"I'd Rather Have Jesus"

“I’d Rather Have Jesus”

John 14:1-7

A couple weeks ago I was talking to a young father and mother with a four year old in their home. He designs computer chips and chip boards in his home as an independent contractor. In our discussion I made reference to the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and Christianity. Of all religions only Jesus died and rose from the dead.

He said that all religions believe in the Ten commandments. “If we live according to the Ten commandments we will be okay in God’s sight.”

The problem is that you can know the Ten commandments by heart, but unless you know Jesus and his forgiveness of sin and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit you cannot keep the Ten Commandments and obey them.

The person and work of Jesus is Christianity. If you take Jesus out of Christianity you have “…ianity” nothing but dead teachings and laws.

George Beaverly Shea has sung many times a song written by Rhea Miller. It was George’s mother who started the whole course of events when she left a copy of Miller’s song on the family piano in their home in New York City. Years later, George Beaverly Shea wrote: Instead of practicing the hymn I had intended to play that Sunday morning in Father’s church, I turned to a poem that Mother had placed on the piano. Melody just seemed to form around the words. When I had played and sung it through for the first time, Mother came from the kitchen where she had overheard. She wrapped both arms around my shoulders and placed her wet cheek next to mine. In church that morning, I sang for the first time, “I’d Rather Have Jesus.” (George was only 21 years old at that time.)

Born in 1909 in Canada, young George was raised in a home where each morning he was awakened by the voice of his mother singing and the piano playing, “Singing I Go.” Little did either one know that 30 years later that song would be the theme for George’s radio program on WMBI in Chicago. In addition to growing up in a home of music, God’s word was always present too because George’s dad was a Wesleyan minister.

As soloist for Billy Graham crusades, “I’d Rather Have Jesus” has gone around the world and back again convincing our generation of the need for Christ.

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold, I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than Houses or lands, I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.

Than to be the king of a vast domain Or be held in sin’s dread sway; I’d rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today.

There are many non-Christians who would sing: “I’d rather not have Jesus ….. if I have to change my life-style and give up some things I enjoy now.” Or, “I’d rather not have Jesus if I have to give up my belief that all roads lead to heaven.”

Many people are searching for meaning to life. They are asking, “Why am I here?” “What is life and death all about?”

Many people are looking in the wrong places to find Jesus. The good news is that Jesus is always patiently waiting for you. Jesus knocks at the heart of every person and asks the person to open their heart’s door and invite Him in. Revelation 3:20

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.” NLT

If you had to choose between Jesus and something precious to you…some alluring dream or tantalizing desire…what would you choose – Jesus or something else?

# Joseph Stowell, president of Moody Bible Colege, tells of having dinner with Billy Graham at a dinner for the staff and board of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Billy was eighty at the time and Dr. Stowell asked him a question: “Of all your experiences in ministry, what have you enjoyed most?” “Was it you time spent with presidents and heads of state? Or was it….”

Before he could finish his next sentence Billy Graham responded: “None of that, by far the greatest joy of my life has been my fellowship with Jesus. Hearing Him speak to me, having Him guide me, sensing His presence with me and His power through me. This has been the highest pleasure of my life!”

A long time friend and associate of Billy Graham was Chuck Templeton. He worked with Billy Graham in Youth for Christ in their early days of ministry. Chuck Templeton helped organize Youth for Christ in Canada.

But over time Chuck Templeton became an Agnostic and renounced his faith in Christ. He left the ministry and managed two of Canada’s leading newspapers.