Light in the Darkness | Billy Graham TV Special

((music playing)) There's just so many unknowns that it's really hard to get a foundation to stand on. There's just a cloud hanging over people. It's just hard to have bad news all the time. Every minute of my shift, I never know what I'm going to be responding to. Someone's shooting at us?

What? This was a horrible idea. Why did I go on a ride-along? When he died, It just wrecked me completely. I watched us going down, down, down. I was in the dark, and I was looking for the light, but I didn't know where to find it. The need for the gospel especially comes alive in the Christmas season.

God loved you so much that he came to take away the brokenness in your life. Christ is the light come to dispel the darkness. ((music playing)) The world in which we live today is filled with a lot of darkness, isn't it? A lot of chaos, a lot of death, so much uncertainty.

But as we come to Christmas, uh Jesus Christ didn't come to give us some fuzzy warm feeling. He came to save. He came to save the world. And the Bible says, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, it literally was an invasion of light into this dark world, and without that light, we have no hope. I've seen tons of terrible things, and and it adds up cuz the stress of this job is cumulative. ((music playing)) Did you see someone out running southbound?

You're sitting there, and all of a sudden dispatch says, "Hey, I'm an assault here, or a shooting there." And you go and deal with it. Show me your hands. She ain't not fighting you. She's going to bite you. ((music playing)) People just expect us to solve all their problems. It's like we're the catch-all.

And eventually, your heart's all scarred up. So you're under arrest for DUI. Will you face away from me and put your hands behind your back? ((music playing)) The hardest call that I've ever had in this career. It's kind of hard to talk about still, actually. Dispatch came through and said, "2-year-old found on the street with traumatic injuries."

And I thought, "This call's going to suck." I see this child laying in the street, run over by a truck, and I froze up. ((music playing)) I remember holding him, his little body in my hands. I just remember feeling his basically his last few breaths, and I thought, "There's still a chance.

There's still a chance." ((music playing)) And uh that just crushed me. I couldn't express my my rage because I had to still be professional. And um just Are there things that you feel like you have to hide from me to protect me? Yeah, there's plenty of stuff I don't tell you.

But I think that's the right thing to do. You'd be even more worried if I told you some of the stuff that I've gone through. Sometimes it makes me feel a little sad that you feel like you can't share with me. I just want to make sure you have an outlet to be able to share some of the little like day-to-day activities, so I could really be there for you.

I got in the patrol car. I thought going on a ride-along with you would just give us kid-free time together. Didn't have many calls for service that night, and then I heard the radio officer was in pursuit of a vehicle. We're pretty close to that, so I drove down to help with the pursuit.

Next thing you know, bad guy car comes past us, and here ((applause)) I remember feeling like, "Wait, what? Someone's shooting at us? What?" This was a horrible idea. Why did I go on a ride-along? I'm scared, and I see you reaching for your rifle, and then bam, you shot through the windshield.

Time slowed down. And then I just remember seeing you get out and keep shooting. We're going to die. We're leaving the kids without parents. I'm in the See the driver in the driver's seat. He is sort of slumped over, uh halfway hanging out of the car. Can you confirm that that's the gun on the ground?

We survived a gunfight. It was just such a strange feeling. You basically turned into a zombie after the the shock wore off. Yeah, just sitting on the floor like half trying to fold laundry, hearing the kids fighting, thinking, "Think I should care about that right now," but I like couldn't function, and I would just stare off into space.

((music playing)) I remember when we went to Alaska, it was 6 weeks after the shooting, and I was still traumatized and mentally not in a great place. ((music playing)) I remember landing, and then just seeing a line of people just waving all of us in. Hi, welcome. So happy to have you guys.

Thank you, guys. Welcome to Port Angeles. Can't ever let my guard down. And we get to Alaska, everyone was just so happy to have us there, and I started tearing up when I saw that line of people. It was like a breath of fresh air. Are you ready for this?

We're ready. We know that these issues are really deep. We're really trying to get to the heart of these officers. All of the law enforcement we're seeing here have experienced some type of encounter that was pretty dramatic. >> That example of sacrificial service is what This week is an opportunity for husbands and wives to work on those wounds, the scars that they're sharing together.

And then we look at it and say, "Look, God can take your brokenness, and can heal that." Walk back. Walk back. He's dying. Oh, it's so big. They just wanted us to focus on our spiritual healing, and take away any of the burdens that weren't necessary for us to carry.

Well, this is what we're here for, guys. You are here for a reason because you've been created in the image of God. And if you're wondering what your purpose is after all this stuff you've been through, if you're wondering Felt like we were safe in Alaska to share parts of our story.

It touched me in a way that I needed. Since John's shooting, about 6 weeks ago, I haven't been sleeping well, and I slept here. Like I really slept. Being in Alaska, I just felt so loved and touched by like the Holy Spirit. I wanted to get baptized and pronounce my faith.

It just It felt like God was calling me. I just said, "I don't know what your plan is for me, but whatever it is, I'm going to I'm going to do what you want me to do." I just said, "Yeah, God, I give my life to you." It felt really good.

It It was freeing. And so I just want to say thank you very much, and I'm never going to forget this. And I think it's just an outpouring of love, getting closer to Jesus. Getting baptized with my husband was like amazing. ((applause)) Do you not know that all of us who are baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

And that was the moment in my life of where there was a before and after. There's no going back. ((music playing)) Baptized in death? ((applause)) ((music playing)) >> Coming up. Traveling a lot of times was used as escape. I wanted to find peace somewhere, somehow. Darkness consumes a life and also a struggle to bring light to the world.

It's easy to think the darkness is winning. The God of this universe came to change all that. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Jesus Christ is not dead. He's alive and he is here tonight. Join us in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Visit billygraham.tv or call 877-567-8989. As a thank you, we'll send you a special gift from the Billy Graham Library selection featuring titles from this series of inspiring authors. Your gift can have an eternal impact. Call or log on today. ((music playing)) Jesus said, "I'm the light of the world and he who follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the the light of life."

There's a spiritual darkness in the land in which we are living and the only hope through it is Jesus Christ. If you're watching, if you're in the dark and and you don't know a way out, just keep watching. There is a way out. I was in the dark and I was looking for the light, but I didn't know where to find it.

I've traveled all over the world, but my traveling a lot of times was used as escape. When I was hurting enough, I would be the first one to say, "It's time to travel. It's time to go on a trip." To board a plane or a train or or a ship, it's a way to just to get away from from all that what's going on around you that doesn't bring you peace.

((music playing)) As a child, my view of God was fearful. I was never told that God is a wonderful father. God loves you more than anything in the world. You know, never. It was always fear, fear, fear. That stuck with me. I remember the day we left Cuba for the last time.

I was 14 years old. My mother had passed away unexpectedly, so I was already very sad. Then Castro took power. My dad goes to get money out of the bank and they had already frozen the bank. Then they took the house. And as we were taking off, the only thing that I could think of was you wouldn't be back because I left my animals.

I had left my friends at school. Things that meant the world to me. I would never went back. ((music playing)) I was in the dark. I wanted to find peace somewhere, somehow and I really didn't know where. If there was a God, I wanted to be with him. And I wanted him to to love me.

((music playing)) I um got this puppy because, you know, I was kind of lonely. Marley and I, when I retired, we did everything together. Everything together. And all of a sudden Marley, after 6 years, gets sick. Marley didn't get better. It it it just wrecked me completely and I I went into a deep depression when he died.

I was so angry with God and I really didn't know how to deal with it. I tried transcendental meditation. I tried going to counselors. I tried going to a psychiatrist. I even went to Israel. I thought that that was the key for me to find peace, but I came back with the same feeling as I had gone over.

I got to do something. This is it. ((applause)) ((music playing)) I don't know what had happened that day, but I know that I was sitting in my in the sofa and I was watching the television. I hear this man >> Hello, I'm Franklin Graham. Christmas is a time of uh joy and celebration. >> Something attracted me to listen to what he was saying.

And he just whatever he said touched me. We have the gospel spot from last Christmas. Really? Hello, I'm Franklin Graham. Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, but for some, it's also a very lonely time of year. Jesus Christ is God's son and God sent him to this earth at Christmas to save the world from sin.

Jesus said, "I'll never leave you nor forsake you." Have you ever invited Christ into your heart? I got on my knees. God, here I am. Here I am. >> Now, just pray this prayer with me. Just say, "God, I've sinned. I'm sorry." I said the prayer with him. >> to trust you as my savior Yeah.

It just brings tears to my eyes. and my Lord. Amen. >> Yeah. If you prayed that prayer, call that number on the screen. We've got some I um picked up myself from kneeling and I called and then they told me about this discipleship courses that I could take online.

I wanted this so badly cuz I wanted Jesus. I said, "Yes, I will." So I started taking the courses and then you put me with a coach. Oh, God bless her. She had something to work with, I'm telling you. Maria, when she came to the courses, she didn't quite understand who God was, his character, and it took a while to help her to see that that God is love, but he's also a God of righteousness.

I had never studied the Bible at all, but she was patient and she was so encouraging and that's when I began to see the light, to see that oh wow, things are happening in me. I am here in Nashville to be in a conference. ((music playing)) She has been such a wonderful person to me.

I don't even know what to say to her when I see her. I don't think that I have ever felt such excitement and not even in my going all over traveling and so on. I'm so excited about it. I couldn't sleep. I could not sleep. No, no, no.

((music playing)) What a gift. What a gift. It's so good to be here with you. This is just the most wonderful gift that God has given me. She found treasures from God's word which stabilized her soul and brought her that peace that she was just hungry for. I'm just so grateful that Franklin Graham was there at the time that I needed it.

It's peace, knowing that there is a God who loves me. I see him as my father standing there with his arms open waiting for me to come run to him and to me that means the world. Amen. Ooh. ((music playing)) The good news of Christmas is a message that is open to everyone.

That God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but should have everlasting life. That's what Christmas is all about. God's sending his son to this earth on a rescue mission to save us from our sins. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins.

He was buried and on the third day God raised him to life. This is the good news of Christmas and that's good news that's worth proclaiming. I've had a lot of people say, "Why not just stay in America?" That's a very logical question. We got lots of problems in America, right?

But when you look at all the things that are going on in the world, man, there's problems all around. The scripture says that we are to go to the uttermost parts of the world. There is a lot of places in this world that people will never go see, never go visit.

And I have a privilege of going there to proclaim the greatest news ever told. ((music playing)) When you look around the world, there's still a great percentage of those people living in very isolated communities. There's a lot of people that still need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

So, it's just not visiting large cities, but it's really going to every place. We'll go anywhere where God leads us and calls us. Northern Canada is vast. It's a part of the world that really proportionally very few people will ever see and ever experience. This is a very cold place.

This is where they get -40, -50. It's a different way of life up here. There's some places they don't have a uh a community church. They're isolated. There's a real need here right now. People are looking for help. They're looking for solutions. They're looking for comfort. And I think that's the reason it's so important that this tour is coming here.

Well, everybody, it's nice. Our first night. It's going to be a great night. And uh I've been praying for this, my friends. I can't I can't wait to preach tonight. It's not about Billy Graham. It's not about Will Graham. It's not about George or Brooke or Steve. It's It's about Jesus.

Amen. I want to be the first on behalf of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, we want to be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas. And I say that knowing that for some of you, it may be not be a Merry Christmas. You got a broken heart, broken dreams, broken homes.

God can change that all starting tonight. I was amazed that somebody had it laid on their heart to come and minister to these small communities. Here we are, you know, this remote place far away, and we've been noticed and they're coming here to share the gospel. This tour, it is it's huge for us.

This never happens in a town like this. ((applause)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) The need for the gospel for me especially comes alive in the Christmas season. I'm so reminded of that passage in John 1, the light has come and the darkness has not overcome it. Christ is the light of God come to dispel the darkness.

((music playing)) God loves you more than anybody. He wants a personal relationship with you. He wants to know you and he wants you to know him. My friends, that's what Christmas is all about. He's the God of this universe, the creator of this world. He made this world. When God made all the things in the world, he made the world, he spoke it into existence.

He spoke light into existence. He spoke the earth into existence. But with mankind, it said that he stooped down on the ground and he used his hands and he made man and woman. You're handmade by God. He knows everything about you, each and every one of you. That's how much he loves you.

((music playing)) Every city, you got to have a fresh burden for that city. As soon as you say, "Well, this is just going to be like the others," you've already lost. I think this is where it's where it's very important as the evangelist that we focus on the Lord. Do it again, Lord.

Mr. Will Graham. But he took your sin, my sin, and placed it all on his son, Jesus Christ. And there's some of you here today, God's handing you a pardon and forgiveness. You have to make the decision. And we'll give you that opportunity to right now. ((music playing)) ((applause)) Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner.

And I invite you to come into my life. I can't explain it, but it felt like the Holy Spirit was telling me to go up there. When he was talking about giving your life to God, I just started crying. I'm tired of it. Living with sin. I'm going to be going home free.

I'm overwhelmed right now with her joy and I never felt so happy. What a privilege it is to go to all these different places in the world and proclaim the greatest message ever given to mankind. Come now. He's waiting on you. ((applause)) As long as God still gives me the ability and the opportunity, I want to keep going and preaching that message.

((applause)) ((music playing)) I want everybody watching to know that God loves you. If you put your faith in Christ today, God will forgive your sins and heal your heart, but you've got to be willing to turn from your sins. That's called repentance. You've got to be willing to turn from them and receive Christ by faith.

If you have never invited Christ into your heart, you can do it right now. Just pray this prayer with me. Just say, "Dear God, I'm a sinner. I'm sorry for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ is your son. I believe that he died on a cross for me and that you raised him to life.

And I'd like to invite him to come into my heart to take control from this day forward forever. And I pray this in Jesus' name." If you prayed that prayer, we've got people that are willing to pray with you. And that's a prayer line that's open 24 hours a day.

So, call that number right now. I also want to just take a moment to say thank you to our partners, those that have stood with us this past year taking the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the good news. And so, I just want to say thank you for standing with us, praying for us.

Thank you for your financial help. God bless you. Partner with us through your prayers and financial support. Visit billygraham.tv or call 877-567-8989. As a thank you, we'll send you a special gift from the Billy Graham Library selection. Call or log on today. ((music playing))