A Late Night Television Show

Revelation 3:20 – [Jesus says:] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

It was late and I was tired, but not yet unwound. I had come home from choir practice through lazily drifting snowflakes which had begun to carpet everything a soft gentle white. I had put my dog out and brought him back in since all he had done was bark at the falling snow. At least that's what it seemed like to me, but he probably smelled the neighbour's cat out in the muted whiteness and was letting him know, in no uncertain terms, whose territory this was! He was being a dog! I settled before the TV idly flicking the channel chaser from station to station playing hop-scotch with the advertisers and programming until I caught the image of Cliff Barrows, and I knew I had tuned into a Billy Graham Crusade. Now most viewers probably would have kept surfing, but I parked the channel chaser. I like to listen to Billy Graham. As he preaches I can still see the clarity of faith shining from his ageing face and he still makes better sense than most of the TV commentators.

As I listen to Dr. Graham preach, I know he will usually hit on something I've done. Just this week I barked my fallen humanity rather loudly instead of my Christianity. The Bible says in Ephesians 2:1 (NIV) "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins." As Scripture plainly states, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." We are all sinners and as such we deserve God's judgement, not the Lord's grace. Rev. Graham always asks his listeners if they know without a shadow of a doubt whether they are right with God. Do you? Dr. Graham calls for them to repent, to desire to change their lives, to come to Christ. Will you? At the end of his sermon, Dr. Graham offers an opportunity for those who have never accepted Christ's offer of grace, or who wish to reaffirm their faith, a chance to do so. As the old hymn "Just as I am" begins to play softly in the background, Dr. Graham extends the invitation. He asks, "Have you accepted Christ? Is Jesus Lord of your life? Would you pray this prayer with me?"

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I know I'm a sinner. I know I've messed up, but I am more than sorry, I want to change my ways. I open the door of my heart and receive Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary cover my sins and that grace enable me to live the kind of life Jesus would have me live. I want Jesus to be my Saviour for I pray in His name. Amen.