU
OUT OF LIFE.

YOU ONLY KILL THE BODY.

YOUR SOUL, YOUR SPIRIT
IS ETERNAL.

IT LIVES ON.

SO YOU CANNOT
ESCAPE BY SUICIDE.

SUICIDE DOES NOT END IT ALL
AS SOME PEOPLE THINK.

YES, YOU’RE REQUIRED TO LIVE.

HOW DO YOU FACE LIFE?

WHAT RESOURCES DO YOU
HAVE TO CALL UPON

WHEN THE PRESSURES GET GREAT
AND THE CRISIS COMES

AND THE DIFFICULTIES COME?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO CALL UPON?

WELL, IF YOU KNOW JESUS CHRIST,

YOU DON’T HAVE ANYTHING
TO WORRY ABOUT.

BECAUSE WHEN HE LIVES
IN YOUR HEART

HE GIVES GREAT INWARD PEACE
AND JOY AND ASSURANCE

AND A SENSE OF SAFETY
AND WELL BEING,

WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST.

IT AFFECTS YOU PHYSICALLY
AND MENTALLY AND SOCIALLY;

EVERY WAY, EVERY PHASE OF
YOUR LIFE IS AFFECTED

WHEN CHRIST DOMINATES YOUR LIFE

BECAUSE YOU LET HIM COME
AS SAVIOR, AS WELL AS LORD.

AND THEN THE SECOND
REQUIRED COURSE THAT YOU HAVE

AT THE UNIVERSITY,

YOU’RE REQUIRED TO DIE.

NOW WE’VE BEEN HAVING A LOT
OF STUDIES ON DEATH LATELY.

WE READ ABOUT DR. KUBLER ROSS

AND DR. RAWLINGS
AND DR. MOODY AND OTHERS,

AND COURSES ON THANATOLOGY
IN OUR UNIVERSITIES

ARE SPRINGING UP
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY

TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT DEATH.

AND THE CLASSROOMS ARE FILLED
WITH STUDENTS STUDYING DEATH.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
SAID THAT

“THERE’S ONE STATISTIC
THAT WE CAN BE SURE OF.”

NOW EVERYBODY IN
THE GAMING BUSINESS

HERE IN NEVADA
OUGHTA HEAR THIS.

“THE ODDS AGAINST WHICH
NO GAMBLER CAN WIN

“THAT ONE OUT OF EVERY ONE
DIES”

NOW THAT’S A SURE THING.

GOD SAID TO HEZEKIAH,
“THOU SHALL DIE AND NOT LIVE.”

THE BIBLE SAYS, “IT’S APPOINTED
“UNTO MAN ONCE TO DIE.”

THE BIBLE SAYS, “THERE’S A TIME
TO BE BORN AND A TIME TO DIE.”

THE NUMBER OF YEARS
IS SIMPLY RELATIVE.

THE FACT IS,
WE ALL DIE.

AND THE BIBLE SAYS,
“THERE’S A DAY, THERE’S AN HOUR,

“THERE’S A MINUTE, ALREADY
APPOINTED FOR YOUR DEATH.”

IT MAY BE TONIGHT.

IT MAY BE TOMORROW MORNING.

THERE’S A DAY,
THERE’S AN HOUR,

THERE’S A MINUTE
ALREADY APPOINTED.

THE BIBLE SAYS IN JOB 14 ,
“SEEING HIS DAYS ARE DETERMINED,

“THE NUMBER OF HIS MONTHS
ARE WITH THEE.

“THOU HAST APPOINTED HIS BOUNDS
BEYOND WHICH HE CANNOT PASS.”

THERE’S A MOMENT BEYOND
WHICH YOU CANNOT LIVE

ALREADY APPOINTED.

AND GOD HAS GIVEN YOU
THIS MOMENT OF GRACE RIGHT NOW

TO FIND CHRIST AS
YOUR LORD AND YOUR SAVIOR.

THAT’S THE REASON THE BIBLE
ALWAYS SAYS “TODAY, TODAY, TODAY

“HARDEN NOT YOUR HEART.”

“NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME
OF SALVATION.”

THE BIBLE IS SAYING,
“DON’T PUT IT OFF.”

TOMORROW IS THE DEVIL’S WORD.

COME WHILE YOU CAN.

THERE’S ONLY ONE MAN
IN HISTORY

THAT DIDN’T HAVE TO DIE
AND THAT WAS JESUS CHRIST.

HE SAID,
“NO MAN TAKETH MY LIFE FROM ME.

“BUT I LAY IT DOWN OF MYSELF.

“I HAVE POWER TO LAY IT DOWN.

“AND I HAVE POWER
TO TAKE IT AGAIN.

“THIS COMMANDMENT
HAVE I RECEIVED OF MY FATHER.”

HE WAS PERFECT,

HE WAS FREE FROM SIN
AND ITS EFFECTS.

AND YET, HE DIED ON THE CROSS.

WHY?

BECAUSE HE DIED FOR YOU.

HE TOOK THE THINGS THAT
CAUSED DEATH IN YOUR LIFE

ON THE CROSS IN YOUR PLACE.

HE DIED FOR YOU.

GOD LAID ON HIM
THE INIQUITY OF US ALL.

AND NOW TONIGHT YOU COME
TO THAT CROSS

AND SURRENDER YOUR LIFE TO
JESUS CHRIST AND GOD SAYS,

“FORGIVEN!

“YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.

“I FORGIVE YOU.

“I WRITE YOUR NAME
“N THE BOOK OF LIFE.”

“FOR HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN
FOR US WHO KNEW NO SIN

“THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE

“THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
IN HIM.”

BUT NOT ONLY DID HE DIE,
HE ROSE AGAIN.

HE’S ALIVE TONIGHT.

“WHO WAS DELIVERED
FOR OUR OFFENSES

“AND WAS RAISED AGAIN
FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION.”

I HAVEN’T SEEN THE PICTURE
THE RAISING OF THE TITANIC ,

BUT I’VE READ ABOUT IT.

THEY’RE GONNA TRY TO
RAISE IT NEXT SUMMER.

THAT’S GOING TO BE A VERY
INTERESTING EXPERIMENT.

THEY’RE DOING A SIMILAR THING
OFF THE COAST OF JAPAN

WHERE THEY FOUND
A RUSSIAN SHIP.

THEY THINK IT MAY
HAVE 30 BILLION DOLLARS

WORTH OF GOLD IN IT.

THEY’RE AFTER THAT GOLD.

IT’S GOING TO BE QUITE
INTERESTING TO SEE

WHO GETS IT WHEN THEY FINALLY
GET IT ALL UP.

SO THERE IS A GREAT DEAL
OF RAISING GOING ON.

BUT THE BIBLE SAYS
THERE’S COMING A TIME

WHERE THERE’S GOING TO BE
A GENERAL RESURRECTION

WHEN ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE LOST
ARE GOING TO BE RAISED.

AND ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE SAVED
ARE GOING TO BE RAISED.

JESUS CHRIST DIED ON OUR ACCOUNT
ON THE CROSS,

WAS RAISED AGAIN AND
THAT IS LIVING PROOF.

HE IS LIVING PROOF TONIGHT

THAT THERE’S GOING TO BE
A RESURRECTION SOMEDAY.

THINK OF IT,

JESUS CHRIST CAME BACK
FROM THE DEAD TO TELL US,

“THERE’S MORE.”

BECAUSE HE LIVES
I CAN FACE TOMORROW.

THE BIBLE SAYS,

“THE LAST ENEMY THAT SHALL BE
DESTROYED IS DEATH.”

ARE YOU READY?

AND THEN THE THIRD THING IN THIS
SCHOOL THAT IS REQUIRED OF YOU;

THE JUDGMENT OF GOD IS REQUIRED.

YOU’RE GOING TO FACE
THE JUDGMENT.

THERE’S A MOVIE OUT CALLED
THE JUDGMENT

AND SOME DAY YOU’RE GOING
TO GIVE A MORAL ACCOUNTING.

THE SEARCHING EYES OF GOD
WILL MISS NOTHING

IN THAT DAY WHEN YOU
STAND BEFORE HIM.

NOW THE WHOLE COUNTRY’S
TALKING ABOUT WHO SHOT J.R.

[laughter]

I’LL TELL YOU
EXACTLY WHO DID IT.

A SINNER.

[laughter]

[applause]

AND SOME DAY ALL THE EWING
FAMILY AND ALL THE SUSPECTS

ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO STAND BEFORE GOD

JUST LIKE YOU ARE.

“EVERY IDLE WORD
THAT MEN SHALL SPEAK

“THEY SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT
IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT,”

THE BIBLE SAYS.

“MANY SHALL SAY UNTO ME
IN THAT DAY,

“LORD, HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED
IN THY NAME,

“AND IN THY NAME
CAST OUT DEVILS,

“AND LORD, WE’VE DONE ALL
THESE GREAT THINGS

“IN YOUR NAME.”

BUT THE BIBLE SAYS
JESUS IS GOING TO SAY,

“DEPART FROM ME,
I NEVER KNEW YOU.”

YOU SEE, YOU CAN BE
IN THE CHURCH.

LAST NIGHT A NUMBER OF
CATHOLIC PEOPLE CAME FORWARD

AND EPISCOPALIAN PEOPLE AND
PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONFIRMATION.

I WAS CONFIRMED MYSELF WHEN
I WAS ABOUT 12 YEARS OF AGE

IN AN ASSOCIATE REFORMED
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

AND I KNOW WHAT THEY MEANT
WHEN THEY CAME.

THEY WANTED TO RECONFIRM
THEIR CONFIRMATION.

WHAT HAD THEY PROMISED GOD

IN ACCEPTING JESUS CHRIST
AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR?

AND HOW MANY OF YOU
TONIGHT NEED CHRIST?

YOU NEED TO COME TO HIM.

YOU’VE BEEN AWAY FROM HIM.

YOU’RE IN THE CHURCH.

YOUR NAME IS ON THE CHURCH ROLL

BUT YOU REALLY
DON’T KNOW CHRIST.

MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE

THAT HAVE BEEN COMING FORWARD
HERE TO RECEIVE CHRIST

HAVE NO CHURCH CONNECTIONS,

BUT NEARLY TWO THIRDS DO.

SOME OF THEM ARE BACK EAST

AND THEY HAVEN’T THOUGHT ABOUT

THE CHURCH SINCE THEY’VE BEEN

IN RENO OR IN NEVADA

AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

OR WHEREVER YOU MAY BE.

COME TO CHRIST TONIGHT

AND RECEIVE HIM INTO YOUR HEART

AND START ALL OVER AGAIN.

NOW THOSE ARE
THE REQUIRED COURSES.

LIFE ITSELF;
YOU CANNOT BE UNBORN.

YOU’RE REQUIRED TO DIE.

YOU’RE REQUIRED TO FACE
THE JUDGMENT.

NOW THERE’S CERTAIN OPTIONS
AT THE UNIVERSITY TONIGHT,

THE UNIVERSITY OF LIFE.

FIRST, YOU CAN CHOOSE
YOUR WAY OF LIFE.

THE BIBLE SAYS,
“CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY.”

AS I SAID A MOMENT AGO,

“THERE IS A WAY THAT
SEEMETH RIGHT.”

NOW SOME OF THOSE ROADS
THAT SEEM RIGHT;

THERE’S THE LUST OF THE EYE,
THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT.

POSSESSIONS,

IT SEEMS THAT TO GAIN
ALL THE POSSESSIONS YOU CAN,

THERE’S NOTHING WRONG
WITH THAT IT SEEMS.

THINGS ARE NOT WRONG.

BUT WHEN YOUR LIFE IS CENTERED
IN THE ACQUISITION

OF PHYSICAL POSSESSIONS

THEN THE LUST OF THE EYES HAS
GOTTEN THE BEST OF YOU.

AND THAT’S SIN AND IT SEEMS
RIGHT, BUT IT’S WRONG.

IT LEADS TO A DEAD END.

THEN THERE’S
THE LUST OF THE FLESH.

THOSE ARE THE PHYSICAL
THINGS WHICH OFFER

BY WAY OF LUXURY AND
ENTERTAINMENT.

SOME OF US ARE SELLING
OUR SOULS FOR SINFUL PLEASURE;

OVEREATING,
THE WRONG USE OF SEX,

EXCESSIVE USE OF ALCOHOL,

ALL OF THESE THINGS.

THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“THE WORLD PASSETH AWAY

“AND THE LUST THEREOF,

“BUT HE THAT DOETH
THE WILL OF GOD

“ABIDETH FOREVER.”

THEN THERE’S ALSO
THE PRIDE OF LIFE.

THAT SEEMS RIGHT;
EGO, POSITION,

GETTING THE BEST,

SELF INTEREST.

BUT THAT’S A WRONG ROAD.

WE OUGHT TO THINK
SOMETHING OF OURSELVES.

WE ARE TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR
AS OURSELVES.

WE ARE TO LOVE OURSELVES BECAUSE
YOU CANNOT LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR,

YOU CANNOT BE A TRUE CHRISTIAN

WITHOUT HAVING
A RESPECT FOR YOURSELF.

THERE’S A CERTAIN
LOVE OF SELF,

BUT NOT THIS EGOCENTRIC THING

BECAUSE THE VERY HEART
OF SIN IS SELFISHNESS.

THE VERY HEART OF SIN IS EGO.

WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST

YOUR EGO HAS TO BE SURRENDERED
TO CHRIST

UNTIL HE BECOMES LORD.

AND THEN SECONDLY,

NOT ONLY CAN YOU CHOOSE
YOUR WAY OF LIFE,

BUT YOU CAN CHOOSE WHO WILL BE
THE MASTER OF YOUR LIFE.

WHAT’S GOING TO
MASTER YOUR LIFE?

WHAT PHILOSOPHY ARE YOU
GIVING YOUR LIFE TO?

WHAT GROUP ARE YOU
GIVING YOUR LIFE TO?

WHO IS GOING TO CONTROL YOU?

ARE YOU GOING TO CONTROL
YOUR OWN LIFE

AND MAKE A WRECK OF IT?

“THOU SHALL CONFESS
WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS

“AND BELIEVE IN THY HEART THAT
GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD

“THOU SHALL BE SAVED.”

BY NATURE WE WANT
TO RUN OUR OWN LIVES.

WE THINK WE KNOW BETTER
THAN EVEN GOD KNOWS.

BUT GOD HAS A PLAN
FOR YOUR LIFE,

AND HIS PLAN IS PERFECT.

FOR EVERY YOUNG PERSON HERE,
GOD HAS A PLAN.

HE HAS THE RIGHT PERSON
PICKED OUT FOR YOU TO MARRY,

IF YOU’D ONLY TRUST HIM
TO HELP YOU.

HE HAS THE RIGHT JOB
FOR YOU,

THE RIGHT VOCATION FOR YOU.

IT’S ALL PLANNED IF YOU’LL SAY,
“LORD, THY WILL BE DONE.”

AND YOU SURRENDER TO HIM
AND LET HIM BECOME INVOLVED

IN ALL THE AFFAIRS OF YOUR LIFE.

OR SOME OF YOU THAT
ARE ALREADY MARRIED

AND MAYBE YOU’RE OLDER NOW

AND YOUR LIFE IS ALL MESSED UP.

DID YOU KNOW THAT GOD CAN
REARRANGE YOUR LIFE

AFTER YOU’VE MESSED IT UP
BY FORGIVING YOUR SIN.

NOW HE CAN’T TAKE THOSE
SCARS AWAY OF SIN.

I’VE WATCHED PEOPLE
COME FORWARD HERE.

AND I’VE SEEN MANY OF THEM
AS THEY’VE STOOD IN FRONT OF

THIS PLATFORM NIGHT AFTER NIGHT,

I’VE SEEN THEM WITH
SIN SCARRED FACES.

BECAUSE SIN LEAVES ITS MARK.

BUT GOD CAN FORGIVE ALL THAT.

HE CAN TAKE ALL THAT MESS
THAT YOU’VE MADE IN YOUR LIFE

AND STRAIGHTEN IT ALL OUT AND
GET YOU BACK ON THE RIGHT ROAD

IF YOU’LL TRUST HIM.

YOU SAY, “WELL, BILLY,
SUPPOSE I’VE BEEN DIVORCED

“AND REMARRIED AND MY LIFE
IS ALL…WHAT’LL HAPPEN?”

WELL, YOU CAN’T
UNSCRAMBLE EGGS.

BUT YOU CAN START
FROM WHERE YOU ARE

BY TRUSTING CHRIST
WHERE YOU ARE.

HE’LL FORGIVE THE PAST
AND GIVE YOU

A WHOLE NEW SPIRITUAL LIFE

AND GIVE YOU A POWER BEYOND
ANYTHING YOU EVER DREAMED,

AND A LOVE AND A JOY
AND A PEACE.

DON’T LET THE DEVIL WORRY YOU
ABOUT PAST SINS

ONCE YOU’VE BEEN TO THE CROSS.

IF YOUR SON ASKS FOR BREAD
WILL YOU GIVE HIM A SNAKE?

NO, GOD LOVES YOU.

HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOU.

“YOU ASK FOR SOMETHING GOOD
HE’S NOT GOING

“TO GIVE YOU A SNAKE,”
SAID JESUS.

THE RICH YOUNG RULER,

THE PROBLEM WITH HIM WAS
NOT HIS WEALTH,

BUT HE WANTED TO CONTROL
HIS OWN LIFE.

MANY OF YOU WANT TO CONTROL
YOUR OWN LIFE.

YOU SEE, WE WANT TO RUN
OUR OWN LIVES.

SUPPOSE I’D GO UP
IN AN AIRLINER

AND TELL THE PILOT,
“I WANT TO PILOT THIS PLANE.”

I’VE NEVER PILOTED
A PLANE IN MY LIFE.

“I CAN TAKE OVER FROM YOU.”

“NO,” GOD SAYS,

“GET UP OUT OF THAT SEAT.

“YOU’RE MAKING
A WRECK OF YOUR LIFE.

“YOU’RE HEADING
TOWARD DESTRUCTION.

“LET ME TAKE THE CONTROLS
OF YOUR LIFE.

“I’VE BEEN OVER THE ROAD BEFORE.

“LET ME HELP YOU.”

AND THEN LASTLY,

YOU CAN CHOOSE
YOUR OWN DESTINATION.

THE DESTINATION IS
HEAVEN OR HELL.

THE BIBLE SAYS,

“WIDE IS THE GATE
AND BROAD IS THE WAY

“THAT LEADETH TO DESTRUCTION.

“NARROW IS THE GATE
AND HARD IS THE WAY

“WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE.”

WHAT ARE WE TO DO?

WHAT CAN YOU DO TONIGHT TO
MAKE YOUR PEACE WITH GOD?

THE BIBLE SAYS,
“PREPARE TO MEET GOD.”

WELL, HOW DO YOU PREPARE?

FIRST, BY REPENTANCE.

REPENTANCE MEANS
THAT YOU’RE WILLING

TO LET GOD CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

IT MEANS THAT YOU CHANGE
YOUR MIND SO MUCH

THAT IT CHANGES
THE WAY YOU LIVE

AND YOU’RE WILLING
TO GIVE UP

ALL THOSE THINGS THAT
ARE SINFUL IN YOUR LIFE

AND TURN OVER TO JESUS CHRIST
YOUR LIFE.

THE SECOND THING,
YOU COME BY FAITH.

“BELIEVE ON
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

“AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED,”

SAYS THE BIBLE.

JUST BELIEVE.

YOU SAY, “WELL, THERE MUST
BE A CATCH SOMEWHERE.”

THERE IS.

THAT WORD BELIEVE MEANS THAT YOU
PUT YOUR TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN.

YOU DON’T PUT YOUR CONFIDENCE
IN YOUR OWN WORKS.

YOU DON’T PUT YOUR CONFIDENCE
IN ANYTHING

BUT THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST
WHO DIED ON THE CROSS FOR YOU.

YOU CANNOT WORK YOUR WAY.

YOU CANNOT PAY YOUR WAY.

YOU COME BY SIMPLE,
CHILD-LIKE FAITH.

THEN THE THIRD THING,
YOU MUST BE WILLING TO BE

A DISCIPLE OR
A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.

EARLIER IN THE YEAR IT
WAS MY PRIVILEGE TO HOLD

A TEN DAY MISSION AT CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY IN ENGLAND,

AS WELL AS,
OXFORD UNIVERSITY.

I COULD NOT HELP BUT REMEMBER
THAT YOUNG MAN AT CAMBRIDGE

WHO MADE THIS STATEMENT WHEN
HE GAVE HIS LIFE TO CHRIST.

HE WAS THE SON OF
A VERY WEALTHY MAN

AND HE WAS ONE OF
THE GREATEST CRICKETERS

THAT CAMBRIDGE HAS EVER HAD.

HE SAID, “IF JESUS CHRIST
BE GOD AND DIED FOR ME,

“THEN NO SACRIFICE THAT I CAN
MAKE FOR HIM CAN BE TOO GREAT.”

THAT WAS C.T. STUDD
WHO SAID THAT.

HE WENT OUT AS A MISSIONARY
WITH THE CAMBRIDGE SEVEN

THAT STARTED
A WHOLE MISSIONARY MOVEMENT

AT THE END OF
THE LAST CENTURY.

JIM ELLIOT WHO WAS KILLED
BY THE AUCA INDIANS

IN SOUTH AMERICA, AS A YOUNG
STUDENT WROTE THIS,

“HE IS NO FOOL WHO GIVES UP
WHAT HE CANNOT KEEP

“TO GAIN WHAT HE CANNOT LOSE.”

I ASK YOU YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE
TONIGHT,

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST?

IS HE YOUR LORD
AND YOUR SAVIOR?

IN A FEW MOMENTS
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU

TO DO SOMETHING VERY DIFFICULT.

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO
GET UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT

AND COME AND STAND IN
FRONT OF THIS PLATFORM

AS WE SAW OVER 500
LAST NIGHT DO.

STAND HERE AND SAY BY COMING
SYMBOLICALLY,

“I OPEN MY HEART TO CHRIST.

“I WANT HIM TO FORGIVE MY SINS
AND CHANGE MY LIFE.

“I WANT TO KNOW
WHERE I’M GOING.

“I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LIFE
IS ALL ABOUT.

“I WANT FULFILLMENT
IN MY LIFE.”

I ASK YOU TO COME PUBLICLY

BECAUSE EVERY PERSON JESUS
CALLED IN THE BIBLE,

HE CALLED PUBLICLY.

I ASK YOU TO COME PUBLICLY
BECAUSE THERE’S A PSYCHOLOGICAL

AND A BIBLICAL REASON
FOR YOU TO COME.

YOU STAND HERE A MOMENT, AND
AFTER YOU’VE COME

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

AND THEN GIVE YOU SOME
LITERATURE TO HELP YOU

IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT COMING
FORWARD LIKE THAT

THAT SETTLES IT AND SEALS IT.

YOU THAT ARE IN THE OTHER
AUDITORIUM WHERE WE WERE

A MOMENT AGO, WHERE THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE ARE GATHERED,

YOU COME FORWARD IN YOUR
AUDITORIUM WHERE YOU ARE.

BRADY WILSON WILL BE THERE

TO SAY A WORD AND TO HELP YOU.

MANY COUNSELORS ARE THERE
AS WELL.

THEN YOU THAT ARE WATCHING

BY TELEVISION,

YOU PICK UP THE PHONE RIGHT NOW

AND CALL THE NUMBER

ON YOUR SCREEN.

DON’T LET THIS MOMENT PASS

BECAUSE THERE MAY NEVER BE

ANOTHER MOMENT QUITE LIKE THIS

IN YOUR LIFE

WHEN YOU’RE SO CLOSE

TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

ALL IT NEEDS IS A PHONE CALL

TO TALK TO SOMEONE.

THEN IF YOU DON’T

GET THROUGH IMMEDIATELY,

WAIT A MOMENT OR TWO

AND CALL AGAIN.

OR WAIT FIVE MINUTES

OR TEN MINUTES AND CALL AGAIN.

BUT DON’T LET THIS NIGHT PASS.

THOSE PEOPLE,

SOME OF THEM,

WILL BE THERE FOR SEVERAL HOURS

TO ANSWER YOUR PHONE.

YOU GET UP AND COME RIGHT HERE
AS PEOPLE ARE MAKING

THEIR DECISION HERE AND
IN THE OTHER AUDITORIUM

AND ALL OVER AMERICA
RIGHT NOW.

YOU JOIN THEM.

COME AND STAND HERE
AND SAY YES TO CHRIST.

WE’RE GOING TO WAIT ON YOU.

YOU MAY BE IN THE CHOIR,

YOU MAY BE A LEADER
IN THE CHURCH

OR YOU MAY NOT HAVE ANY
CHURCH CONNECTIONS.

WHOEVER YOU ARE,
GOD HAS SPOKEN TO YOU,

GET UP AND COME.

WE’RE GOING TO WAIT ON YOU.

♪

♪ JUST AS I AM
WITHOUT ONE PLEA ♪

♪ BUT THAT THY BLOOD
WAS SHED FOR ME ♪

AS THESE HUNDREDS ARE RESPONDING
TO MR. GRAHAM’S INVITATION TO

MAKE A PUBLIC 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,

♪ O LAMB OF GOD,
I COME ♪

♪ I COME ♪

YOU THAT ARE WATCHING
BY TELEVISION CAN SEE

THAT MANY SCORES OF PEOPLE,
I SUPPOSE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE,

ARE COMING TO MAKE
THIS COMMITMENT

HERE IN RENO, NEVADA.

YOU CAN MAKE
THAT SAME COMMITMENT

RIGHT NOW WHERE YOU ARE.

JUST PICK UP THE PHONE
AND CALL THAT NUMBER

THAT’S ON YOUR SCREEN

AND HAVE A TALK
WITH THAT COUNSELOR

AND TELL THEM
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

OR MAKE THE DECISION
RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

MAYBE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
ARE SUCH

YOU CANNOT CALL
RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT,
MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT NOW.

BOW YOUR HEAD AND SAY,

“LORD JESUS,
COME INTO MY HEART.”

“I RECEIVE YOU AS
MY LORD AND SAVIOR.”

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 ♪