You Have to Choose | Billy Graham Classic Sermon

Each person must choose to serve God or reject Him. Which one will you pick? Billy Graham’s 1981 message from San Jose, California, might help you decide.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES…

THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.

[applause]

TO YOU THAT ARE WATCHING
BY TELEVISION,

THIS GREAT STADIUM HERE AT
SAN JOSE UNIVERSITY,

IN THE SOUTHERN AREA OF SAN
FRANCISCO BAY, IN SAN JOSE,

IS FILLED TO OVERFLOWING.

THERE ARE A FEW EMPTY SEATS
HERE AND THERE,

BUT IF YOU TOOK
THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND,

THAT ARE SITTING
ALL OVER THE GROUND,

THEY’D MORE THAN FILL
THIS GREAT STADIUM

WHERE THE SPARTANS PLAY.

TONIGHT I WANT YOU TO
TURN WITH ME

TO THE OLD TESTAMENT,
TO JOSHUA , THE 24TH CHAPTER.

TO JOSHUA , THE 24TH CHAPTER.

NOW YOU THAT ARE WATCHING
ON TELEVISION

ARE GOING TO SEE
A TELEPHONE NUMBER

ACROSS THE SCREEN.

YOU CALL ANY TIME DURING
THIS PROGRAM,

OR AFTER THE PROGRAM,
AND THERE ARE COUNSELORS

STANDING BY TO TALK
WITH YOU

ABOUT YOUR SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS
AND YOUR SPIRITUAL NEEDS.

AND SO, PICK UP THE PHONE
AND CALL.

IF YOU CALL AND IT’S BUSY,
CALL AGAIN.

NOW THE 24TH CHAPTER
OF JOSHUA.

JOSHUA, AS YOU KNOW,
WAS A GREAT MILITARY LEADER,

AND HE TOOK THE PLACE
OF MOSES

WHEN MOSES WENT TO BE
WITH THE LORD.

AND THE 15TH VERSE:

NOW HE HAD CALLED ALL
THE LEADERS OF ISRAEL TOGETHER

AT A PLACE CALLED SHECHEM,

AND HE’S GETTING READY TO DIE

AND THIS IS HIS
FAREWELL ADDRESS.

AND DURING THIS ADDRESS,

HE WARNS THE PEOPLE
ABOUT THEIR IDOLATRY.

HE WARNS THEM THAT
THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD

WILL FALL UPON THEM
UNLESS THEY LIVE FOR THE LORD.

AND HERE’S WHAT HE SAYS,

“AND IF IT SEEM EVIL
UNTO YOU TO SERVE THE LORD,

“CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY
WHOM YOU WILL SERVE!”

IF YOU WANT TO SERVE
THE DEVIL, SERVE HIM!

BUT MAKE A CHOICE!

“WHETHER THE GODS WHICH
YOUR FATHERS SERVED

“THAT WERE ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE FLOOD,

“OR THE GODS OF
THE AMORITES,

“IN WHOSE LAND YOU DWELL…”

BUT THEN HE SAYS,
“AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE,

“WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.”

JOSHUA SAID IF EVERY ONE
OF YOU SERVES OTHER IDOLS

AND OTHER GODS–
MAKES NO DIFFERENCE;

AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE,

WE’VE ALREADY MADE
A DECISION;

WE ARE GOING TO
SERVE THE LORD.

AND THAT’S A DECISION
THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON

HERE TONIGHT HAS TO MAKE.

YOU EITHER HAVE TO DECIDE
THAT YOU’RE GOING TO SERVE

THE GODS OF MATERIALISM
ALL AROUND US,

OR, THE TRUE
AND THE LIVING GOD.

AND JOSHUA WAS WARNING
THE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE GOD,

TO FOLLOW HIM,
INSTEAD OF THESE OTHER GODS.

AND SO, WE HAVE
TO MAKE A CHOICE.

MOSES HAD WARNED ISRAEL
MUCH EARLIER,

A GENERATION EARLIER,
WHEN HE WAS DYING.

HE SAID, “I CALL HEAVEN
AND EARTH TO RECORD

“THIS DAY AGAINST YOU,
THAT I’VE SET BEFORE YOU

“LIFE AND DEATH,
BLESSING AND CURSING.

“THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE,

“THAT BOTH THOU AND
THY SEED MAY LIVE.”

MOSES HAD SAID THE SAME THING
THAT JOSHUA IS SAYING,

SEPARATED BY MANY YEARS,

AND EVERY GENERATION
HAS TO HEAR IT,

OVER AND OVER
AND OVER AGAIN,

AND THAT’S WHY THE GOSPEL
NEVER GROWS OLD.

IT APPLIES TO EVERY
GENERATION OR LIFE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT
WAS ASKED

HOW HE CONQUERED THE WORLD.

HE SAID,
“BY NOT WAVERING.”

AND JAMES SAYS IN
THE FIRST CHAPTER,

“HE THAT WAVERETH IS LIKE
A WAVE OF THE SEA,

“DRIVEN WITH THE WIND
AND TOSSED.”

HE SAID, “A DOUBLE-MINDED MAN
IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS.”

ARE YOU UNSTABLE

ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP
TO CHRIST?

DO YOU WAVER IN
YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST?

OR ARE YOU TOTALLY
COMMITTED TO CHRIST

AS SAVIOR AND LORD?

OR DO YOU WAVER ABOUT IT?

MANY OF YOU WAVER
BY THE WAY YOU LIVE.

AND JESUS WARNED
THE HYPOCRITES,

PEOPLE WHO PRETEND ONE THING
AND LIVE ANOTHER.

THIS WAS HIS GREAT BATTLE

WITH THE HYPOCRITES
IN THE CHURCH.

WE HAVE OLD PROVERBS THAT
ARE FAMILIAR TO US ALL:

HE WHO HESITATES IS LOST.

PROCRASTINATION IS
THE THIEF OF TIME.

A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE.

A BIRD IN THE HAND
IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH.

DON’T WAVER; MAKE A DECISION,
DO IT NOW!

THAT’S WHAT JOSHUA WAS SAYING.

AND JOSHUA, THE GREAT
MILITARY HERO,

THAT HAD LED THEM
FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY

REMINDED THEM OF ALL THE
VICTORIES THAT GOD HAD GIVEN.

AND HE SAID,
“SERVE GOD AND LIVE!

“SERVE THESE OTHER GODS

“AND YOU’LL DIE AND COME UNDER
THE JUDGMENT OF GOD,”

AND THE MESSAGE
HAS NOT CHANGED.

NOW THE WARS WERE OVER,

BUT JOSHUA FOUND THAT THE PEOPLE
WERE GOING TOWARD IDOLATRY.

AND MANY TIMES THE PROBLEMS
OF PEACE ARE GREATER

THAT THE PROBLEMS OF WAR.

AND HE HAD CALLED
ALL THESE LEADERS TO SHECHEM.

NOW SHECHEM WAS A PLACE,
THE MOST HISTORICAL PLACE

IN ALL OF ISRAEL
AT THAT TIME,

AND STILL IS TODAY.

IT WAS WHERE ABRAHAM HAD FIRST
SETTLED WHEN HE LEFT

UR OF THE CHALDEES.

IT WAS WERE JACOB HAD
PURCHASED HIS PARCEL OF LAND.

IT WAS WHERE THE BONES
OF JOSEPH HAD BEEN BURIED

WHEN THEY WERE BROUGHT UP
FROM EGYPT.

AND SO THERE ARE
TWO MOUNTAINS THERE.

I’VE STOOD THERE,

AND ON ONE MOUNTAIN
HE PUT SIX OF THE TRIBES,

AND ON THE OTHER MOUNTAIN,
HE PUT THE OTHER SIX,

AND JOSHUA SPOKE WITH
A MIGHTY VOICE,

EVEN THOUGH HE WAS AN OLD MAN.

AND HE REVIEWS
THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL,

AND HOW GOD HAD BLESSED THEM.

AND HOW THEY HAD WON
THEIR VICTORIES,

NOT BY THEIR OWN POWER,
AND THEIR OWN STRATEGIES,

AND THEIR OWN INGENUITY
AND THEIR OWN STRENGTH,

BUT BY THE POWER OF GOD.

AND THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE
BEEN GRATEFUL TO GOD,

BUT INSTEAD, THEY WERE NOW
GOING TO OTHER GODS.

AND WE IN AMERICA
SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO GOD

FOR THE BLESSINGS
HE’S GIVEN US,

BUT WHAT DO WE FIND?

WE FIND THAT WE’RE
WORSHIPPING OTHER GODS.

THE GODS OF PLEASURE,
THE GODS OF LUST,

AND GREED AND HATE.

THE GODS OF MATERIALISM.

EVEN THE GODS OF WAR.

AND JOSHUA TELLS THEM
THAT SUCH A CONDITION

CANNOT CONTINUE.

THEY MUST DECIDE WHETHER
THEY WANT TO SERVE THE IDOLS,

OR TO SERVE THE LIVING GOD.

AND HE WILL NOT ALLOW
ANY NEUTRALITY.

NEITHER DOES JESUS CHRIST.

AND JOSHUA SAID YOU HAVE
TO DECIDE IMMEDIATELY, NOW!

“CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY…”

NOT TOMORROW!
THIS DAY!

“…WHOM YOU’RE GOING
TO SERVE.”

AND MANY OF YOU ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO DECIDE TONIGHT.

WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE?

IS THE PRIORITY CHRIST?

OR IS THE PRIORITY
SOMETHING ELSE?

CHRIST DEMANDS FIRST PLACE.

THERE’S NO ROOM ON THE THRONE
OF YOUR HEART FOR TWO GODS.

IT’S EITHER CHRIST,

OR IT’S THE OTHER GOD.

BECAUSE I BELIEVE
THE EMPHASIS MUST-,

WE MUST LAY IT OUT STRAIGHT
THAT YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD

AND MAMMON; YOU MUST MAKE
A CHOICE.

AND I’VE FOUND THAT
THE HARDER THE CHALLENGE IS

THE GREATER THE RESPONSE.

YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY
WANT A CHALLENGE.

THEY WANT SOMETHING TOUGH
AND HARD, ALL RIGHT?

GIVE YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST.

HE’LL CHALLENGE YOU.

BECAUSE HE SAYS YOU MUST
DENY SELF AND TAKE UP A CROSS.

HE SAYS, “I’M GOING TO
A PLACE OF EXECUTION.

“COME AND GO WITH ME.”

DENY YOUR OWN SELFISH
AMBITIONS AND LUSTS

AND TURN TO ME

AND GO TO THE CROSS WITH ME.

NOW PAUL TAUGHT THAT
A CHRISTIAN IS SOMEONE

WHO HAS TURNED TO GOD
FROM IDOLS,

TO SERVE THE LIVING
AND THE TRUE GOD.

THERE’S A FILM SHOWING
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THIS YEAR

CALLED THE IDOL MAKER,

BUT A CHRISTIAN IS
AN IDOL BREAKER.

AND REGARDLESS OF THEIR
DECISION, JOSHUA SAID,

“AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE,
WE’RE GOING TO SERVE THE LORD.”

YOU KNOW, ADAM AND EVE
HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE

IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

GOD SAID, “IF YOU WANT
TO BUILD A WONDERFUL WORLD,

“WE’LL BUILD IT TOGETHER.

“BUT I’M GOING TO TEST YOU
BECAUSE I’VE GIVEN TO YOU

“THE ABILITY CHOOSE.

“I HAVEN’T MADE YOU A ROBOT
IN WHICH I COULD

“PUNCH A BUTTON AND
YOU WOULD OBEY ME.

“I’VE MADE YOU IN MY IMAGE.

“YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE!”

SO WHEN ADAM AND EVE
FACED THAT CHOICE,

THEY CHOSE WRONGLY.

THEY BROKE THE LAW OF GOD.

AND GOD SAID, “IN THE DAY
THAT YOU DO,

“YOU WILL SUFFER AND DIE.”

AND MAN HAD BEEN SUFFERING
EVER SINCE,

AND IT’S ALL BECAUSE
OF THAT FIRST SIN

IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

AND MAN HAS BEEN INHERITING
THAT TENDENCY TO SIN

EVER SINCE; THE SEED OF SIN
IS IN US WHEN WE’RE BORN.

DAVID SAID, “IN SIN
DID MY MOTHER CONCEIVE ME.”

THINK OF IT NOW–

AT CONCEPTION,
SIN WAS ALREADY PLANTED.

AND THEN COMES THE AGE
OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

MORAL ACCOUNTABILITY,
MAYBE EIGHT, OR NINE,

OR TEN YEARS OF AGE
WHEN YOU ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE

BY GOD FOR YOUR ACTIONS
AND YOU CHOOSE TO SIN!

AND THEN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE,
YOU PRACTICE SIN.

YOU’RE BORN TOWARD SIN,
YOU CHOOSE TO SIN

AT A CERTAIN POINT,
AND THEN YOU PRACTICE SIN.

AND THE BIBLE SAYS,
“WE HAVE ALL SINNED,”

AND WE’RE ALL IDOLATERS.

NOW ADAM HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE
AND HE MADE THE WRONG CHOICE.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE.

MANY OF YOU THAT ARE
WATCHING BY TELEVISION,

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL USE
THAT TELEPHONE NUMBER RIGHT NOW

AND CALL IN AND MAKE
THE CHOICE FOR CHRIST

AND SAY TO THAT COUNSELOR,

“AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE,
I CHOOSE THE LORD.”

AND THEN, MANY CHOICES,
LIKE THE RICH YOUNG RULER.

REMEMBER, HE CAME TO JESUS,

AND HE WAS FILLED
WITH QUESTIONS,

AND HE WANTED ETERNAL LIFE,
AND HE SAID,

“SIR, WHAT MUST I DO
TO FIND ETERNAL LIFE?”

AND JESUS SAID, LOOKED AT HIM
AND LOVED HIM,

AND SAID, “GO SELL ALL
THAT YOU HAVE,

“GIVE IT TO THE POOR,

“TAKE UP THE CROSS,
FOLLOW ME.”

THE YOUNG MAN WAS GRIEVED;
HE WEPT.

HE WANTED CHRIST,

BUT HE WANTED HIS MONEY MORE.

NOW IF HE HAD SAID,
“ALL RIGHT, I’LL DO IT, LORD,

“I’M SURE THE LORD
WOULD HAVE SAID,

“NO, IT’S NOT YOUR MONEY
I WANT; I WANT YOUR HEART.”

IT’S OUR ATTITUDE
TOWARD THESE IDOLS

AND TOWARD THESE THINGS.

THE TELEVISION ITSELF
CAN BECOME AN IDOL.

WHEN WE WALK INTO THE ROOM,
ALL CONVERSATION STOPS,

AND WE SORT OF SIT THERE
IN REVERENCE,

WATCHING THAT BOX

[laughter]

TO SEE IF J.R. IS GOING
TO BE SHOT AGAIN.

[laughter]

NOW THE BIBLE SAYS WE MUST
CHOOSE TWO WAYS OF LIFE.

JEREMIAH HAD WRITTEN,
“THUS SAITH THE LORD,

“BEHOLD I SET BEFORE YOU
THE WAY OF LIFE

“AND THE WAY OF DEATH.”

THERE’S A WAY OF LIFE;
THERE’S A WAY OF DEATH.

WHICH WAY ARE YOU ON?

JESUS SAID, “I AM THE WAY.”

“I AM THE WAY.”

“I’M THE ONLY WAY.

“I’M THE ONLY WAY
TO PERMANENT PEACE.

“I’M THE ONLY WAY
TO PERMANENT JOY.

“I’M THE ONLY WAY
TO ETERNAL LIFE.

“I’M THE ONLY WAY
TO FORGIVENESS OF SIN.

“I’M THE ONLY WAY
TO THE FATHER.”

YOU HAVE TO COME BY ME.

AND THAT ELIMINATES
A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WHEN JESUS BEGAN TO TALK
ABOUT DYING ON THE CROSS,

A LOT OF HIS FOLLOWERS
LEFT HIM.

THEY SAID, “LORD, WE THOUGHT
YOU WERE GOING TO SIT

“UPON A BIG THRONE
AND WE WERE GOING TO

“DRIVE IN CADILLACS,
AND WE WERE GOING TO HAVE

“BEAUTIFUL SWIMMING POOLS
AND LOVELY LADIES,

“AND ALL THE REST OF IT.

“WE DIDN’T REALLY KNOW
THAT YOU WERE GOING TO DIE

“AND WANTED US TO GO WITH YOU.

“WE THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING
TO BE A KINGDOM,

“AND WE WERE GOING TO
OVERTHROW ROME,

“AND WE GOING TO
RULE THE WORLD.”

AND THAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN SOMEDAY,

BUT NOT NOW!

THE CROSS BEFORE THE CROWN.

SOME OF US WANT THE CROWN
BEFORE THE CROSS.

THE BIBLE SAYS,
“THERE IS A WAY

“THAT SEEMETH RIGHT
UNTO A MAN,

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

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS?

WELL, SOME PEOPLE SAY,

“I’M GONNA FOLLOW
MY CONSCIENCE,”

BUT YOU DON’T FOLLOW
YOUR CONSCIENCE.

MANY OF US HAVE
DEAD CONSCIENCES.

YOUR CONSCIENCE IS
NO LONGER A SAFE GUIDE.

YOU’VE HARDENED IT;
YOU’VE DEADENED IT.

AND THEN OTHER PEOPLE SAY,

“WELL, I TRY TO BE SINCERE
IN EVERYTHING I DO.”

WE’RE HERE IN A FOOTBALL
STADIUM RIGHT HERE.

AND MANY YEARS AGO, I SAW
A MAN PICK UP A FOOTBALL

AND HE RAN 65 YARDS
THE WRONG WAY!

NOW HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST
SINCERE FELLOWS YOU EVER SAW.

[laughter]

LOST THE GAME.

AND THEN THERE ARE
MANY PEOPLE THAT SAY,

“WELL, YOU KNOW, I DO A LOT
OF GOOD WORKS,

“AND I GIVE MONEY TO
CHARITABLE CAUSES,

“AND I DO ALL THAT.

“I’M SURE GOD WILL UNDERSTAND.”

THE BIBLE SAYS, “FOR BY GRACE
ARE YE SAVED, THROUGH FAITH,

“THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES,
BUT THE GIFT OF GOD.

“NOT OF WORKS,
LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.”

SEE, IF YOU COULD WORK
YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN,

AND PAY YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN,
YOU’D GET UP AND SAY,

“LOOK WHAT I DID.

“I GOT MYSELF HERE
BY MY OWN GOOD WORKS.”

THE ONLY WAY YOU’RE EVER
GOING TO MAKE IT

IS TO COME TO THAT CROSS,
WHERE CHRIST TOOK OUR SINS,

AND OUR JUDGMENT AND OUR HELL,
AND IDENTIFY OURSELVES WITH HIM.

AND THEN THERE ARE SOME
PEOPLE THAT SAY,

“WELL, I’LL REFORM.
I’LL DO BETTER.”

I KNOW PEOPLE THAT
ARE ALWAYS SAYING,

“I’M GOING TO DO BETTER.”

BUT THEY NEVER DO BETTER.

THEY DON’T HAVE ANY POWER
WITHIN THEM TO DO BETTER,

UNTIL THEY COME TO CHRIST,

AND WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST,
AN EXPLOSION TAKES PLACE,

OF POWER THAT HE GIVES YOU
TO LIVE A NEW LIFE.

I CAN’T LIVE
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

I HAVE NO POWER WITHIN ME
TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

THE HOLY SPIRIT
HAS TO LIVE IN ME,

AND CHRIST HAS TO LIVE
THROUGH ME.

I CANNOT LIVE
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

I’M A TOTAL FLOP
AND FAILURE.

JESUS SAID, “ENTER YE IN
AT THE STRAIT GATE,

“FOR WIDE IS THE GATE
AND BROAD IS THE WAY

“THAT LEADETH TO DESTRUCTION,
AND MANY THERE BE

“WHICH GO IN THEREAT,

“BECAUSE STRAIT IS THE GATE
AND NARROW IS THE WAY

“THAT LEADETH UNTO LIFE,
AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT.”

FEW, HE SAID ONLY A FEW
ARE GOING TO FIND

THAT NARROW GATE AND
THAT NARROW WAY,

AS I SAID LAST EVENING.

ARE YOU AMONG THAT FEW?

YOU NOT ONLY CHOOSE
BETWEEN TWO WAYS OF LIFE,

BUT YOU CHOOSE BETWEEN
TWO MASTERS.

JESUS SAID, “NO MAN CAN
SERVE TWO MASTERS,

“FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE
THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER,

“OR ELSE HE WILL HOLD TO
THE ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER.”

“YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD
AND MATERIALISM,” HE SAYS,

IN MATTHEW THE SIXTH CHAPTER
IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE.

ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE BIBLE;
CHOICES, CHOICES, CHOICES,

CHOICES, CHOICES.

NOT ONLY BETWEEN TWO WAYS
OF LIFE AND TWO MASTERS;

BUT YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE
TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO FATHERS.

TWO SPIRITUAL FATHERS.

HE SAID IN JOHN 8 ,
A VERY SHOCKING STATEMENT,

THE 44TH VERSE, HE SAID,
“YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER,

“THE DEVIL, AND THE LUST
OF YOUR FATHER YOU WILL DO.”

NOW HE SAYS,
“FOR MANY OF YOU,

“THE DEVIL IS
YOUR SPIRITUAL FATHER.”

NOW YOU’RE NOT AWARE OF IT.

YOU WOULDN’T ADMIT IT.

BUT THAT’S THE WAY
GOD LOOKS AT IT.

THERE’S EITHER GOD,
YOUR SPIRITUAL FATHER,

THE TRUE AND
THE LIVING GOD, CHRIST.

OR, THERE IS THE DEVIL.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE
NOT ONLY BETWEEN

TWO WAYS OF LIFE
AND TWO MASTERS AND TWO FATHERS,

BUT YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN TWO DESTINIES:

HEAVEN OR HELL.

SOLOMON WROTE ABOUT
THE WAY TO HELL,

IN PROVERBS 7:27.

C.S. LEWIS, THE GREAT
CAMBRIDGE AND OXFORD PROFESSOR,

HE TAUGHT AT BOTH UNIVERSITIES,

USED TO EMPHASIZE–
HE SAID, “NO ONE EVER HAD

“SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT
THE WAY TO HELL

“AS DID JESUS CHRIST.”

ON THE OTHER HAND,
NO ONE EVER SPOKE OF HEAVEN

WITH MORE CLARITY AND AUTHORITY
AS JESUS CHRIST.

AND ONE OF THE MOST PLAYED
POP SONGS IS THE LED ZEPPELIN

“STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN.”

JESUS CHRIST IS
THE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN.

HE IS THE WAY TO HEAVEN.

COME TO HIM.

AND IF YOU WANT TO COME
TO HIM, PICK UP THAT TELEPHONE

IF YOU’RE WATCHING,
AND CALL THAT COUNSELOR

WHO’S WAITING TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT THE WAY TO HEAVEN

AND HOW YOU CAN FIND CHRIST.

HE SAID, “IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE
ARE MANY MANSIONS.

“IF IT WERE NOT SO,
I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU.”

YES, JESUS IS IN HEAVEN
PREPARING YOUR ESTATE RIGHT NOW.

WAITING FOR YOU.

THERE IS A FUTURE LIFE,

AND ETERNAL LIFE DOES NOT
BEGIN WHEN YOU DIE

AND GO TO HEAVEN;
IT BEGINS HERE AND NOW

WHEN YOU MAKE THIS CHOICE
FOR CHRIST.

BECAUSE ETERNITY,
ETERNAL LIFE COMES TO DWELL

IN YOUR HEART TONIGHT.

JESUS CHRIST IS
THE GATEWAY TO HEAVEN.

NOW THIS CHOICE ALSO,
YOU MUST MAKE YOURSELF.

JOSHUA SAID, “AS FOR ME
AND MY HOUSE,

“WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.”

YOUR FATHER CAN’T
MAKE IT FOR YOU.

YOUR MOTHER CAN’T
MAKE IT FOR YOU.

YOUR CHILDREN CAN’T
MAKE IT FOR YOU.

THIS IS WHERE YOU
MUST CHOOSE YOURSELF.

HE KNEW THAT HE COULD NOT
CHOOSE FOR THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL.

THEY MUST CHOOSE
FOR THEMSELVES.

MAN IS A SOCIAL BEING;

HOWEVER, THERE IS AN INNER
SANCTUARY WITHIN OURSELVES,

WHERE WE RETIRE FROM
ALL OTHER FELLOWSHIPS,

COMRADESHIPS, AND INFLUENCES,
AND THERE’S A LONELY ARENA

WHERE THE GREATEST BATTLES
OF LIFE MUST BE FOUGHT ALONE.

AND THIS IS A DECISION
THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE ALONE.

MOSES SAID,

“I CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH
TO RECORD THIS DAY

“THAT I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU
LIFE AND DEATH,

“BLESSING AND CURSING,
THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE,

“THAT THOU AND THY SEED
MAY LIVE FOREVER.”

NOTICE IT SAYS, “THY SEED.”

THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO
WITH YOUR CHILDREN

AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN,
AND YOUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN.

MY SON AND I WERE TALKING
TONIGHT ABOUT HOW IT PASSES ON

FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION,

THIS FAITH THAT WE HAVE
IN CHRIST.

THE WRITER TO HEBREWS
RECOUNTS HOW MOSES

“ESTEEMING THE REPROACH
OF CHRIST GREATER RICHES

“THAT THE TREASURES OF EGYPT,
CHOOSING RATHER TO SUFFER

“THE AFFLICTION WITH
THE PEOPLE OF GOD,

“THAN TO ENJOY THE PLEASURES
OF SIN FOR A SEASON.”

HE MADE A CHOICE.

MOSES COULD HAVE PROBABLY
BEEN THE PHARAOH OF EGYPT.

HE WAS THE SON OF
PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER.

HEIR TO ALL THE RICHES
AND POWER OF EGYPT.

AND HE MADE A CHOICE
TO SUFFER PERSECUTION

AND THE REPROACH
WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

HE DIDN’T KNOW THAT HIS NAME
WOULD BE IN HISTORY.

HE DIDN’T KNOW THAT SOME DAY
HE WOULD LEAD ALL OF ISRAEL.

HE DIDN’T KNOW THAT SOME DAY
HE WOULD BE CONSIDERED

ONE OF THE GREATEST MEN
THAT EVER LIVED.

WHEN HE MADE THAT CHOICE,

HE MADE IT ON THE BASIS
OF SIMPLE FAITH IN GOD.

SOME THINK THAT GUY LAFLEUR
IS THE WORLD’S GREATEST

HOCKEY PLAYER, AND HE SAID
A MONTH AGO,

THAT EACH OF US HAS
ONLY ONE PAST,

BUT THERE ARE MANY FUTURES.

YOU SEE, YOU CAN’T
CHANGE YOUR PAST,

BUT YOU CAN DETERMINE
YOUR DESTINY

BY DECIDING FOR CHRIST,
AND WHEN YOU DO THAT,

CHRIST CHANGES YOUR PAST!

HE WIPES OUT ALL THE SINS
OF THE PAST.

BECAUSE, YOU SEE, THE BLOOD
OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON

CLEANSETH FROM ALL SIN.

WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD,
THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS.

WHEN HE DIED ON THAT CROSS,
HE FORGAVE ALL THE PAST.

YOU TONIGHT ARE REMINDED

OF THE MANY SINS
IN YOUR LIFE.

THE HOLY SPIRIT’S BRINGING
THEM TO YOUR MIND RIGHT NOW.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY STAND
AGAINST YOU AT THE JUDGMENT,

WHERE EVERY SECRET THING
WILL BE BROUGHT OUT.

BUT JESUS, TONIGHT,
OFFERS FORGIVENESS.

BUT HE OFFERS
MORE THAN FORGIVENESS.

HE OFFERS JUSTIFICATION.

JUST AS THOUGH YOU HAD NEVER
COMMITTED A SIN.

WHAT A WONDERFUL THING
TO GO TO BED TONIGHT

AND KNOW THAT THE PAST
IS GONE.

FORGIVEN, CLEANSED,

AND GOD NO LONGER
REMEMBERS YOUR SINS.

YES, AND THIS CHOICE
IS VERY URGENT.

TO DELAY MAKES THE RIGHT
DECISION HARDER.

INDECISION IS ITSELF A CHOICE.

NOT TO DECIDE
IS TO DECIDE NOT TO.

CHOOSE NOW!

NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE
DOES IT PROMISE A TOMORROW.

COME WHILE YOU CAN.

TIME ITSELF MAKES THE DECISION
FOR YOU IF YOU DON’T.

YOU SAY, “BUT WHAT DO
I HAVE TO DO?”

THREE THINGS:

YOU MUST BE WILLING
TO REPENT OF YOUR SIN.

THAT MEANS TO CHANGE YOUR WAY
OF THINKING ABOUT YOUR SINS

AND REALIZE HOW BAD THEY ARE
IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.

CHANGE YOUR THINKING
ABOUT GOD AND SAY,

“I LOVE HIM AND I’M GOING TO
LOVE HIM WITH ALL MY HEART,

“MIND AND SOUL.

“I’M GOING TO MAKE HIM
THE PRIORITY OF MY LIFE.

“I’M GOING TO PUT HIM FIRST
FROM NOW ON.

“HE’S GOING TO BE NOT ONLY
MY SAVIOR BUT MY LORD.”

YOU MAY BE A MEMBER
OF THE CHURCH;

YOU MAY NOT BE A MEMBER
OF ANY CHURCH.

YOU MAY BE AN OFFICER
IN THE CHURCH,

BUT YOU’RE NOT SURE ABOUT
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST,

AND YOU WANT TO BE SURE.

AND YOU MUST BE WILLING
TO REPENT,

AND SECONDLY, BY FAITH,
RECEIVE CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART.

THAT MEANS YOU PUT YOUR WHOLE
WEIGHT ON HIM AND TRUST HIM

AND HIM ALONE, AND THIRDLY,
YOU FOLLOW AND SERVE HIM

AS HIS DISCIPLE AND FOLLOWER
AND OBEY HIM.

THAT MEANS A BIG CHANGE
FOR MANY OF YOU,

IF YOU MAKE THIS CHOICE.

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO MAKE IT NOW.

AND I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO DO IT PUBLICLY,

AS WE’VE SEEN THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE THIS WEEK

ALREADY COME TO CHRIST.

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO GET UP FROM YOUR SEAT.

IF YOU START FROM THAT
TOP STAND UP THERE,

IT’LL TAKE YOU TWO MINUTES,
SO START NOW.

AND COME AND STAND IN FRONT
OF THIS PLATFORM,

AND AS YOU ALL STAND HERE
IN FRONT OF THE PLATFORM,

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

AND GIVE YOU SOME
LITERATURE,

AND YOU CAN GO BACK
AND JOIN YOUR FRIENDS.

YOU’RE MAKING THAT CHOICE
BY COMING AND STANDING HERE.

AND THE REASON I DO IT
PUBLICLY IS BECAUSE

EVERY PERSON THAT JESUS CALLED,
HE CALLED PUBLICLY.

JOSHUA CALLED UPON
THE PEOPLE PUBLICLY.

MOSES CALLED UPON
THE PEOPLE PUBLICLY

TO INSCRIBE THEIR COMMITMENT

THAT WOULD BE SEEN PUBLICLY
FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

I’M ASKING YOU TONIGHT
TO PUBLICLY AND OPENLY COME,

AND SAY TONIGHT, “CHRIST IS
GOING TO BE PRIORITY IN MY LIFE.

“I WANT TO KNOW THAT
I HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”

AND YOU THAT HAVE BEEN
WATCHING BY TELEVISION,

PICK UP THE TELEPHONE
AND CALL THAT NUMBER.

THERE ARE PEOPLE STANDING BY
TO TALK TO YOU RIGHT NOW.

♪ JUST AS I AM
WITHOUT ONE PLEA ♪

AS 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 PRAY WITH YOU

ABOUT THIS MOST IMPORTANT
DECISION.

♪ COME TO THEE ♪

♪ OH, LAMB OF GOD,
I COME ♪

♪ I COME. ♪

YOU THAT ARE WATCHING
BY TELEVISION

CAN SEE THAT HERE
IN THIS STADIUM

AT SAN JOSE UNIVERSITY
IN CALIFORNIA,

THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
ARE COMING TO MAKE

THEIR COMMITMENT TO CHRIST.

PICK UP THE PHONE.

YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN,
YOU DIAL THAT NUMBER,

AND IF YOU DON’T GET IN
RIGHT AWAY, KEEP CALLING.

THEY’LL BE THERE
ALL EVENING,

AND MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT
TO CHRIST OVER THE TELEPHONE.

OR ASK THE COUNSELOR
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

GOD HELP YOU TO MAKE
THAT COMMITMENT.

AND PLEASE GO TO CHURCH
NEXT SUNDAY.

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 JUST 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 ♪