With each day, the return of the Lord draws near. Billy Graham explains how you can prepare in this 1985 message from Sheffield, England. Watch more #MondayNightClassics every Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES…
THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.
(applause)
FOR OUR MESSAGE THIS EVENING
I WANT YOU TO TURN WITH ME
TO THE 21ST CHAPTER OF LUKE.
THE 21ST CHAPTER OF LUKE .
THAT’S THE THIRD BOOK
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
AND BEGINNING AT VERSE 7.
“AND THEY ASKED HIM, SAYING,
“MASTER, BUT WHEN SHALL
THESE THINGS BE?
“AND WHAT SIGN WILL THERE BE
“WHEN THESE THINGS
SHALL COME TO PASS?
“AND HE SAID, TAKE HEED
THAT YE BE NOT DECEIVED
“FOR MANY SHALL COME
IN MY NAME SAYING,
“I’M CHRIST, AND THE TIME
DRAWETH NEAR.
“GO YE NOT THEREFORE
AFTER THEM.
“BUT WHEN YE SHALL HEAR OF
WARS AND COMMOTIONS,
“BE NOT TERRIFIED.
“FOR THESE THINGS MUST FIRST
COME TO PASS,
“BUT THE END IS NOT
BY AND BY.
“THEN SAID HE UNTO THEM,
“NATION SHALL RISE
AGAINST NATION,
“AND KINGDOM AGAINST
KINGDOM.
“AND GREAT EARTHQUAKES SHALL BE
IN DIVERS PLACES;
“AND FAMINES,
AND PESTILENCES;
“AND FEARFUL SIGNS
“AND GREAT SIGNS SHALL
THERE BE FROM HEAVEN,
“BUT BEFORE ALL THESE THINGS,
“THEY SHALL LAY THEIR HANDS
ON YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU,
“AND PUT YOU INTO PRISONS
“AND BRING YOU BEFORE
KINGS AND RULERS
“FOR MY NAME’S SAKE.”
THE DISCIPLES HAD COME
AND ASKED,
“WHEN IS THE END
OF THE WORLD?
“WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE SIGN
OF YOUR COMING AGAIN?”
THEY BELIEVED THAT JESUS CHRIST
WAS COMING AGAIN
AND THERE WAS GOING TO BE
THE END OF THE AGE.
NOT THE END OF THE EARTH.
NOT THE END OF THE WORLD
THAT WE THINK OF,
BUT THE COSMOS,
THE WORLD SYSTEM
THAT IS DOMINATED BY EVIL.
THEN THERE’S A STRANGE
LITTLE VERSE,
ONE OF THE SHORTEST VERSES
IN THE BIBLE,
BACK IN LUKE 17:32.
BEGINNING WITH VERSE 28,
IT SAYS, “LIKEWISE ALSO
AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF LOT,
“THEY DID EAT, THEY DRANK,
THEY BOUGHT, THEY SOLD,
“THEY PLANTED, THEY BUILDED.
“BUT THE SAME DAY THAT LOT
WENT OUT OF SODOM,
“IT RAINED FIRE AND BRIMSTONE
FROM HEAVEN
“AND DESTROYED THEM ALL.
“EVEN THUS SHALL IT BE
IN THE DAY
“WHEN THE SON OF MAN
IS REVEALED.
“IN THAT DAY,
“HE WHICH SHALL BE
UPON THE HOUSETOP,
“AND HIS STUFF IN THE HOUSE,
“LET HIM NOT COME DOWN
TO TAKE IT AWAY;
“AND HE THAT IS IN THE FIELD,
“LET HIM LIKEWISE
NOT RETURN BACK.
“REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE.”
THAT’S MY TEXT TONIGHT:
“REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE.”
NOW WHY WOULD JESUS SAY
A THING LIKE THAT?
A STRANGE THING
FOR HIM TO SAY:
REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE.
AND THEN IN 2 PETER
THE 3RD CHAPTER
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“THE DAY OF THE LORD
“WILL COME AS A THIEF
IN THE NIGHT
“IN WHICH THE HEAVENS
WILL PASS AWAY
“WITH A GREAT NOISE,
“AND THE ELEMENTS SHALL MELT
WITH FERVENT HEAT.
“THE EARTH ALSO
AND THE WORKS THAT ARE THEREIN
“SHALL BE BURNED UP.”
AND YOU SAY, “BILLY,
DO YOU THINK THOSE THINGS
“ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE?”
WELL, LET’S GO BACK
AND STUDY WHY JESUS SAID,
“REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE.”
IT STARTED WITH ABRAHAM.
ABRAHAM WAS CALLED OF GOD.
HE WAS A FRIEND OF GOD.
HE WAS A GREAT MAN OF GOD.
HE WAS A GREAT MAN OF FAITH.
AND WHEN GOD TOLD HIM ONE DAY
TO TAKE HIS ONLY SON ISAAC
AND OFFER HIM ON MOUNT MORIAH,
HE DID IT.
AND HE WAS GOING TO OFFER HIM
AS A SACRIFICE,
AND GOD STOPPED HIS HAND
IN MID-AIR
AS THE KNIFE WAS PLUNGING DOWN.
AND GOD WAS TESTING HIM
TO SEE HOW MUCH
HE REALLY LOVED GOD,
AND HOW MUCH HE OBEYED GOD.
AND HE TOURED ALL AROUND
THE MIDDLE EAST.
HE STARTED WITH UR,
DOWN CLOSE TO WHERE
THE IRAQ/IRANIAN WAR
IS NOW BEING FOUGHT.
AND THEN HE WENT TO HARAN
WITH HIS FATHER TERAH
AND HE WENT FROM THERE
TO CANAAN,
THEN WENT TO EGYPT,
THEN BACK TO BETHEL,
AND BACK AND FORTH
THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST,
AND HE BECAME VERY RICH.
HE HAD LARGE HERDS OF CATTLE
AND SHEEP.
AND HE HAD HIS NEPHEW LOT
WITH HIM.
AND HIS WIFE’S NAME WAS SARAH.
BUT THERE’S A DANGER
OF RICHES AND AFFLUENCY.
ABRAHAM BECAME RICH
AND AFFLUENCY OFTEN BRINGS
SPIRITUAL POVERTY,
AND ABRAHAM COMMITTED
SOME SINS BEFORE THE LORD.
HE STRAIGHTENED THEM OUT,
HE CONFESSED,
AND GOD FORGAVE HIM.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
IN ECCLESIASTES 6,
“A MAN TO WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN
RICHES, WEALTH AND HONOR
“SO THAT HE WANTED NOTHING
FOR HIS SOUL.”
AND JESUS SAID IT’S EASIER
FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH
THE EYE OF A NEEDLE
THAN IT IS FOR A RICH MAN
TO GET TO HEAVEN.
NOW WHO ARE THE RICH PEOPLE?
THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN EUROPE,
IN AMERICA,
IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
AND IRELAND,
IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD
ARE CONSIDERED RICH
BY THE STANDARDS OF MANY OTHER
COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD.
EVEN IF WE HAVE CLOTHES ON,
AND HAVE SHOES ON,
WE ARE CONSIDERED RICH,
AND JESUS SAID IT’S GOING TO
BE VERY HARD FOR A RICH PERSON
TO GET INTO HEAVEN.
WHY?
BECAUSE OF ALL
THE ALLUREMENTS OF THE WORLD.
AND BECAUSE OF ALL
THE DANGERS THAT IT BRINGS.
NOW LOT ALSO BECAME RICH.
ABRAHAM WAS RICH,
LOT WAS RICH,
AND THEY DECIDED
THAT THEY WOULD SEPARATE
BECAUSE THEIR SERVANTS
WERE NOT GETTING ALONG
WITH EACH OTHER.
AND SO ABRAHAM SAID,
“ALL RIGHT, LOT,”
SAID, “IF YOU WANT TO GO TO
THE RIGHT, YOU GO TO THE RIGHT,
“AND I’LL GO LEFT.
“IF YOU WANT TO GO TO
THE LEFT,
“I’LL GO TO THE RIGHT,
“YOU MAKE THE CHOICE.”
SO LOT LOOKED DOWN AND
SAW IN THE VALLEY
THE WELL-WATERED PLAINS
OF THE JORDAN,
AND THEN HE SAW SODOM,
AND HIS WIFE AND FAMILY
PROBABLY WERE URGING HIM,
AND HE CHOSE TO GO TO SODOM.
SODOM, A WICKED CITY.
YOU CAN TAKE ALL THAT YOU
THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF
WALL STREET OR LAS VEGAS
OR SOHO IN LONDON,
OR THE REEPERBAHN
IN HAMBURG,
OR THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT
OF AMSTERDAM
AND ROLL IT ALL INTO ONE,
AND YOU’D HAVE WHAT SODOM WAS
IN THAT DAY.
EZEKIEL THE PROPHET
ONCE SAID,
“BEHOLD, THIS WAS
THE INIQUITY OF SODOM,
“PRIDE.”
SODOM WAS VERY PROUD.
THEY EXCLUDED GOD.
THEY WERE PROUD OF THEMSELVES
AND THE THINGS THEY’D DONE.
AND THEN THEY WERE FILLED
WITH BREAD, IT SAYS.
“AND ABUNDANCE
OF IDLENESS WAS IN HER
“AND IN HER DAUGHTERS.”
IN OTHER WORDS,
THEY HAD ALL THE THINGS
THAT THEY NEEDED
TO GIVE THEM LEISURE
IN THEIR LIVES.
“NEITHER DID SHE STRENGTHEN
THE HAND OF THE POOR AND NEEDY.”
THEY IGNORED THE NEEDY
AND THE POOR.
AND THE OPPRESSED
OF THE WORLD.
MANY TIMES WE IGNORE
THOSE OF OTHER RACES.
WE IGNORE THOSE PEOPLE
IN AFRICA
THAT ARE SUFFERING
FROM FAMINE.
OR MAYBE WE DON’T IGNORE THEM,
BUT WE DON’T DO MUCH ABOUT IT.
NOT AS MUCH AS WE COULD DO.
AND GOD IS GOING TO HOLD US
RESPONSIBLE.
AND THEY WERE HAUGHTY,
AND COMMITTED ABOMINATIONS
BEFORE ME.
IN OTHER WORDS,
THEY WERE PROUD, HAUGHTY, RICH.
THEY HAD IT ALL,
AND THEY NEGLECTED THE POOR
AND THE OPPRESSED OF THE WORLD,
AND GOD SAID,
“JUDGMENT IS GOING TO COME.”
AND IN LUKE THE 17TH CHAPTER,
AS WE READ,
“AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF LOT,
THEY ATE, THEY DRANK,
“THEY BOUGHT, THEY SOLD,
THEY PLANTED, THEY BUILT,
“BUT THE SAME DAY THAT LOT
WENT OUT OF SODOM
“IT RAINED FIRE AND BRIMSTONE
FROM HEAVEN
“AND DESTROYED THEM ALL.
“EVEN THUS…”
LISTEN TO THIS,
“EVEN THUS SHALL IT BE
IN THE DAY
“WHEN THE SON OF MAN
IS REVEALED.”
AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS
OF NOAH,
AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS
OF SODOM,
SO IT’S GOING TO BE
SIMILAR TO THE DAYS
JUST BEFORE THE COMING AGAIN
OF CHRIST.
YES, I BELIEVE THE BIBLE
TEACHES IN MORE THAN 300 PLACES
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
THAT JESUS CHRIST
IS COMING BACK AGAIN.
THAT’S THE HOPE THAT BEATS
WITHIN THE HEART
OF EVERY TRUE BELIEVER.
CHRIST WAS RAISED
FROM THE DEAD,
HE IS ALIVE,
HE IS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF
GOD THE FATHER
AND HE’S COMING BACK.
NOW DON’T ASK ME WHEN
BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW.
HE TOLD THE DISCIPLES
DON’T TRY TO GUESS
THE DAY NOR THE HOUR,
DON’T SPECULATE.
WE DON’T KNOW.
BUT HE LEFT US CERTAIN SIGNS,
AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT
THESE SIGNS ARE COMING TOGETHER
FOR THE FIRST TIME,
PERHAPS, IN HISTORY,
SINCE HE SAID IT.
ALL THE SIGNS
SEEM TO BE THERE,
THAT THE COMING
OF THE LORD DRAWS NEAR.
WE DON’T KNOW,
WE’RE NOT SURE,
BUT IT SEEMS THAT WAY,
BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT HE TOLD US WAS
THAT THE MIDDLE EAST
WOULD BE IN TURMOIL.
HE TOLD US ABOUT
THE PESTILENCES.
LOOK AT ALL THAT’S HAPPENING
IN PESTILENCES.
HE SAID THE WORLD WILL BE
IN TURMOIL.
LOOK AT THE TERRORISM
THAT’S GOING ON IN THE WORLD.
AND THE TREMENDOUS
MILITARY BUILDUPS
AROUND THE WORLD.
ALL OF THESE THINGS
HE SAID ARE INDICATIONS
THAT THE COMING
OF THE LORD IS NEAR.
BECAUSE YOU SEE,
THE WORLD WOULD DESTROY ITSELF
IF GOD DOESN’T INTERVENE.
BUT I BELIEVE
THE BIBLE TEACHES
THAT GOD HAS OTHER PLANS
FOR THE HUMAN RACE.
I BELIEVE THAT CHRIST
IS COMING AGAIN,
AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD
IS GOING TO TRIUMPH!
AND THOSE OF US THAT KNOW CHRIST
AND HAVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD
WITHIN US,
WE’RE GOING TO REIGN
WITH CHRIST.
I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DAY
WHEN HE COMES AGAIN.
AND HE SAID,
TWO WILL BE IN THE BED,
ONE TAKEN, THE OTHER LEFT.
TWO MIGHT BE FLYING
IN AN AIRPLANE,
ONE TAKEN, THE OTHER LEFT.
NOW THE ROAD TO ARMAGEDDON
IS SIMILAR TO THE ROAD
TO THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM,
SAID JESUS.
NOW NOTICE,
THEY HAD THAT FALSE SECURITY.
WE HAVE A FALSE SECURITY, TOO.
WE TRUST IN
OUR ECONOMIC STRENGTH
AND OUR MILITARY POWER.
ALL OF THAT COULD GO
IN JUST A MOMENT.
ISAIAH THE 31ST CHAPTER
AND THE FIRST VERSE SAYS,
“WOE TO THEM THAT GO TO
A PAGAN COUNTRY FOR HELP
“AND STAY ON HORSES
AND TRUST IN CHARIOTS,
“BUT THEY LOOK NOT UNTO GOD,
NEITHER SEEK THE LORD.”
THEY’RE NOT LOOKING TO GOD.
WE’RE NOT SEEKING
THE LORD.
WE’RE TRUSTING THESE
OTHER THINGS.
WE’RE TRUSTING IN OUR DOLLARS
AND IN OUR POUNDS.
TRUSTING IN OUR MILITARY POWER.
AND THESE THINGS
WILL NOT SAVE US.
WE NEED GOD.
WE NEED TO SEEK THE LORD.
THIS IS WHAT ISAIAH
WAS SAYING.
AND THEN THE SECOND THING,
THEY HAD A FALSE SENSE
OF SECURITY,
BUT THEY WERE INVOLVED IN
SINFUL PLEASURE.
THEY HAD BECOME SATIATED.
WE, TOO, ARE THAT WAY.
AND THE BIBLE WARNS,
“THE TRIUMPHING OF THE WICKED
IS SHORT,
“AND THE JOY OF THE HYPOCRITE
BUT FOR A MOMENT.”
IT’S ONLY A MOMENT IN TIME.
THE BIBLE SAYS
IN PROVERBS 14,
“THERE IS A WAY WHICH SEEMETH
RIGHT UNTO A MAN,
“BUT THE END THEREOF
IS THE WAY OF DEATH.”
IT SEEMS RIGHT TO GO
THIS WAY,
BUT THE END IS DEATH,
GOD SAYS.
“EVEN IN LAUGHTER
THE HEART IS SORROWFUL,
“AND THE END OF THAT MIRTH
IS HEAVINESS.”
EVEN WHEN YOU’RE LAUGHING
SOMETIMES,
AREN’T YOU SAD?
AND THEN WHEN YOU PICK UP
THE PAPERS AND WATCH THE NEWS,
AND ALL THE MURDERS
THAT ARE GOING ON,
AND ALL THE THINGS
THAT ARE TAKING PLACE.
I HEAR PEOPLE SAY EVERY DAY
THEY JUST CANNOT
UNDERSTAND IT.
AND THEN THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
THAT THE PEOPLE OF SODOM
WERE TOO BUSY FOR GOD.
THEY WERE TOO BUSY
MAKING A LIVING
AND HAVING ALL THEIR PLEASURES
TO GIVE ANY TIME TO GOD.
AND THAT’S THE WAY WE ARE.
WE DON’T GIVE GOD
FIRST PLACE IN OUR LIVES.
GOD DOESN’T DEMAND
A LEGALISTIC SYSTEM
UNDER WHICH WE LIVE.
BUT HE DOES DEMAND
FIRST PLACE IN OUR LIVES.
HE WANTS TO BE THE LORD
THAT SITS ON THE THRONE
OF YOUR LIFE
AND CONTROLS YOUR LIFE,
AND RULES YOUR LIFE.
AND THAT’S WHY HE SENT
HIS SON JESUS CHRIST
TO DIE ON THE CROSS
AND SHED HIS BLOOD,
SO THAT OUR SINS
COULD BE FORGIVEN.
BECAUSE YOU SEE,
THE PROBLEM
IN THE WORLD TODAY
IS PRONOUNCED WITH ONE WORD:
SIN.
AND THE BIBLE SAYS
WE HAVE ALL SINNED
AND COME SHORT
OF THE GLORY OF GOD.
WE’RE ALL SINNERS.
WE WERE BORN IN SIN.
WE’RE SINNERS BY CHOICE,
AND WE’RE SINNERS
BY PRACTICE.
AND THAT SIN SEPARATES
BETWEEN YOU AND GOD,
SO THAT YOU DON’T HAVE
THE SENSE OF FULFILLMENT.
YOU DON’T KNOW THE PURPOSE
AND THE MEANING OF YOUR LIFE.
AND YOU CAN HAVE ALL
THESE KICKS
AND ALL THESE PLEASURES,
BUT IT DOESN’T SATISFY.
SOMETHING DEEP DOWN INSIDE
IS CRYING FOR SOMETHING MORE.
IT DOESN’T SOLVE THE PROBLEM
OF YOUR HOME.
IT DOESN’T SOLVE THE PROBLEM
OF YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT.
SOMETHING IS OUT OF KILTER,
SOMETHING IS WRONG.
AND THEN THEY WERE GUILTY
OF IDOLATRY.
IDOLATRY.
THAT’S THE SIN THAT GOD
HATES THE MOST,
AND THAT’S THE SIN OF
THE WESTERN WORLD TODAY,
AND IT’S THE SIN
OF THE WHOLE WORLD.
ROMANS 1:25 SAYS,
“THEY EXCHANGED THE TRUTH
OF GOD FOR A LIE.”
AND THEY WORSHIPPED
AND SERVED CREATED THINGS
RATHER THAN THE CREATOR.
AND ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE
THAT TAKES THE PLACE OF GOD
BECOMES YOUR GOD.
ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK
MORE OF AND TAKES YOUR TIME
MORE THAN THE LIVING GOD,
BECOMES YOUR GOD.
AND THEN THE NEXT THING
THAT THEY WERE GUILTY OF
WAS SEX PERVERSION.
ONE OF THE LAST DIRECTIONS
THAT A NATION TAKES
BEFORE JUDGMENT IS THIS.
USUALLY FOUND
IN AN AFFLUENT SOCIETY.
NOT NORMAL SEX RELATIONS.
PERVERSIONS OF VARIOUS SORTS.
TRYING TO FIND NEW WAYS
TO GET KICKS OUT OF SEX.
THAT’S THE FULL-TIME
OCCUPATION OF MANY PEOPLE,
AND YOU GO TO
THE NEWSSTANDS TODAY
AND YOU SEE MAGAZINE
AFTER MAGAZINE
DEDICATED TO THAT.
TRYING TO FIND SOME NEW ANGLE,
SOME NEW WAY.
NOW IN THE MIDST OF ALL
THIS PLACE, SODOM, LIVED LOT.
HE’D CHOSEN SODOM
TO MAKE HIS HOME.
AND THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
THAT HE WAS MISERABLE,
AND HE WAS VEXED.
YOU SEE, LOT’S TROUBLE WAS
THAT HE HAD ONE FOOT
IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD,
AND THE OTHER FOOT
IN A SINFUL WORLD,
AND HE WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN.
HE WASN’T HAPPY
IN THE SINFUL WORLD.
HE WASN’T HAPPY
IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
AND THERE ARE MANY OF YOU
LIKE THAT.
YOU GO TO CHURCH,
YOU’RE A MEMBER OF A CHURCH
AND YOU BELIEVE IN GOD
WITH YOUR HEAD,
AND ONCE IN A WHILE
YOU READ THE BIBLE,
AND YOU HAVE A RELIGIOUS
OUTWARD APPEARANCE,
BUT DEEP INSIDE YOUR HEART
YOU KNOW THAT YOUR HEART
BELONGS TO THE WORLD.
THE COSMOS ,
THIS WORLD SYSTEM
WHICH IS DOMINATED
BY EVIL.
MANY OF YOU HAVE
A CHRISTIAN HERITAGE.
YOUR PARENTS WERE CHRISTIANS.
YOU LEARNED FROM THE BIBLE
IN SCHOOL,
AND YOU’RE NOW A MAN
OR A WOMAN OF THE WORLD,
OR A YOUNG PERSON.
BUT YOU’RE NEVER REALLY
SATISFIED
WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIP
TO GOD.
SOMETHING’S WRONG.
SOMETHING’S LACKING.
SOMETHING’S MISSING.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS?
MAYBE YOU HAVEN’T BEEN
BORN AGAIN.
MAYBE YOU HAVEN’T REALLY
RECEIVED CHRIST
TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY
AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR
AND TONIGHT, ON THIS LAST NIGHT
OF THIS TREMENDOUS MISSION,
IS YOUR NIGHT
TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT.
WE HAVE HOPE IN CHRIST.
WE HAVE SOMETHING
TO OFFER PEOPLE.
A NEW DAY,
A NEW KINGDOM.
A NEW WORLD!
A NEW WORLD IS GOING
TO BE BORN.
A NEW HEAVEN,
AND A NEW EARTH.
AND WE’RE GOING TO BE
A PART OF IT,
BECAUSE WE’RE IN HIS KINGDOM.
BUT JEREMIAH WEPT
OVER JERUSALEM,
BECAUSE HE SAW JUDGMENT
WAS COMING.
AND HE WAS CALLED,
“THE WEEPING PROPHET.”
JESUS WEPT OVER JERUSALEM
700 YEARS LATER,
AND HE SAID,
“O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM,
“HOW OFTEN WOULD I HAVE
GATHERED YOUR CHILDREN TOGETHER
“AS A HEN DOTH GATHER
A BROOD UNDER HER WINGS,
“BUT YOU WOULD NOT.”
YOU WOULDN’T LISTEN TO ME,
YOU WOULDN’T COME TO ME,
AND NOW YOU’RE IN FOR JUDGMENT.
GOD WARNS SODOM,
AND HE SENT TWO MESSENGERS
TO WARN THEM.
BUT LOT’S WIFE
DIDN’T BELIEVE.
BUT HE DID.
THE MESSENGERS WARNED
THE WIFE, SAID,
“DON’T LOOK BACK!”
LOT’S WIFE DISBELIEVED
AND TURNED INTO A PILLAR OF SALT
AS SHE HAD BEEN WARNED.
THE WRATH OF GOD WAS
POURED OUT ON SODOM
AND LOT’S WIFE.
AND ABRAHAM KNEW
IT WAS COMING,
AND HE PRAYED
AND HE SAID,
“LORD, IF YOU COULD FIND
50 RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE IN SODOM,
“WOULD YOU SAVE IT?”
GOD SAID, “YES.”
“FORTY-FIVE?”
“YES.”
“THIRTY?”
“YES.”
“TWENTY?”
“YES.”
“TEN?”
“YES.”
BUT HE COULDN’T FIND
TEN RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE!
TEN PEOPLE TOTALLY COMMITTED
TO GOD SO THE JUDGMENT CAME.
NOW, WHAT IS THE LESSON
WE LEARN FROM THAT STATEMENT
“REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE”?
WHY DID JESUS SAY IT?
FIRST, REMEMBER SHE WAS
THE WIFE OF ABRAHAM’S NEPHEW
AND SHE HAD LIVED
IN ABRAHAM’S TENT,
AND MANY TIMES SHE HAD SEEN
THE POWER OF GOD.
“AND TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN,
MUCH IS REQUIRED.”
AND THEN SECONDLY,
REMEMBER WHAT A WRONG
MARRIAGE CAN DO.
SHE WAS A CANAANITE,
AND GOD HAD FORBIDDEN
HIS PEOPLE
TO MARRY THESE PAGAN TRIBES
ROUND ABOUT THEM.
HOW MANY MEN AND WOMEN
HAVE BEEN DESTROYED
BY MARRYING THE WRONG PERSON
WHO INFLUENCED THEM
THE WRONG WAY?
THAT’S THE REASON YOU SHOULD
MARRY GOD’S CHOICE.
AND THEN THIRDLY,
I THINK JESUS SAID IT BECAUSE
WE ARE TO REMEMBER HER SIN.
IT SEEMED SUCH A SMALL SIN.
BUT IT REPRESENTED
SOMETHING FAR DEEPER.
IT REPRESENTED UNBELIEF
OVER MANY YEARS.
IT REPRESENTED REBELLION
AGAINST GOD ON MANY OCCASIONS.
GOD IN HIS MERCY
WAS GIVING HER ANOTHER CHANCE,
AND GOD SAID,
“DON’T LOOK BACK.
“DON’T LOOK BACK TO SODOM.
“SODOM IS CONTROLLED
BY THE DEVIL.
“DON’T LOOK BACK,”
BUT SHE COULDN’T HELP IT.
HER HEART WAS STILL IN SODOM,
EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS
ESCAPING THE JUDGMENT.
HER SIN DIDN’T SEEM
TO BE SO GREAT,
JUST TO LOOK BACK.
BUT IT WAS SOMETHING
DEEPER INSIDE OF HER
THAT CAUSED HER TO LOOK BACK.
AND THEN REMEMBER, FOURTHLY,
THAT SHE WAS ALMOST SAVED.
THEY WERE AT THE GATE OF ZOAR,
THE CITY OF REFUGE.
YOU SEE, IN THOSE DAYS,
THEY HAD CITIES
WHERE PEOPLE COULD RUN TO
IF THEY’D COMMITTED A CRIME,
OR COMMITTED MURDER,
UNTIL THEY COULD GET
THEIR LAWYERS SET,
AND GET EVERYTHING ORGANIZED,
BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD
LYNCH THEM OR STONE THEM,
JUST WITH THE DROP OF A HAT
IN THOSE DAYS.
SO THERE WERE CITIES OF REFUGE
THAT THEY COULD RUN TO.
AND THEY WERE RIGHT ON
THE EDGE OF ZOAR
WHEN SHE TURNED
AND LOOKED BACK.
AND IT WAS THAT MOMENT
SHE TURNED INTO
A PILLAR OF SALT.
NOW THE BIBLE SAYS THAT AGRIPPA,
THE GREAT KING,
HEARD PAUL PREACH AND
HE WAS “ALMOST PERSUADED
“BUT HE HARDENED HIS HEART.”
MANY OF YOU ARE
ALMOST PERSUADED
TO GIVE YOUR LIFE
TO CHRIST,
BUT YOU’RE GONNA TAKE
A CHANCE
THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT
WITHOUT IT.
SOME OF YOU ARE.
AND THEN FIFTHLY,
REMEMBER THAT SHE WAS
OFFERED SALVATION.
CHRIST IS THE PLACE
OF SALVATION AND REFUGE.
IT’S AT THE CROSS
WHERE GOD POURED OUT
HIS LOVE,
AND WHERE OUR SINS
WERE BORNE BY CHRIST.
“HE WAS MADE TO BE SIN
FOR US WHO KNEW NO SIN.”
HE TOOK YOUR SINS
AND MY SINS.
HE TOOK MY JUDGMENT.
HE TOOK THE HELL
THAT I DESERVED
ON THAT CROSS,
AND WHEN HE SAID,
“MY GOD, MY GOD,
WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?”
IT WAS BECAUSE GOD WAS LOOKING
NOT AT HIM,
GOD DIDN’T FORSAKE HIS SON,
HE FORSOOK THE SIN
THAT HE BECAME BECAUSE OF YOU.
HE TOOK THE HELL
THAT WE DESERVE.
SHE WAS OFFERED SALVATION.
SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED.
THAT’S WHAT THEY WERE
TRYING TO DO,
WAS TO GET HER
TO THE PLACE OF SAFETY.
AND THEN SIXTHLY,
REMEMBER THAT GOD NEVER
JUDGES WITHOUT WARNING.
HE ALWAYS WARNS.
WE HAD A FLOOD SOME YEARS AGO
IN THE UNITED STATES
THAT KILLED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
IN JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.
AND THEY WENT UP AND DOWN
THE VALLEY WARNING THE PEOPLE
THAT THE DAM HAD A CRACK IN IT
AND COULD BREAK AT ANY MOMENT
AND TO EVACUATE.
BUT THE PEOPLE
WOULDN’T EVACUATE.
THE DAM BROKE ONE NIGHT,
AND SCORES OF PEOPLE
LOST THEIR LIVES.
BUT THEY HAD BEEN WARNED.
AND THEN SEVENTHLY,
REMEMBER WHEN GOD WARNS,
THERE’S DANGER IN DELAY.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD.”
DON’T PUT IT OFF.
“HE THAT HARDENETH HIS HEART,
BEING OFTEN REPROVED
“SHALL SUDDENLY BE CUT OFF
AND THAT WITHOUT REMEDY.”
COME TO CHRIST WHILE YOU CAN.
“NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME,
TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.”
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO FLEE TO THE PLACE
OF SAFETY.
THE ONLY SAFE AND SECURE PLACE
IN THIS WHOLE WORLD
IS AT THE CROSS OF CHRIST
AND THE OPEN TOMB.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO DO SOMETHING
THAT WE’VE SEEN THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE DO THIS WEEK
HERE IN THIS STADIUM,
AND IN OTHER AUDITORIUMS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO GET UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT,
HUNDREDS OF YOU,
GET UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT
RIGHT NOW,
AND COME AND STAND
IN FRONT OF THIS PLATFORM
AND SAY, BY COMING,
“I WANT TO BE SURE
“THAT MY SINS ARE FORGIVEN
AND THAT I’M GOING TO HEAVEN.
“I WANT TO BE SURE THAT
I’M IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
YOU GET UP AND COME,
HUNDREDS OF YOU.
NO ONE LEAVING THE STADIUM,
PLEASE, AT THIS HOLY MOMENT
AS PEOPLE ARE ALREADY COMING
HERE IN BRAMALL LANE.
THE NUMBER ON
YOUR TELEVISION SCREEN
IS A NUMBER
THAT YOU CAN CALL
FOR SPIRITUAL HELP AND COUNSEL.
PEOPLE ARE STANDING BY NOW
ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
WAITING TO TALK TO YOU,
SO WRITE THE NUMBER DOWN.
IF THE LINE IS BUSY,
JUST WAIT A FEW MOMENTS AND
CALL AGAIN.
THEY’LL BE THERE AS LONG AS
THE CALLS KEEP COMING IN.
GOD BLESS YOU
AS YOU MAKE THAT CALL.
♪
YOU KNOW, THE NIGHT
I CAME TO CHRIST,
THEY SANG TWO SONGS,
AND I CAME ON THE LAST VERSE
OF THE LAST SONG
AND I WAS A LEADER
IN MY CHURCH.
A YOUTH LEADER.
AND I’M GLAD
THEY WAITED ON ME.
WE’RE GOING TO WAIT ON YOU.
GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU.
THERE’S A LITTLE VOICE INSIDE
THAT SAYS YOU OUGHT TO COME,
YOU COME.
YOU THAT ARE WATCHING
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD,
YOU GET UP.
MANY PEOPLE KNEEL BESIDE
THEIR TELEVISION SETS.
AND MAKE THEIR COMMITMENT.
SOME MAKE THEIR COMMITMENT
LYING IN BED.
WHEREVER YOU ARE,
YOU MAY BE AT A BAR.
WE GET SO MANY LETTERS
FROM PEOPLE
THAT WATCH THE TELEVISION
IN A BAR
AND THEY MAKE
THEIR COMMITMENT.
OR IN A HOTEL ROOM.
IF YOU’RE IN AMERICA
OR CANADA,
PICK UP THE PHONE
AND CALL THE NUMBER
ON YOUR TELEVISION SCREEN
AND MAKE THIS TREMENDOUS
COMMITMENT TO CHRIST.
DON’T YOU LET THIS NIGHT
PASS WITHOUT YOU
MAKING YOUR COMMITMENT.
WE’RE GOING TO WAIT ON YOU
FROM EVERYWHERE.
THERE’S PLENTY OF TIME,
YOU GET UP AND COME.
THIS IS THE GREATEST DECISION
THAT YOU’LL EVER MAKE
IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE.
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 ♪