“Imagine a football game with no rules.”
Will Graham stood in front of 4,000 people, talking sports to make a point. A game without rules wouldn’t make sense, he said from the center of the arena, and “wouldn’t be worth watching.”
“Now imagine your life with no rules,” he went on. It would be pointless, aimless.
Will Graham’s Message in a Nutshell
The Prodigal Son (Luke 15) decided to live for the moment and squandered all he had. At his lowest point, he was lonely, empty and miserable. Though hesitant to return home, his father quickly welcomed him back with open arms. Do you need to return to your heavenly Father?
Yet, he told the rapt crowd, that’s the path many people choose, deciding to run away from God’s commands and take charge of their own lives.
It was Saturday night, April 28, in Johnson City, Tennessee, and thousands filled Freedom Hall Civic Center for the second night of the Tri-Cities Region Will Graham Celebration. His message on the Prodigal Son brought some to tears.
“I cried most of the time. … I knew I’d done wrong,” said Kendra, a 7th-grader at St. Paul Elementary in Virginia. Kendra came to the Celebration with several classmates, including friends Alyssa and Jasmine. All three girls hugged each other tight after deciding together to start living for Christ.
“I hope that I do better in the future than I have before,” said Alyssa. While no one is perfect, she said she wants to sin less and become more like Jesus.
Earlier in the day, a 10-year-old boy expressed that same desire. He’s attended a weekly Chinese church service since his parents came to the United States a few months back, and was ready to publicly give his life to Christ during Friday’s Celebration. His parents were hesitant at first, but let him come forward during Saturday morning’s KidzFest, an event for children to have fun and hear the Gospel.
“I want to learn more about Jesus,” he said, speaking English slowly but confidently. He said he was touched by the Scriptures that Will read and wants to get closer to God.
A Bible teacher from the boy’s church stood with him, all smiles and giving him hugs.
Although Saturday’s events were geared toward students, Will made it clear that the message was for everyone.
Like the Prodigal Son in the Bible, Will said, so many people try to live for themselves only to wonder why their lives are falling apart and why they’re not satisfied. They go looking for adventure and find misery.
Why? Because God has our best in mind, he shared, but that best can’t be accomplished when we try to live apart from Him and His rules, or commands.
“Rules give us purpose and meaning and satisfaction,” Will said.
Take a minute to hear more of Will’s message:
The Prodigal Son learned that the hard way, finding great distress apart from his father’s house and wishing he was back home.
Maybe some in Saturday’s crowd wish they could come back to their Father, too, Will said, looking out at the rows and rows of people.
“My friends, you can come back. God is waiting for you. … It’s time to come home.”
Watch the last day of the Tri-Cities Region Will Graham Celebration, featuring Aaron Shust and Ellie Holcomb, today at 3:30 ET on BillyGraham.org/live.
