FROM OUR ARCHIVES... THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS. [applause] TONIGHT, I WANT TO TALK
ON FOOLS. AND I WANT YOU TO
TURN WITH ME TO THE THIRD CHAPTER OF
I CORINTHIANS , BEGINNING WITH
THE 18TH VERSE; "LET NO MAN DECEIVE HIMSELF. "IF ANY MAN AMONG YOU SEEMETH
TO BE WISE IN THIS WORLD "LET HIM BECOME A FOOL
THAT HE MAY BE WISE. "FOR THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD
IS FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD. "FOR IT IS WRITTEN;
HE TAKETH THE WISE "IN THEIR OWN CRAFTINESS. "AND AGAIN, THE LORD KNOWETH
THE THOUGHTS OF THE WISE "THAT THEY'RE VAIN." A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,
ANTHONY NEWLEY SANG "WHAT KIND OF A FOOL AM I," TO THE TOP OF THE CHARTS. I LOOKED UP IN THE DICTIONARY
TO SEE WHAT A FOOL IS, OR ONE OF MY ASSOCIATES
DID FOR ME. AND THE BIBLE HAS A LOT TO SAY
ABOUT FOOLS AND WHAT A FOOL IS. PROVERBS 10:21 SAYS; "FOOLS
DIE FOR THE WANT OF WISDOM." PROVERBS 1:7 SAYS;
"FOOLS DESPISE WISDOM." WHEN P.T. BARNUM CAME TO
THIS COUNTRY MANY YEARS AGO HE SAID, "THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WANT TO BE FOOLED "AND I'M HERE TO FOOL THEM." HE SAID, "A FOOL IS BORN
EVERY MINUTE." NOW SYNONYMS THAT YOU CAN FIND
FOR THE WORD FOOL IS STUPID PERSON, BONEHEAD,
BLOCKHEAD, SIMPLETON, CHUMP, NITWIT,
GOOSE, SAP, NUMBSKULL, IGNORAMUS, BEETLE HEAD,
WHATEVER YOU WANT. [laughter] ONE WHO HAS BEEN
IMPOSED ON BY OTHERS; A STOOGE, A GULLIBLE
OR A DUPE! NOW IN THE BIBLE
IT MAY MEAN ALL OF THIS. BUT IT ALSO HAS
A MORAL MEANING IN THE BIBLE. AND IS A VERY IMPORTANT WORD
IN THE BIBLE. AND THE VERSES SEEM
ALMOST PARADOXICAL. I CORINTHIANS 3:18 SAYS;
"LET HIM BECOME A FOOL." AND PROVERBS 1:7 SAYS;
"FOOLS DESPISE WISDOM." AND GOD IS SPEAKING FROM
THE DIVINE STANDPOINT. IN ONE PASSAGE THE FOOL
IS AN UNTHINKING, THOUGHTLESS, CARELESS PERSON
WITHOUT TRUE UNDERSTANDING. IN THE OTHER PASSAGE,
THE WORD FOOL IS USED FROM THE STANDPOINT OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE RECEIVED CHRIST BECAUSE THE WORLD
LAUGHS AT THEM AND SAYS THEY'RE FOOLISH
AND RIDICULOUS. THEY'RE FOOLS! SO THERE ARE UNWISE FOOLS
AND THERE ARE WISE FOOLS. NOW JESUS SAID, "WHOEVER
CALLS HIS BROTHER A FOOL "IS IN DANGER OF HELL FIRE." YOU BE VERY CAREFUL HOW YOU
CALL ANOTHER PERSON A FOOL. I WOULDN'T DARE USE THAT NAME
FOR YOU OR FOR ANYBODY ELSE. NEVER USE THE WORD FOOL
IN ANGER THE BIBLE SAYS. BUT I'M TELLING YOU
WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT IT IN CERTAIN INSTANCES. FIRST, THERE'S
THE ATHEISTIC FOOL. IT'S REPEATED TWICE IN
PSALM 53:1 AND PSALM 14:1; "THE FOOL HATH SAID
IN HIS HEART THERE IS NO GOD." BUT IN HEBREW,
IT ACTUALLY MEANS, "THERE IS NO GOD FOR ME." IN OTHER WORDS, THIS FOOL
DELIBERATELY SAYS, "THERE IS NO GOD FOR ME." HE'S NOT SAYING,
THERE'S NO GOD. HE'S SAYING,
THERE'S NO GOD FOR ME. THEN THERE'S
THE PRACTICAL ATHEIST. YOU SEE, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE
THAT ARE REALLY NOT ATHEISTS BUT THEY ARE PRACTICAL ATHEISTS
IN THE SENSE THAT THEY LIVE LIKE AN ATHEIST. YOU PROFESS TO BELIEVE IN GOD, BUT YOU DON'T LIVE LIKE
YOU BELIEVE IN GOD. YOU LIVE AS THOUGH
THERE IS NO GOD. YOU TOO, IN A SENSE,
ARE AN ATHEIST. AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS
HERE TONIGHT LIKE THAT. YOU BELIEVE IN GOD
WITH YOUR MIND. YOU MAY GO TO CHURCH. BUT YOU LIVE AS THOUGH
GOD DOES NOT EXIST AS FAR AS YOU'RE CONCERNED. AS SO YOU ARE AN ATHEIST
IN A SENSE. AND THEN SECONDLY,
THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT THE MOCKING FOOL,
THE MOCKING FOOL. "FOOLS MAKE A MOCK OF SIN,"
PROVERBS 14:9. HERE IS GOD IN ALL
OF HIS HOLINESS AND THE BIBLE TELLS US
THAT WE'VE SINNED AGAINST HIM. WE'VE BROKEN HIS LAWS AND WE'RE UNDER
THE SENTENCE OF DEATH. WE'RE UNDER
THE SENTENCE OF DEATH. I SAW A FILM TONIGHT
ON TELEVISION, ON ONE OF THE NEWS PROGRAMS, TELLING HOW MANY MEN
AND WOMEN ARE ON DEATH ROW IN THE UNITED STATES
RIGHT NOW UNDER THE SENTENCE OF DEATH. ALL OF US HERE TONIGHT ARE UNDER
THE SENTENCE OF DEATH. "THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH." AND WE HAVE ALL SINNED
AND BROKEN THE LAWS OF GOD. AND SO, WE'RE ALL
SENTENCED TO DIE. WE ARE TO DIE PHYSICALLY. THE GRAVEYARDS ARE FULL
OF PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE BECAUSE SIN CAUSED DEATH. AND THEN SIN ALSO CAUSES
SPIRITUAL DEATH. YOUR SOUL IS DEAD,
YOUR SPIRIT IS DEAD. PHYSICALLY YOU'RE ALIVE, BUT YOUR SOUL THAT LIVES
INSIDE YOUR BODY IS DEAD TOWARD GOD. SO YOU'RE A WALKING DEAD PERSON
UNDER THE SENTENCE OF DEATH. AND THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU
CAN HAVE THAT SENTENCE LIFTED IS TO COME TO CHRIST
BY REPENTANCE OF SIN AND FAITH IN HIM AS
YOUR LORD AND YOUR SAVIOR. IF YOU WOULD LIKE
THAT SENTENCE LIFTED, IF YOU WOULD LIKE
YOUR SINS WIPED OUT AS THOUGH THEY'D
NEVER EXISTED, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE
JUSTIFIED IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, PICK UP THAT TELEPHONE
RIGHT NOW, YOU THAT ARE WATCHING
BY TELEVISION. PICK IT UP AND CALL
THE NUMBER THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN AND
A COUNSELOR WILL ANSWER. AND THE COUNSELOR
WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT HOW YOU CAN COME
TO KNOW CHRIST, AS MANY PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT,
I HOPE, AND BELIEVE, AND PRAY WILL FIND CHRIST AS
THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR. BUT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE
THAT MAKE A MOCKERY OF SINS. THEY MOCK GOD'S STANDARDS; GOD'S STANDARDS OF SEX,
GOD'S STANDARDS OF MARRIAGE, GOD'S STANDARDS CONCERNING
DIVORCE AND ETHICS AND MORALITY AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE. WE MAKE A MOCKERY OF IT,
WE LAUGH AT IT. THE BIBLE SAYS, "BE SURE
YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT." DON'T EVER DOUBT IT. YOUR SIN, YOUR SIN
WILL FIND YOU OUT THOUGH NO ONE ON EARTH
MAY DISCOVER IT. YOU MAY NEVER BE CAUGHT. YOU MAY NEVER HAVE TO
PAY FOR IT HERE AS FAR AS YOU CAN TELL. BUT YOU SIN WILL SOMEDAY
BE FOUND OUT. NO ONE EVER COMMITS ONE SIN
THAT ISN'T FOUND OUT. EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID
IN THE DARKNESS, EVERY EVIL THOUGHT
THAT YOU EVER HAD IS GOING TO BE FOUND OUT. BECAUSE IT WILL ALL
BE RECORDED, IT'S BEING RECORDED,
AWAITING THE JUDGMENT DAY. IT'S BEING RECORDED
ON TAPE MACHINES FAR MORE SOPHISTICATED
THAN ANYTHING WE HAVE. IT'S BEING RECORDED; EVEN YOUR THOUGHTS AND
YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT AND IT'LL BE EXPOSED
TO THE WHOLE UNIVERSE. "WILL FIND YOU OUT,"
WILL. IT'S ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME. THE WORD "WILL" IS DEFINITE! WILL FIND YOU OUT. FIND--PERHAPS YOU'VE
DECEIVED EVERYONE ELSE; YOUR WIFE, YOUR FAMILY,
YOUR CHURCH, YOUR FRIENDS. BUT THE BIBLE SAYS, "YOUR SIN
WILL DEFINITELY FIND YOU OUT." A DETECTIVE AT LAST; AFTER RUNNING AWAY SO LONG
AND HIDING SO LONG, GOD'S HAND WILL COME
ON YOUR SHOULDER AND SAY, "I HAVE FOUND YOU,
YOU'VE BEEN FOUND OUT. "WE NOW KNOW." AND THEN THIRDLY,
THERE'S THE SLANDERING FOOL, THE SLANDERING FOOL. "HE THAT HIDETH HATRED
WITH LYING LIPS "AND HE THAT UTTERETH
A SLANDER IS A FOOL." PASSING ALONG AN EVIL STORY
ABOUT OTHERS, MALIGNING OTHER PEOPLE'S
CHARACTER, WRECKING THEIR REPUTATIONS
BY EVIL GOSSIP. GOSSIPING IS LISTED
IN THE BIBLE AS ONE OF THE WORST
OF ALL SINS. AND YET, HOW FREQUENT
THAT'S DONE EVEN IN CIRCLES THAT CALL THEMSELVES
CHRISTIANS. IT'S A TERRIBLE SIN
IN THE SIGHT OF GOD AND GOD'S SAYS,
"THAT PERSON IS A FOOL." YOU WOULDN'T THINK
OF KILLING A PERSON WITH A GUN OR A KNIFE. BUT THEN, MANY TIMES,
WE ASSASSINATE A CHARACTER OR TRY TO PULL SOMEONE DOWN
OR TO GET EVEN, OR BECAUSE OF JEALOUSY,
BY WHISPERING INNUENDOS: "SOMEONE TOLD ME" OR "HE DID THUS AND SO." WE COMMIT MURDER BY
CHARACTER ASSASSINATION; WORSE THAN KILLING A MAN
WITH A PISTOL OR A KNIFE OR A CLUB. "HE THAT UTTERETH A SLANDER,"
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "IS A FOOL." AND THEN FOURTHLY,
THERE'S THE CHRISTIAN FOOL, THE CHRISTIAN FOOL. REMEMBER THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
AFTER JESUS CHRIST HAD DIED ON THE CROSS
FOR OUR SINS AND HE'D BEEN RAISED AGAIN? AND REMEMBER HE WAS APPEARING
TO THE DISCIPLES. IN FACT, ELEVEN
DIFFERENT APPEARANCES AFTER HIS RESURRECTION
AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. AND THESE TWO DISCIPLES
WERE ON THE WAY TO EMMAUS OUTSIDE OF JERUSALEM. THEY WERE SAD,
THEY WERE DISAPPOINTED, THEY WERE DISILLUSIONED. AND THEY WERE MUMBLING AND
GROANING AMONG THEMSELVES. AND ANOTHER MAN JOINED THEM. AND THEY DIDN'T RECOGNIZE
WHO HE WAS. AND HE TALKED TO THEM, SAID,
"WHY ARE YOU SO DOWNCAST?" THEY SAID, "OH, WE THOUGHT
HE WAS TO BE THE MESSIAH. "HAVEN'T YOU HEARD ALL
THE HAPPENINGS IN JERUSALEM "DURING THE PAST WEEK
ABOUT THIS JESUS "WHO DID WONDERFUL THINGS? "WE THOUGHT HE WAS
THE MESSIAH, "WE THOUGHT HE'D COME
TO SAVE THE WORLD. "BUT HE DIDN'T,
HE DISAPPOINTED US. "THEY KILLED HIM ON A CROSS AND
NOW THE THIRD DAY HAS PASSED "AND WE HEARD RUMORS THAT HE
MIGHT BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD, "BUT WE DON'T ACCEPT THAT." AND THEN JESUS SAID,
"OH, FOOLS, YOU'RE FOOLS." THEN HE STARTED EXPOUNDING
TO THEM THE SCRIPTURES FROM MOSES
THROUGH THE PROPHETS AS TO WHO HE REALLY WAS. AND THEN HE WENT
TO SPEND THE EVENING WITH THEM AND HE WAS SITTING AT THE MEAL
IN THEIR HOME IN EMMAUS. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
THEIR EYES WERE OPENED AND THEY SAW IT WAS JESUS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE CHRISTIAN FOOL WHO HAS
THE WORD OF GOD IN HIS HAND, WHO READS HIS TESTIMONY AND YET, DOUBTS
THE PROMISES OF GOD. JESUS SAID, "OH, YOU FOOLS," FOR NOT BELIEVING
THE SCRIPTURES THAT HE WAS GOING
TO RISE FROM THE DEAD AND SOME DAY HE'S COMING BACK. AND THEN FIFTHLY,
THERE'S THE COVETOUS FOOL. AND THE STORY IS TOLD
IN LUKE , THE 12TH CHAPTER, JESUS TOLD THE STORY ABOUT A RICH MAN
AND HIS BARNS. YOU REMEMBER, HE BUILT
HIS BARNS AND HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO RETIRE BECAUSE
HE'D MADE ENOUGH MONEY NOW. PROBABLY GOING TO GO TO
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OR FLORIDA,
COME HERE TO IDAHO TO THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE
AND RETIRE. HE'D MADE ENOUGH MONEY. AND HE SAID, "SOUL,
TAKE THINE EASE, "DRINK AND BE MERRY." AND THAT NIGHT
HE HAD A HEART ATTACK AND WHEN HE WAS DYING THERE WAS
A VOICE HEARD FROM HEAVEN THAT SAID,
"THOU FOOL! "THIS NIGHT THY SOUL
IS REQUIRED OF THEE." AND THE SCRIPTURE SAID,
JESUS SAID, "SO IS HE THAT LAYETH UP
TREASURE FOR HIMSELF "AND IS NOT RICH TOWARD GOD." YOU SEE, HE TRIED TO FIND
HAPPINESS IN THE WRONG PLACE; MONEY. HE IGNORED THE POWER
OF INFLUENCE IN THAT NO MAN LIVETH
UNTO HIMSELF. HE MUST HAVE HAD A FAMILY. HE DISREGARDED DEATH. HE'D MADE NO PROVISION
FOR ETERNITY. HE HAD PROVISION
FOR HIS RETIREMENT. HOW MANY MEN AND WOMEN
I KNOW WHO HAVE PLANNED
FOR RETIREMENT, PLANNED EVERYTHING, BUT THEY HAVEN'T
PREPARED TO DIE AND THEY DIE SHORTLY
AFTER THEY RETIRE. IT'S AMAZING. I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT. SOME PEOPLE ANNOUNCE
THEIR RETIREMENT AND YOU READ TWO OR THREE
WEEKS LATER THAT THEY DROPPED DEAD
OF A HEART ATTACK. THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE
GOING TO HAVE 5 OR 10 OR 15 OR 20 YEARS
THAT THEY COULD JUST TAKE IT EASY
AND ENJOY LIFE. BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS
WORK OUT THAT WAY. YOU BETTER BE SURE THAT YOU
HAVE PREPARED TO MEET GOD. EVERY PERSON WHO IS
MORE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING SOME OF
THIS WORLD'S GOODS AND LEAVING OUT
THE PREPARATION FOR ETERNITY IS A FOOL. OR THE PERSON WHO SPENDS
THEIR TIME IN SOCIAL CLIMBING OR HAVING PLEASURE
MORE THAN ETERNAL THINGS IS A FOOL
IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. IF YOU'RE NOT CONCERNED
ABOUT YOUR HOME IN HEAVEN, YOU'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE RICHES THAT WILL
NEVER FAIL, NOT CONCERNED ABOUT
"LAYING UP TREASURE "WHERE MOTH AND RUST
DOTH NOT CORRUPT "AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT
BREAK THROUGH AND STEAL," THEN YOU'RE A FOOL! IF YOU'D ASK THIS MAN,
WHAT IS YOUR NAME? WELL, HE'D SAY,
"MY NAME'S THE RICH MAN." OR "I'M THE PROSPEROUS MAN
THAT YOU READ ABOUT." OR "I'M AN EMINENT MAN. "I'M A GREAT MAN
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD." OR, "I'M A FAMOUS MAN, MY NAME
IS IN THE PAPER ALL THE TIME." THEN ASK GOD, "LORD,
WHAT IS THIS MAN'S NAME?" AND THE ANSWER COMES BACK,
"FOOL, HE'S A FOOL! "THAT'S HIS NAME." THE RICH MAN KNEW EVERY NAME
BUT THE RIGHT ONE. HE'D BEEN CALLED
BY HIS FAMILY NAME, HIS GIVEN NAME, HIS RANKS,
HIS TITLES, HIS WEALTH, THE FLATTERIES OF MEN. BUT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD
HIS NAME WAS "THOU FOOL." THAT'S ALL WE KNOW ABOUT HIM,
THAT HE WAS JUST A RICH FOOL THAT LAID UP
TREASURES ON EARTH, BUT LAID UP NOTHING
FOR HEAVEN. AND HOW MANY OF US
ARE IN THE SAME CATEGORY? YOU MAY NOT BE RICH, IN THE SENSE THAT
THIS MAN IS RICH. BUT EVERYBODY IN AMERICA
IS RICH COMPARED TO BANGLADESH AND PEOPLE
WHERE WE'VE BEEN IN MANY PLACES OF THE WORLD,
LIKE IN AFRICA OR-- AS VICTOR WAS TALKING ABOUT,
IN VIETNAM WHERE HE WAS A MISSIONARY
FOR SOME YEARS. VERY FEW OF YOU WOULD STIR
IF I WOULD LOOK OUT ON THIS AUDIENCE
AND SAY, "FOOL, COME HERE
I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU." HOW MANY OF YOU
WOULD GET UP AND COME? [laughter] VERY FEW,
MAYBE NOBODY. BUT THE BIBLE SAYS, "HOW ARE THEY BROUGHT INTO
DESOLATION AS IN A MOMENT." QUICKLY IT CAN ALL END! YOUR DREAM HOUSE
COMES TUMBLING DOWN. TROUBLE IN THE FAMILY,
THE WEALTH IS GONE. HERE WAS A MAN,
A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE PERHAPS, BUT STANDING A HAND'S BREATH
AWAY FROM HIS OWN GRAVE. COUNTING ON EVERYTHING
IN THIS LIFE; THE HAPPINESS, THE JOY
THAT THIS LIFE COULD GIVE HIM AND HE'S CALLED IN THE BIBLE,
BY JESUS, A FOOL. AND THEN SEVENTHLY,
THERE'S ANOTHER KIND OF A FOOL, OR SIXTHLY,
"THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS "IS FOOLISHNESS TO THEM
THAT PERISH." I CORINTHIANS 1:18; "BUT UNTO US WHICH ARE SAVED
IT IS THE POWER OF GOD." WHAT THE WORLD COUNTS FOOLISH, WE HAVE RESTED OUR
ETERNAL SALVATION ON. AND WHEN YOU ACCEPT
JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR TURN YOUR BACK ON
THE PLEASURES AND THE SENSUAL LUST
AND THINGS OF THIS WORLD, PEOPLE THINK
YOU'RE A FOOL. THE WORLD THAT
DOES NOT KNOW CHRIST LOOKS FOOLISH TO ME. WHY CAN'T THEY SEE? WHY CAN'T THEY UNDERSTAND? I WANT TO GRAB EVERYBODY
I SEE ON THE STREET AND EVERYBODY WE PASS,
EVERYBODY IN THE HOTEL, I WANT TO GRAB THEM
AND SAY, "LOOK HERE, "CHRIST COULD CHANGE
YOUR LIFE." I SEE THEIR EMPTY FACES AND I HEAR
THE HOLLOW LAUGHTER. AND I SEE THEM DRINKING,
TRYING TO DRINK THEMSELVES INTO SOME HAPPINESS. OR TAKING THE DRUGS AND THAT
HOLLOW STARE THAT THEY HAVE. AND I SAY, "OH, IF I COULD
ONLY JUST SHAKE THEM LOOSE." BUT YOU SEE, ONLY
THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN DO THAT. I CANNOT DO THE WORK
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR HIM. THE HOLY SPIRIT MUST
CONVICT THEM OF SIN. HE MUST ALSO LIFT THIS VEIL
THAT'S OVER THEIR MINDS. AND SO, "SALVATION IS
OF THE LORD," THE BIBLE SAYS. IF ANYONE DESIRES WISDOM, LET HIM TAKE HIS PLACE IN IDENTIFICATION WITH JESUS CHRIST. WHAT THE WORLD CALLS FOOLISH, I'M RESTING MY SALVATION ON; THE CROSS OF CHRIST, NO MATTER WHAT THE WORLD MAY THINK OF HIM OR OF ME. WE'RE FOOLS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE, WILLING FOR THE WORLD TO LOOK AT US AS OUT OF OUR MINDS, WILLING TO BE ACCOUNTED AS THE VERY OFF-SCURRYING OF THE EARTH BECAUSE WE'VE TURNED TO CHRIST. ARE YOU ONE OF THE DEVIL'S FOOLS? OR ARE YOU WILLING TO BE A FOOL FOR CHRIST'S SAKE? THE BIBLE SAYS IN PROVERBS 12; "THE WAY OF A FOOL "IS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYE." "THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMETH
RIGHT UNTO MAN, "BUT THE END THEREOF
ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH." WHICH ROAD ARE YOU ON; THE NARROW ROAD THAT
LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE OR THE BROAD ROAD THAT
LEADS TO DESTRUCTION? YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
"CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY "WHOM YOU WILL SERVE." ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE
TO BE A FOOL IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OR ARE YOU GOING TO BECOME
ANOTHER KIND OF FOOL, THE CHRIST FOOL, THAT THE WORLD WILL CALL
A FOOL AND CALL FOOLISHNESS? BECAUSE YOU SEE,
WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST THERE'S A PRICE TO PAY. AND ONE OF THE PRICES YOU PAY
IS BEING MISUNDERSTOOD BY SOME MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY,
SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, SOME PEOPLE WHERE YOU WORK
OR WHERE YOU GO TO SCHOOL. AND THAT'S WHAT JESUS MEANT
WHEN HE SAID, "COME AND TAKE UP THE CROSS
AND FOLLOW ME." YOU SEE, THE CROSS
THAT YOU BEAR, THE CROSS THAT YOU BEAR, IS IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST. IT'S NOT SOME SPECIAL SICKNESS
THAT YOU GET OR SOME TROUBLE YOU GET. IT'S IDENTIFYING WITH CHRIST
AND LETTING PEOPLE LAUGH AT YOU AND BEING WILLING FOR THEM
TO MAKE SPORT OF YOU, IF NECESSARY,
FOR FOLLOWING CHRIST. THAT'S YOUR CROSS! AND IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING
TO TAKE THAT CROSS YOU CANNOT BE HIS FOLLOWER,
HE SAID. ARE YOU WILLING
TO TAKE THAT CROSS? ARE YOU WILLING TO TURN YOUR
LIFE TOTALLY OVER TO CHRIST? SOME OF US HAVE GOT
ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN AND ONE FOOT IN HELL,
AS IT WERE. ONE FOOT IN THE WORLD,
ONE FOOT IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. AND WE'RE STRADDLING
THE FENCE. GOD DOES NOT ALLOW
FENCE STRADDLERS. YOU CANNOT BE A MUGWUMP. THAT'S WHAT A MUGWUMP IS,
A FENCE STRADDLER. CHRIST DOES NOT ALLOW THAT. HE ALLOWS NO NEUTRALITY. YOU CANNOT BE BOTH! YOU MUST COME ALL-OUT
FOR HIM. AND YOU'LL FIND THAT
ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE BIBLE. YOU'LL FIND IT ALL THE WAY
THROUGH THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS. A GREAT CROWD WAS FOLLOWING
JESUS ONE DAY. AND HE TURNED AND TALKED
TO THEM ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE WAS GOING TO DIE
ON THE CROSS. AND IT SAID,
"MANY FOLLOWED HIM NO MORE!" WHY? BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T TAKE
THIS TALK OF THE CROSS. DO YOU WANT CHRIST
IN YOUR HEART? PICK UP THAT TELEPHONE
RIGHT NOW IF YOU'RE WATCHING
BY TELEVISION. TALK TO THAT COUNSELOR,
MAKE THAT CALL. IF IT'S A BUSY SIGNAL,
CALL AGAIN, THEY'LL BE THERE
ALL EVENING, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. AND YOU CAN TALK TO SOMEBODY
AND RECEIVE CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART TONIGHT. BECAUSE YOU SEE,
WHEN CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS IT SAYS THAT THE CROWD
DOWN BELOW, THE MOB BELOW, RIDICULED AND LAUGHED. AND THEY SAID,
"WHAT A FOOL. "YOU SAVED OTHERS,
BUT YOU CANNOT SAVE YOURSELF. "HA, HA, HA, HA." AND JESUS WAS HANGING THERE AND IN HEAVEN 72,000 ANGELS,
TEN LEGIONS, DREW THEIR SWORDS, READY TO COME AND
RESCUE HIM. BUT HE SAID,
"NO, I LOVE THEM." AND WHEN HE DIED ON THE CROSS,
HE TOOK YOUR SINS. EVERY SIN THAT YOU'VE
EVER COMMITTED HE TOOK ON THAT CROSS. HE TOOK YOUR DEATH PENALTY
FOR YOU. AND BECAUSE HE WAS
THE SON OF GOD AND BECAUSE HE WAS SINLESS,
HE COULD BEAR YOUR SINS. AND GOD HAS ACCEPTED HIS DEATH
AS A SIN OFFERING FOR OUR SINS. SO THAT WHEN GOD
LOOKS AT ME NOW, HE DOESN'T SEE
BILLY GRAHAM THE SINNER. I AM A SINNER. I HAVE SINNED. BUT I HAVE PLACED MY SINS
UNDER THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. AND THE BLOOD THAT WAS SHED
ON THE CROSS WASHES MY SINS AWAY,
SYMBOLICALLY, IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, SO THAT WHEN GOD LOOKS AT ME
HE CANNOT SEE MY SINS. AND GOD HAS A UNIQUE ABILITY
THAT YOU DON'T HAVE. GOD CAN FORGET! AND IT SAYS THAT HE FORGETS
YOUR SINS. IN OTHER WORDS,
THE TAPES ARE ERASED FROM THE TIME YOU WERE BORN
'TIL THE TIME YOU DIE. BECAUSE IF ONE SIN EVER
REMAINED ON THOSE TAPES YOU'D NEVER MAKE IT TO HEAVEN. GOD IS RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY. AND BEFORE YOU CAN
GET INTO HEAVEN YOU MUST BE RIGHTEOUS TOO. AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET
ANY RIGHTEOUSNESS IS TO BE CLOTHED IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS
OF JESUS CHRIST. AND HE OFFERS YOU THAT
RIGHTEOUS CLOTHING TONIGHT FREE! YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. BUT YOU HAVE TO DO
THREE THINGS. YOU MUST REPENT
OF YOUR SINS. THAT MEANS YOU'RE WILLING
TO CHANGE YOUR WAY OF LIFE. YOU'RE WILLING TO CHANGE
COMPLETELY AND PUT CHRIST FIRST
IN YOUR LIFE FROM THIS MOMENT ON. YOU MAY BE A MEMBER
OF THE CHURCH. YOU MAY BE A CATHOLIC,
A MORMON, JEWISH, PROTESTANT, WHATEVER YOU ARE YOU NEED CHRIST. AND YOU WANT TO MAKE
THAT COMMITMENT. I'M NOT ASKING YOU
TO JOIN A CHURCH TONIGHT, A SPECIFIC CHURCH. I'M ASKING YOU TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN AND THAT YOU'RE READY
FOR HEAVEN. FIRST, REPENT. SECOND, RECEIVE HIM BY FAITH
INTO YOUR HEART. FAITH MEANS TRUST,
TOTAL COMMITMENT. IT MEANS THAT HE BECOMES
THE PILOT OF YOUR PLANE OR HE BECOMES
THE DRIVER OF YOUR CAR, OF YOUR LIFE! YOU TURN ALL THE
DECISION-MAKING OVER TO HIM. AND THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING. YOU TRUST HIM
FOR YOUR SALVATION. AND THEN THE THIRD THING,
YOU'RE WILLING TO OBEY HIM. STUDY THE SCRIPTURES
AND PRAY AND OBEY HIM AND DO WHAT HE SAYS
AND BE HIS FOLLOWER NO MATTER WHAT THE COST. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO MAKE
THAT COMMITMENT TONIGHT I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO
WHAT WE'VE SEEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
AT EACH SERVICE DO SO FAR. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO
GET UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT AND COME AND STAND
IN FRONT OF THE PLATFORM AND SAY BY COMING, "I WANT
TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT. "I WANT TO KNOW
MY SINS ARE FORGIVEN. "I WANT TO KNOW THE SENTENCE
OF DEATH HAS BEEN LIFTED. "I WANT TO KNOW
I'M GOING TO HEAVEN." WHY DO I ASK YOU
TO COME FORWARD PUBLICLY? BECAUSE JESUS SAID,
"IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING "TO ACKNOWLEDGE ME BEFORE MEN,
I'LL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE YOU "BEFORE MY FATHER
WHICH IS IN HEAVEN." JESUS SAID--
OR THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME,
TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION." NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE
DOES IT PROMISE THAT THERE'LL EVER BE
A TOMORROW FOR YOU. IT'S TONIGHT. I BELIEVE THERE ARE HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT THAT MAY NEVER HAVE THIS MOMENT
AGAIN IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE IN WHICH YOU'RE SO CLOSE
TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. JUST GET UP AND COME; FATHERS, MOTHERS,
YOUNG PEOPLE, HUNDREDS OF YOU. YOU WANT CHRIST
IN YOUR HEART TONIGHT, YOU WANT TO MAKE
THAT COMMITMENT, YOU GET UP AND COME,
QUICKLY. ♪ AS PEOPLE ARE COMING FORWARD
HERE AT THE COLISEUM, YOU MAKE THAT TELEPHONE CALL
RIGHT NOW. THE NUMBER IS ON YOUR SCREEN AND COUNSELORS ARE STANDING BY
READY TO HELP YOU. ♪ WITH MANY A CONFLICT,
MANY A DOUBT ♪ ♪ FIGHTINGS WITHIN
AND FEARS WITHOUT ♪ 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. YOU THAT ARE WATCHING
BY TELEVISION CAN SEE THAT HERE BOISE, IDAHO,
MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING TO MAKE THIS
COMMITMENT TO CHRIST TONIGHT. YOU CAN MAKE THAT COMMITMENT
RIGHT NOW WHERE YOU ARE. YOU MAY BE IN A BARROOM. YOU MAY BE IN A NIGHT CLUB. YOU MAY BE IN A HOTEL ROOM. YOU MAY BE IN YOUR LIVING ROOM
OR IN YOUR BEDROOM. JUST SAY YES TO CHRIST AND
LET HIM COME INTO YOUR HEART. AS YOU CAN SEE, MEN AND WOMEN
AND BOYS AND GIRLS FROM ALL OVER THE COLISEUM HAVE
COME FORWARD TONIGHT TO COMMIT THEIR HEART AND LIFE
TO JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS ALSO A TIME OF DECISION
FOR MANY OF YOU. UNTIL THEN, THIS IS CLIFF
BARROWS SPEAKING FOR BILLY GRAHAM AND EVERY
MEMBER OF THE TEAM SAYING GOOD-BYE AND
MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS 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 ♪
