Are you waiting to live for Christ until you’ve done all the things you REALLY want to do? Your time may be more limited than you think. Hear Billy Graham explain why in this 1991 message from East Rutherford, New Jersey. Watch more #MondayNightClassics weekly at 8 p.m. Eastern.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES…
THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.
[applause]
NOW TONIGHT I WANT YOU
TO TURN WITH ME TO
THE 90TH PSALM ,
THE 90TH PSALM .
I WANT TO SPEAK TONIGHT
ON THE BREVITY OF LIFE.
AND I’LL MAKE IT BRIEF,
LIKE I DID LAST NIGHT.
THE TENTH VERSE OF
THE 90TH PSALM ,
“THE DAYS OF OUR YEARS ARE
THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN,”
(THAT’S SEVENTY)
“AND IF BY REASON OF STRENGTH
THEY BE FOURSCORE,”
(THAT’S EIGHTY),
“YET IS THERE STRENGTH,
LABOR, AND SORROW
“FOR IT IS SOON CUT OFF
AND WE FLY AWAY.
“WHO KNOWETH THE POWER
OF THINE ANGER?
“EVEN ACCORDING TO THY FEAR
SO IS THY WRATH,
“SO TEACH US
TO NUMBER OUR DAYS
“THAT WE MAY APPLY
OUR HEARTS UNTO WISDOM.”
DO YOU NUMBER YOUR DAYS?
DO YOU REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT
EVERY SINGLE DAY IS?
THINK OF IT–
GOD HAS SAID, THAT
IF YOU LIVE TO BE SEVENTY,
YOU MAY LIVE TO BE EIGHTY.
AND THEN THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
IF YOU LIVE TO BE 80,
YOU’RE LIKELY TO HAVE
A LOT OF LABOR AND SORROW,
AND TROUBLES AND
DIFFICULTIES.
I HEARD ABOUT A TRAIN PASSENGER
WHO WAS HANDING OUT CIGARS,
BECAUSE THE TRAIN
DOWN WHERE I LIVED
ARRIVED ON TIME FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.
THAT WAS A NUMBER
OF YEARS AGO.
THE CONDUCTOR SAID
HE COULDN’T ACCEPT A CIGAR.
WHY?
HE SAID, “BECAUSE THIS
IS YESTERDAY’S TRAIN.”
[laughter]
THERE’S THE COLLAPSE OF TIME
ALL AROUND US.
DO YOU KNOW IN
THE DAYS OF JESUS,
AS FAST AS A PERSON COULD GO
WAS AS FAST AS
A HORSE COULD RUN?
AND THAT HAPPENED
ALL THE WAY UNTIL 1830,
WHEN WE DEVELOPED AN ENGINE
FASTER THAN A HORSE,
THINK OF THAT.
THOSE HUNDREDS
AND THOUSANDS OF YEARS
ALL AS FAST AS YOU COULD GO,
WAS ON HORSEBACK.
THEN IN 1910 WE DEVELOPED
A MILITARY AIRCRAFT
THAT WENT 42 MILES AN HOUR.
AND THEN I REMEMBER VERY WELL
JUST LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY
WHEN LINDBERGH TOOK OFF
FOR PARIS
AND IN 33 HOURS
HE WAS IN PARIS,
AND WE THOUGHT THAT
WAS REALLY SOMETHING.
TODAY WE GET ON A CONCORDE,
OR SOME PEOPLE DO,
AND THEY ARE THERE IN
THREE AND A HALF HOURS.
AND IN 1960 WE STARTED
GOING THROUGH THE AIR
AT 18,000 MILES AN HOUR WHEN
WE GOT UP IN THE STRATOSPHERE.
NOW MY FATHER DROVE
A HORSE AND BUGGY
AND WE’RE TRYING TO RUN TODAY
A SPACE AGE
ON A HORSE AND BUGGY
MORAL AND SPIRITUAL CONDITION.
TIME IS COLLAPSING ON US,
HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE HAVE?
THE PSALMIST REQUESTED
THAT THE LORD REMEMBER
HOW SHORT MY TIME IS.
“BEHOLD THOU HAST MADE MY DAYS
AS A HAND BREADTH,
“AND MINE AGE AS
NOTHING TO THEE.
“A THOUSAND YEARS IN
THY SIGHT IS BUT AS YESTERDAY
“WHEN IT IS PASSED
AND IS A WATCH.”
A WATCH IS FOUR HOURS
IN THE NIGHT.
“ONE DAY AS WITH THE LORD
IS A THOUSAND YEARS
“AND A THOUSAND YEARS
IS ONE DAY.”
“HE THAT SITTETH
UPON THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH,
“AND THE INHABITANTS THEREOF
LOOK TO GOD LIKE GRASSHOPPERS.
“THE GRASS WITHERETH AND
THE FLOWER FADETH,”
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS.
“MY DAYS ARE LIKE A SHADOW
THAT DECLINETH
“AND I’M WITHERED LIKE GRASS
“BUT THOU, O LORD, SHALL
ENDURETH FOREVER
“AND THY REMEMBRANCE
UNTO ALL GENERATIONS.”
THINK OF IT–
GOD WILL ENDURE FOREVER.
BUT ON THIS EARTH,
WE’RE LIKE A SHADOW
THAT’S DECLINING.
WE’RE ALL DYING.
FROM THE MOMENT YOU WERE BORN
YOU STARTED DYING,
BECAUSE WE’RE
ALL HEADING TOWARD DEATH.
EVERY ONE OF US ARE
UNDER THE SENTENCE OF DEATH,
THERE WON’T BE ANYBODY
IN THIS AUDIENCE ALIVE,
I’D SAY, 90 YEARS
FROM TONIGHT.
NOBODY, WE’LL ALL BE GONE.
AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO
WITH THOSE YEARS?
EACH HUMAN BEING HAS EXACTLY
THE SAME NUMBER OF HOURS
AND MINUTES EVERY DAY.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY MINUTES
THERE ARE IN A DAY?
1,440.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY HOURS
THERE ARE IN A WEEK?
168.
NOW IF YOU LIVE TO BE SEVENTY,
YOUR FIRST FIFTEEN IS
CHILDHOOD OR ADOLESCENCE.
YOU SPEND TWENTY YEARS IN BED.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS ARE
PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS
AND YOU’RE CURTAILING
YOUR ACTIVITIES.
THAT MEANS YOU ONLY HAVE
THIRTY YEARS LEFT
FOR EVERYTHING ELSE.
THIRTY YEARS TO LIVE,
AND PART OF THAT TIME HAS
TO BE SPENT EATING,
AND WORKING,
AND FIGURING UP
YOUR INCOME TAX.
[laughter]
THE SCRIPTURE ASKS
THIS QUESTION,
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?
“IT IS EVEN A VAPOR THAT
APPEARETH FOR A LITTLE TIME
“AND THEN VANISHETH AWAY.”
THE OLDEST OF US…
WON’T LIVE LONG.
OUR TIME IS ALREADY
IN GOD’S HANDS;
GOD HAS A DATE ALREADY SET
FOR YOUR BEING TAKEN
FROM THIS WORLD.
IT MAY BE IN AN ACCIDENT,
IT MAY BE A CANCER,
AND IT MAY BE
A HEART ATTACK.
WHATEVER IT IS,
IT’S ALREADY SET.
AND THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MAN
“ONCE TO DIE AND
AFTER THAT THE JUDGMENT.”
YOU WILL STAND BEFORE
THE GREAT JUDGMENT OF GOD
TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF
HOW YOU SPENT THIS LIFE
AND WHAT YOU DID
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST.
BECAUSE GOD GAVE HIS SON
TO DIE FOR YOUR SINS
BECAUSE YOU SEE,
WE’RE ALL SINNERS.
WE ALL HAVE
THE SAME DISEASE.
I DON’T CARE WHAT THE COLOR
OF YOUR SKIN IS.
GOD DOESN’T LOOK AT
THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN.
GOD LOOKS AT YOUR HEART.
AND GOD SEES THAT YOU HAVE
A SPIRITUAL HEART DISEASE.
AND THAT SPIRITUAL HEART
DISEASE IS CALLED SIN.
AND WE’RE ALL SINNERS,
THAT MEANS
WE’VE BROKEN THE LAWS OF GOD,
WE’VE DISOBEYED GOD,
WE’VE REBELLED AGAINST GOD.
AND BECAUSE
WE’VE REBELLED AGAINST HIM
AND WE’RE GOING TO HAVE
TO FACE A JUDGMENT.
AND HE’S GOING TO SAY,
“DEPART FROM ME,
I NEVER KNEW YOU.”
IT’S INTERESTING TO ME
THAT RICH PEOPLE
CANNOT BUY MORE HOURS.
SCIENTISTS CANNOT
INVENT NEW MINUTES.
YOU CANNOT EVEN SAVE TIME
TO SPEND IT ON ANOTHER DAY.
YOU’VE GOT
A LITTLE TIME TODAY,
AND YOU SAY, “WELL, I’D LIKE
TO SAVE IT UP FOR TOMORROW.”
YOU CAN’T DO THAT.
THERE’S AN URGENCY TO TIME.
THE BIBLE SAYS,
“REDEEM THE TIME BECAUSE
THE DAYS ARE EVIL.”
THE DAYS ARE VERY EVIL.
WE LOOK AT OUR NEWSPAPERS
AND WE CANNOT BELIEVE
ALL THE MURDERS AND THE RAPES
AND THE RACIAL PROBLEMS.
ALL THESE THINGS
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
YES, THE DAYS ARE EVIL AND
WE’VE GOT A BIG TASK AHEAD OF US
IF THIS EARTH IS
TO BE SPARED MUCH LONGER.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THAT
WE ARE TO REDEEM THE TIME.
IT’S A PHRASE OUT OF
THE BUSINESS WORLD,
IT MEANS TO BUY THE TIME.
I HEARD ABOUT PEOPLE
WHO TITHE THEIR TIME.
WE ARE SUPPOSED
TO TITHE OUR MONEY,
TEN PERCENT OF OUR MONEY
BELONGS TO GOD
IF YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN.
BUT WE CAN ALSO
TITHE OUR TIME.
TAKE TEN PERCENT
OF YOUR TIME AND SAY,
“LORD THIS IS YOURS
“FOR BIBLE STUDY,
FOR PRAYER.”
YOU SAY WE SPEND
TOO MUCH TIME ON FREEWAYS
GOING BACK AND FORTH
AND INTERSTATES
AND STUCK IN TRAFFIC.
YOU KNOW, WE’VE INVENTED ALL
OF THESE MODERN THINGS TO
SAVE TIME, AND WE HAVE LESS
TIME THAN EVER BEFORE.
WE HAVE A LOT LESS TIME NOW
THAN MY FATHER AND MOTHER HAD
IN THE HORSE AND BUGGY DAYS.
AND YET WE HAVE FAST
AUTOMOBILES
AND FAST AIRPLANES,
AND WE’RE RUNNING FROM PLACE TO
PLACE LIKE MAD PEOPLE.
AND MOST OF US DON’T KNOW
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO
WHEN WE GET THERE.
[laughter]
YOU HAVE SO MUCH TIME,
BUT FOR WHAT?
YOU HAVE TIME
TO SERVE CHRIST.
YOU HAVE TIME TO LIVE
ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.
YOU HAVE TIME TO OBEY HIM.
HAVE YOU DONE LIKE
THE PSALMIST SAID IN 31:15
AND PUT YOURSELF AT
GOD’S DISPOSAL,
WHEN HE SAID,
“MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR HANDS”?
THERE IS A CURRENT MOVIE
SHOWING IN THIS AREA
ENTITLED THE COMMITMENTS.
HAVE YOU COMMITTED
YOUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST?
HAS THAT EVER
HAPPENED TO YOU?
OH, YOU SAY,
“YES, I’VE BEEN BAPTIZED,
“I’VE BEEN CONFIRMED.
“I GO ONCE IN A WHILE
TO CHURCH.
“I THINK ABOUT GOD
ONCE IN A WHILE.”
BUT HAVE YOU REALLY
COMMITTED TO HIM?
ARE YOU TOTALLY
COMMITTED TO HIM?
ARE YOU SURE IF YOU DIED
AT THIS MOMENT
YOU’D GO TO HEAVEN?
ARE YOU CERTAIN
YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN?
THAT’S WHY CHRIST CAME
AND DIED ON THE CROSS
AND SHED HIS BLOOD.
AND GOD RAISED HIM
FROM THE DEAD.
AND THEN THERE IS
THE TYRANNY OF TIME,
IT CONTROLS US AND
WE BECOME FRUSTRATED
RUNNING FROM ONE THING
TO ANOTHER.
BECAUSE WE DON’T FEEL
THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME
TO GET EVERYTHING DONE
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
JESUS SAID, “I MUST WORK
THE WORKS OF HIM THAT SENT ME
“WHILE IT IS DAY; THE NIGHT
COMETH WHEN NO MAN CAN WORK.”
THE NIGHT IS GOING
TO COME TO YOU
AND YOU WON’T TO HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE GOD.
SERVE HIM WHILE YOU CAN,
SERVE HIM NOW.
PUT HIM FIRST IN YOUR LIFE.
YET AT THE END OF HIS LIFE,
HE SAID, I’VE FINISHED THE WORK
THAT YOU GAVE ME TO DO.
GOD HAS A PLAN
FOR YOUR LIFE,
AND YOU CAN FINISH IT
WITH GOD’S HELP.
AND HE’LL GIVE YOU A JOY
AND A PEACE THAT YOU NEVER
DREAMED EXISTED, IF YOU PUT
YOUR CONFIDENCE IN HIM.
OH YES, WHEN JESUS
LEFT THE EARTH
THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT
NEEDED TO BE HEALED
AND LIVES THAT NEEDED
TO BE TOUCHED,
BUT JESUS SAID,
HE’D FINISHED THE WORK THAT HAD
BEEN ASSIGNED TO HIM,
BY THE FATHER.
GOD HAS ASSIGNED A WORK
THAT ONLY YOU CAN FILL,
YOU ARE UNIQUE,
NOBODY CAN TAKE YOUR PLACE.
AND GOD NEEDS YOU
IN HIS KINGDOM.
TIME CAN BE OUR TOOL,
BUT WE CAN ALSO BE ITS SLAVE.
EVEN SO, TIME IS AMAZINGLY
FAIR, AND FORGIVING–
NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIME
YOU’VE WASTED IN THE PAST,
YOU CAN STILL HAVE TOMORROW.
ADLAI STEVENSON ONCE SAID,
“IT’S NOT THE DAYS
OF YOUR LIFE,
“BUT THE LIFE IN
YOUR DAYS THAT COUNT.”
YOU HAVE TO BUY IT.
WHAT IS THE PRICE
YOU HAVE TO PAY?
THE PRICE IS THAT YOU HAVE
NO TIME FOR CERTAIN THINGS.
WE SHOULDN’T DRIFT
ALONG HAPHAZARDLY
DOING ALL THE PLEASURES
AND ALL THE DRINKING
AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS
THAT ARE WRONG.
GOD WANTS US TO LOVE OTHERS.
THE MAIN THING THAT
HE WANTS US TO DO IS TO LOVE
YOUR NEIGHBOR AND LOVE
PEOPLE OF ANOTHER RACE.
THE ONE THING THAT
DISTINGUISHES A BELIEVER
FROM OTHERS IS LOVE THAT
DOMINATES YOUR LIFE.
YOUR LIFE SHOULD BE
CAREFULLY PLANNED.
THEN THERE IS
THE TERMINATION OF TIME,
“BRETHREN,” THE APOSTLE PAUL
SAID IN I CORINTHIANS,
“TIME IS SHORT.”
IN REVELATION IT TELLS US
THAT TIME SHALL BE NO MORE.
JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES
SPENT THE 94 VERSES OF
MATTHEW 24 TO THE END OF
THE CHAPTER 25
TALKING ABOUT THE END
OF THE AGE.
AS WE APPROACH
THE END OF THE AGE
WE READ IN REVELATION 12
THAT THE DEVIL WILL BE
FRANTICALLY ACTIVE,
BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT
HIS DAYS ARE NUMBERED.
YES, THERE IS A DEVIL;
THERE IS A SATAN.
HE’S A REAL PERSON,
AND THERE ARE REAL DEMONS.
AND THEY ARE GOING TO BATTLE
FOR YOUR SOUL TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SATAN DOES NOT
WANT TO GIVE YOU UP.
HE’LL BATTLE TO KEEP YOU IN
HIS KINGDOM
BECAUSE THERE ARE
TWO KINGDOMS,
THERE’S THE DEVIL’S KINGDOM
AND THERE’S GOD’S KINGDOM
AND YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO MAKE A CHOICE
WHICH ONE YOU WANT TO BE IN.
OF COURSE, WE DON’T KNOW
WHEN THE TIME
OF JESUS’ COMING
IS GOING TO BE.
IN MARK 13 WE ARE TOLD “HEAVEN
AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY,
“BUT OF THAT DAY AND HOUR
KNOWETH NO MAN SO TAKE HEED.
“WATCH AND PRAY FOR YOU KNOW
NOT WHAT YOUR TIME IS.”
WE DON’T KNOW WHEN GOD
IS GOING TO COME FOR US.
IN ROMANS 13 THE APOSTLE SAYS,
“KNOWING THE TIME,
“THAT NOW IT IS HIGH TIME TO
WAKE OUT OF SLEEP
“FOR NOW IS OUR SALVATION
NEARER THAN WHEN WE BELIEVED.
“THE NIGHT IS FAR SPENT,
THE DAY IS AT HAND,
“LET US THEREFORE CAST OFF
THE WORKS OF DARKNESS
“AND LET US PUT ON
THE ARMOR OF LIGHT.”
THE BIBLE SEVERAL TIMES
USES THE PHRASE,
“THE TIME IS AT HAND.”
JESUS TOLD US TO DISCERN
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
ONE OF THE SIGNS IS
THAT INIQUITY SHALL ABOUND.
PICK UP YOUR NEWSPAPERS
AND WATCH YOUR NEWSCASTS–
INIQUITY IS ABOUNDING
EVERYWHERE.
NOT JUST IN NEW YORK,
NOT JUST IN NEW JERSEY,
BUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED IN
HEAVEN WILL YOU BE THERE?
IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN
ON THE BOOK OF LIFE?
BECAUSE THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
IF YOUR NAME IS NOT
ON THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE
YOU’LL NEVER ENTER HEAVEN.
YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW IS ON
WHAT IS CALLED IN THE BIBLE,
THE BOOKS.
AND UNDER YOUR NAME
ARE ALL THE SINS
THAT YOU EVER COMMITTED.
ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU’VE EVER
THOUGHT THAT ARE WRONG,
ALL OF YOUR INTENTS
THAT ARE WRONG.
IT’S ALL THERE, RECORDED,
AND WILL FACE YOU
AT THE JUDGMENT.
BUT WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST
AND PRESENT YOURSELF WHOLLY
AND COMPLETELY TO HIM
AS SAVIOR AND LORD
HE BLOTS OUT EVERYTHING
IN THOSE BOOKS,
AND WRITES YOUR NAME
IN ANOTHER BOOK,
THE BOOK OF LIFE.
THE LAMB’S BOOK.
IS YOUR NAME
WRITTEN THERE?
IF MY NAME WAS
NOT WRITTEN THERE,
AND I DIDN’T KNOW IT
I WOULDN’T LEAVE THIS BUILDING
TONIGHT UNTIL I WAS SURE
BECAUSE THERE MAY NEVER BE
ANOTHER MOMENT
LIKE THIS IN YOUR LIFE.
THIS IS YOUR HOUR WITH GOD.
AND THEN THE BREVITY OF TIME
CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION.
THE FACT THAT TIME IS SHORT
CALLS FOR US TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT NOW,
BECAUSE THE SCRIPTURE SAYS IN
II CORINTHIANS 6:2,
“NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME.”
NOT TOMORROW, TODAY.
THINGS YOU OUGHT TO DO,
DO IT NOW.
MONEY YOU OUGHT TO GIVE,
GIVE IT NOW.
PEOPLE YOU OUGHT TO
WITNESS TO, WITNESS NOW.
EVERY TIME THE CLOCK TICKS
IT SEEMS TO SAY, “NOW.”
TODAY IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS
VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEART,
YOU CAN HARDEN YOUR HEART.
YOU HEAR A MESSAGE LIKE THIS
AND IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS,
BECAUSE YOU WILL
HARDEN YOUR HEART
AND THE NEXT TIME
YOU HEAR THE GOSPEL
YOUR HEART WILL BE HARDER
AND HARDER AND HARDER.
COME TO CHRIST NOW.
IF THERE’S EVEN A WHISPER
IN YOUR HEART
THAT YOU NEED TO COME,
YOU COME.
THEN THERE’S
THE WARNING OF TIME.
IT WILL SOMEDAY BE
TOO LATE FOR YOUR SOUL.
TIME IS TOO SHORT FOR
INDECISION AND VACILLATION.
DON’T HALT BETWEEN
TWO OPINIONS.
FOOLS SAY
THERE’S PLENTY OF TIME;
THE DEVIL SAYS
THERE’S PLENTY OF TIME.
EVERY MORNING
YOU HAVE 86,400 SECONDS
TO SPEND AND TO INVEST.
EACH DAY THE BANK OPENS
A NEW ACCOUNT WITH YOU.
THERE MAY BE NO TOMORROW.
COME NOW.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “SEEING
THEN THAT ALL THESE THINGS
“SHALL COME TO PASS,
“WHAT MANNER OF PERSONS
OUGHT YOU TO BE?”
I READ AN ARTICLE
SOME YEARS AGO,
TALKING ABOUT SOME PEOPLE
THAT WERE HAVING A GREAT TIME
ON NEW YEAR’S EVE AND
THIS MAN THAT WAS WRITING
THE ARTICLE SAID, “THEY DRINK
LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW.”
YOU’VE PROBABLY ALL
HEARD THE SONG,
“ANOTHER TIME AND
ANOTHER PLACE,”
AND THAT’S WHAT THE DEVIL WILL
WHISPER IN YOUR EAR TONIGHT.
WHEN I TELL YOU
YOU NEED TO COME
AND MAKE
YOUR COMMITMENT TO CHRIST
WITH THESE HUNDREDS
AND THOUSANDS
THAT HAVE ALREADY COME
IN THIS CRUSADE,
THE DEVIL WILL SAY:
“WAIT…ANOTHER TIME,
ANOTHER PLACE,
“THIS IS NOT THE TIME.”
THIS IS THE TIME,
THE VERY FACT YOU ARE HERE
INDICATES IT’S THE TIME.
BY SOME STRANGE COINCIDENCE
OR PROVIDENCE
GOD HAS BROUGHT
YOU HERE TONIGHT
AND BEFORE YOU CAME YOU THOUGHT
YOU WERE ALL RIGHT WITH GOD
BUT NOW YOU’RE NOT SURE.
AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE,
YOU WANT TO BE CERTAIN.
YES, THE DEVIL ALWAYS SAYS,
“YES, DO IT,
“BUT SOME OTHER TIME,
AND SOME OTHER PLACE.”
GOD SAYS, “HERE AND NOW.”
IN LUKE 19 IT TELLS US OF
JESUS WEEPING OVER
THE PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM.
THERE IS A POEM THAT I FIRST
HEARD YEARS AGO THAT GOES,
THERE IS A TIME,
WE KNOW NOT WHEN,
A PLACE,
WE KNOW NOT WHERE,
THAT SEALS THE DESTINY OF MAN
FOR GLORY OR DESPAIR.
SOMEONE WROTE ME A LETTER
HERE THIS WEEK.
IT SAYS, “DEAR MR. GRAHAM,
“IN 1957 YOUR CRUSADE CAME
“TO THE OLD MADISON
SQUARE GARDEN
“IN NEW YORK CITY.
“I WAS 6 YEARS OLD.
“I CAN STILL REMEMBER
THE BUS RIDE
“THE HARD WOODEN BLEACHERS,
“AND MY SHINY NEW BLACK
PATENT LEATHER SHOES.
“I REMEMBER IT ALL JUST
LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.
“WHEN YOU MADE THE INVITATION
TO GIVE MY LIFE TO CHRIST
“I WAS READY AND
I JUMPED UP TO GO,
“BUT UNFORTUNATELY IN THOSE
DAYS AND IN THAT GENERATION,
“MY MOTHER REPLIED TO ME
AND SAID ‘HUSH, SIT DOWN.
“‘WE DON’T DO THAT.
“‘SOMEONE MIGHT SEE YOU.’
“I STAYED IN MY CHAIR.
“HERE IT IS 35 YEARS LATER
AND I’M PRIVILEGED TO BE
“A VOLUNTEER COUNSELOR
DOWN ON THE FLOOR,
“AND IT’S MY PRAYER
THAT NOT ONE PERSON
“STAYS IN THEIR SEAT,
“BUT COMES FORWARD TO
RECEIVE CHRIST
“WHILE THERE’S TIME.
“THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
YOUR CRUSADE BACK TO THIS AREA.
“MY SIX YEAR OLD GIRL MEMORIES
“ARE BURSTING WITH EXCITEMENT.
“I’LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU
THIS WEEK, GOD BLESS YOU.”
THERE’S A MAN
FROM THIS AREA
THAT CLIFF BARROWS
TOLD ME ABOUT
ON THE TELEPHONE TODAY.
HIS FAMILY HAD BEEN
URGING HIM TO STAY HERE
BECAUSE HE DIDN’T BELIEVE
AND HE MADE A POINT OF
TELLING PEOPLE
THAT HE DIDN’T BELIEVE
IN CHRIST,
HE WASN’T A BELIEVER.
BUT HE WOULD NOT STAY HERE
AND HE WOULDN’T COME,
AND HE DIDN’T WANT TO ACCEPT
THE CLAIMS OF CHRIST.
INSTEAD HE WENT
THE BAHAMA ISLANDS,
AND IN THE EARLY MORNING,
THIS MORNING,
HE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK.
FOR HIM, IT IS NOW
TOO LATE,
HIS DECISION IS MADE.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR DECISION?
IS IT GOING TO BE
YES OR NO
TO THE CLAIMS OF CHRIST?
CHRIST DIED FOR YOU,
HE ROSE AGAIN.
AND THEN WHAT DO
YOU HAVE TO DO?
YOU HAVE TO FIRST REPENT
OF YOUR SINS.
THAT MEANS THAT YOU SAY,
“LORD, I AM A SINNER.
“I’M SORRY FOR MY SIN.
“I’M WILLING TO CHANGE
MY WAY OF LIFE.
“I WANT TO FOLLOW YOU
AND SERVE YOU
“AND I SURRENDER MY LIFE
TO YOU TONIGHT,”
OR “I REDEDICATE MY LIFE
TO YOU TONIGHT.”
“I NEED YOU LORD
“AND I WANT TO MAKE
MY COMMITMENT ON THIS NIGHT.”
IN THIS CRUSADE, WE’LL NEVER
BE IN THIS AUDITORIUM AGAIN,
AND YOU’RE HERE TONIGHT.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO GET UP
OUT OF YOUR SEAT.
FROM UP THERE IN THE BALCONY
IT WILL TAKE AN EXTRA MINUTE,
SO START NOW AND COME AND
EVERYONE STAND
DOWN ON THE FRONT,
IN FRONT OF ME HERE,
IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM.
AND AFTER YOU’VE ALL COME,
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.
YOU SAY, “WHY DO YOU
ASK PEOPLE TO COME PUBLICLY?”
BECAUSE EVERY PERSON
THAT JESUS EVER CALLED,
HE CALLED PUBLICLY.
THERE WAS SOMETHING
ABOUT MAKING IT PUBLIC.
HE DIED FOR YOU PUBLICLY,
HANGING NAKED ON A CROSS.
CERTAINLY YOU CAN COME AND
STAND HERE PUBLICLY
TO MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT TO HIM
AND SAY, “LORD, YOU HAVE
ALL OF ME TONIGHT,
“I WANT TO BE SURE
THAT I AM READY TO MEET YOU.”
JUST GET UP AND COME FROM
ALL OVER THE STADIUM.
♪ 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. ♪
♪ JUST AS I AM
AND WAITING NOT… ♪
AS HUNDREDS HERE IN NEW JERSEY
ARE COMING FORWARD
TO RESPOND TO MR. GRAHAM’S
INVITATION
TO MAKE A COMMITMENT
TO JESUS CHRIST,
YOU CAN MAKE THAT SAME
COMMITMENT
RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.
JUST PICK UP THE PHONE NOW
AND CALL THE NUMBER YOU SEE
ON YOUR SCREEN.
SPECIAL FRIENDS ARE WAITING
TO TALK WITH YOU
AND PRAY WITH YOU ABOUT THIS
MOST IMPORTANT DECISION.
DON’T WAIT,
PLEASE MAKE THAT CALL NOW,
AND IF THE LINE IS BUSY,
WAIT A FEW MOMENTS,
AND THEN CALL AGAIN.
♪ I COME, I COME. ♪
WHILE MANY OTHERS ARE STILL
COMING I WANT TO SAY A WORD
TO YOU THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
WATCHING BY TELEVISION
BECAUSE THESE SERVICES ARE
BEING RECORDED ON TAPE
TO BE PLAYED SOME TIME LATER
THIS YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR.
AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE
THAT HAVE BEEN WATCHING IN
TELEVISION AND YOU’VE BEEN
THINKING ABOUT
HOW FAST TIME IS GOING.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY
THAT YOU WERE A LITTLE BOY
OR A LITTLE GIRL,
AND TIME HAS FLOWN.
YOU MAY BE IN
A HOTEL ROOM SOMEWHERE,
YOU MAY BE IN A BAR,
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU
THAT GOD LOVES YOU,
HE WANTS
TO FORGIVE YOU,
HE WANTS TO MAKE YOU
A NEW PERSON,
IF YOU’LL LET HIM.
YOU CAN MAKE THAT COMMITMENT
WHERE YOU ARE, RIGHT NOW.
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.
JESUS CHRIST PROMISED THAT
HE IS GOING TO RETURN
TO THE EARTH.
AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
JESUS CHRIST IS GOING
TO KEEP THAT PROMISE.
ARE YOU READY?
THE HOPE OF THE COMING OF CHRIST
OUGHT TO MAKE US
WALK AS DISCIPLES OF
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
WE ARE TO BE SALT.
AND WE ARE TO BE LIGHT
IN THE WORLD
AND WE ARE TO WORK
AS THOUGH
CHRIST MAY NOT COME
FOR A THOUSAND YEARS.
BUT WE ARE TO LIVE AS THOUGH
HE MAY COME TONIGHT.
YOU’RE INVITED ON
A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY.
AT THE BILLY GRAHAM LIBRARY.
RETRACE BILLY GRAHAM’S PATH
FROM HUMBLE FARM BOY
TO INTERNATIONAL AMBASSADOR
OF GOD’S LOVE,
THROUGH MULTI-MEDIA,
PHOTOS AND MEMORABILIA.
BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
IS LOVE.
TOUR THE RESTORED
GRAHAM FAMILY HOME PLACE,
BROWSE RUTH’S ATTIC BOOKSTORE
AND HAVE A MEAL AT
THE GRAHAM BROTHERS DAIRY BARN.
ENJOY SPECIAL EXHIBITS,
EVENTS AND SEASONAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
ADMISSION IS FREE SO COME,
WALK THIS JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
AT THE BILLY GRAHAM LIBRARY.