An insurance salesman coming into your home would try to show you that you needed insurance. Then he would seek to persuade you that he had the policy you needed. However, if you were convinced of both things you still would not be insured. Knowledge alone will not insure you. Likewise, knowledge alone will not save you.
God has made provision so that your sins can be forgiven, your life can be changed, and your soul can be delivered from hell. You can have a sure hope of heaven. How can you appropriate for yourself what God has provided? When the Bible talks about becoming a Christian, it uses one of two concepts. Look at the words of John 1:12:
The second concept in John 1:12 is the idea of believing on Jesus Christ. In our culture we use the word "believe" in a light way. If you ask almost anyone whether they believe in Jesus Christ they will give a positive reply; yet it is obvious that most are not saved. What is the difference?
I hesitate to use the following illustration. Since I first heard the story I have heard differing versions, and I am not sure of its accuracy. Whether or not the incident is perfectly accurate, the truth it teaches is. Charles Blondin was once the greatest tightwire artist in the world. A plaque down the river from Niagara Falls memorializes his feat of crossing the gorge with his manager on his back. One morning he was performing in London. His wire was stretched between two tall buildings. It had been announced that he would cook breakfast on the wire. At the appointed time he appeared with a small wheelbarrow. Wheeling it to the center of the wire he suspended it, lighted a kerosene stove, fried an egg and made coffee. When he had finished he put his dishes in the wheelbarrow and proceeded to the other building. It seemed as if all the boys in London were assembled there to talk to him. Picking out their spokesman Blondin asked if he had been afraid when the artist was out on the wire. The boy assured him that he had not been afraid. He never doubted the acrobat's ability. Blondin pushed the conversation further by asking if the boy believed he could put a man in his wheelbarrow and take him to the other side. The boy replied that he believed that and would not be afraid to see it done. Then, Blondin challenged the small talker by saying, "Get in my wheelbarrow and I will take you over." At that point the confident boy disappeared as if he evaporated. He believed -or so he thought -but he was not about to try it. Saving faith is more than saying, "I believe." It is putting yourself in Christ's wheelbarrow and trusting him to forgive your sin, to change your life and to get you safely all the way from earth to glory.
I have said little in this booklet about repentance. It is not the way of salvation, but it is something necessary to it. God does not save sinners who wish to continue in their sin. God saves men and women who are sick of their sin and want to be delivered from it. You will not be saved until you recognize your sin, admit it, and desire God's deliverance from it with all of your heart.
Friend, if you desire that deliverance with all of your heart, find a quiet place and pour out your soul to God. Confess to Him that you are a lost sinner and are sick of your sin. Tell Him that you realize that Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for you. Ask Him to save your soul. Trust Him with all your heart. If you do so you will have all eternity to be thankful.
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