This message was given by Dr. Graham on New Year’s Eve in 1975. He talks of tomorrow’s football game being one of the biggest parts of everyone’s day on January 1, 1976. He also speaks of wars, possible nuclear war, drug use, poverty, and confusion. It is amazing and frightening to me that almost 47 years ago we were dealing with many of the same problems that we have today. Although, today’s problems are worse than they were then. In 1976 we were still more of a Christian nation than we are now. Much of the country still had “blue laws” on the books that closed many businesses on Sunday which is unheard of today. Television was not as focused on drugs for all sorts of diseases and the news actually reported real news rather than five and ten seconds worth of blurbs between drug commercials.
Much has changed in the last fifty years and none of it is for the betterment of our country. Some things are better but there are so many that are much, much worse until they outweigh the good things that have been done. If you look back at some sermons from preachers from fifty or one hundred years ago, the problems of society have not really changed all that much. The bad kids in school sixty years ago were putting gum under their desks or in girls’ hair. Now they are bringing guns and knives and drugs to school and the school can’t do much about it. I ask you to join me in praying for our country’s soul and that those who profess to be Christians will turn and become the disciples of Christ that they say they are.
God has seen me through another year. It happened so fast it’s hard to believe it. There are so many things happening during this time that it is hard to know where to begin. First and foremost, God loves every one of us! He provides for us every day yet many people choose to concentrate on the things that are not going according to their plans. You need to remember that it is His plan that is important and it is His plan that will triumph in the end. I know there are many who do not see Him in the bad news all around us but He is in control regardless of how bad it looks.
With my allergies kicking up these past few days I don’t really feel like celebrating my birthday but I’m thankful that it isn’t covid or the flu. Life does have a way of showing us exactly Who is in charge whether we want to believe it or not. God is keeping His children, Israel, safe and secure and He is looking for all who will follow Jesus until that day comes when the trumpet sounds and we are caught up to be with Him.
Will life get harder one day? Yes, it will, but God is still in control. Our world seems to be so confused about almost everything these days. From which bathroom to use to the number of so-called “genders”. God created only two. Male and female. So regardless of the confusion all around, His plan has worked from the beginning until now. Is there confusion? Yes, even in the animal kingdom but God’s design has worked for many thousands of years and it will continue to do so.
How many days do you have? None of us know the answer to this. Some may have many days and some of us may not lie down to sleep tonight. The time to make sure of your salvation and your eternal home should do so today because we don’t know how many hours we may have left to us. God knows your life and He knows how many days you have left. Don’t squander them and don’t turn away from the Holy Spirit when He bids you to accept Jesus as your Savior. Because, just as the rich man who wanted to build larger barns to lay up his produce for his enjoyment, you do not know if your soul may be required of you tonight.
If you are reading this today, thank God for the day and the ability to learn about the salvation that is only found in Jesus Christ. Make sure of your eternal home now because if you do not, it may be in a place that is far from God.
How many of us feel this way? There are many I would suppose, although I suspect there are many who will not own it. Being selfish is a common theme in the Bible although it is characterized by pride more often than not. Pride in yourself and your accomplishments can also show itself as “selfish”. But aren’t we supposed to be proud of ourselves sometimes? Yes, but not exclusively so. This word is also associated with self-love or narcissism.
Why am I writing about this? Because being selfish seems to be one of the problems that many people in the Bible have. They want their way. They want to be in charge. They want to be like God.
Do you know anyone who fits that description? The only “person” that I know of that fits this exact description is Satan, but there are some people who act this way as well. God loves people and He gives us the opportunity to be saved from eternal separation from Him.
We have the opportunity to follow Jesus and be His follower for the rest of our life. Don’t turn away from the call of the Holy Spirit in your life. Don’t push Him away because He loves you. Your eternity with Him is the reward, seek Him.
“Our Father”. Do you truly comprehend the significance of those words? God is, collectively, our Father since He is the Creator. But…have those two words ever sunk into your consciousness enough to truly register their meaning? Consider this: Adam was God’s son and the father of humanity, and Jesus is God’s Son and our Savior but He told His disciples to pray to God as their Father too.
Why? Because we become adopted sons and daughters in God’s family when we accept Jesus as our Savior. We have His blood covering our sins. We are God’s children. So when you pray to God, Our Father, you are literally praying to the only Person in the universe that loves you as much as He loves Jesus.
Let that sink in for a minute.
You are loved by God! So much that He gave His Son to pay the penalty for your sins. Jesus died and rose again to be your Savior and to pay the penalty for every person on Earth. It is your responsibility to accept this gift through faith in Him and live your life to attain your maturity in Christ. Walking with Him every day, not just on holidays and on Sunday mornings. It takes discipline to wake up and tell Him “Thank you for today”. It takes perseverance to read and study His Word for thirty minutes every day. It takes prayer, asking Him to give you His wisdom from His Word, and the understanding to know how to apply it.
The life of a Christian or a saint, as they are referred to by Paul, is not an easy one. The devil is going to target you so he can trip you up and cause your witness to be stained in some way so that others won’t follow you to be more like Jesus. The only way for any of us to stand on those days of trial is to study and apply the wisdom that we gain from God’s Word. We won’t know it or be able to apply it if we don’t read it…daily.
We are living in the last days of the age of Grace. Don’t turn away from the call of God in your life. Seek Him out in the Bible. Learn about Him and His nature. Follow Him every day and keep His Word in your mind and your heart for your own protection and for your salvation too.
The Living Message of Christ 