Friend, there are multitudes of people, who believe all about Christ and the Gospel, but who have never believed on or in the Lord Jesus Christ. The difference is most important. Let me illustrate my meaning.
A friend of mine visited Mount Vernon, the old home and burial place of General Washington. He got into conversation with an old colored man, who had been a slave in the Washington family. The old man was a Christian, and in the course of conversation he put the matter very forcibly. He said, “There are a mighty lot of professing Christians in America, sir, but if you were to cut off their heads there would be nothing left.” This was his graphic way of explaining that with such there was nothing in the heart, no real conversion, no real believing to the saving of the soul.
Let me further illustrate my meaning. Suppose I am walking with a friend down one of the principal streets of a large city. My friend says to me, “Do you see that large house at the corner, with the brass plate?”
I answer, “Yes.”
“Well, that is where the great heart specialist of the city lives. Indeed, patients come from all parts of the country to consult him. He is a most successful man.”
While my friend is telling me about this celebrated physician, he comes out of his house and steps into his car, and I am privileged to see him. His face and whole look bear out my friend’s remarks. Intelligence and kindliness mark his appearance.
But my heart happens to be as sound as a bell, or I think that it is. I believe all my friend has told me about the doctor, but the information is of no importance to me. I don’t need his services.
But suppose a few weeks after the conversation I am stricken down with a sudden heart attack. I immediately think of this doctor, send for him, put my case unreservedly into his hands, and, with the blessing of God, recover. I now know the doctor, know his skill, and when I speak of him I do so with warmth, for I am grateful to him for his attention. In short, I have believed on and in the doctor—before, I only believed about him.
Or again, suppose you and I are walking by the seashore on a beautiful summer day. We see the lifeboat lying on the sands. We admire its strength, its grace, its adaptability for saving life. In short, we believe all about it. But we are in no need of the lifeboat at the moment. Our feet are on the sands. We are in no danger of drowning.
But in six months, suppose we are on the deck of a sinking ship, and our only hope of rescue lies in the lifeboat. With what different feelings we watch the brave men propelling it through the angry sea! With what relief we drop into it, and are saved! We believe not only about it, but on and in it.
Now every sinner is in need of Christ; all are stricken down with the terrible disease of sin. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Friend, have you ever come as a needy sinner to Christ, and received Him as your personal Saviour? Have you received from Him salvation? If you have not, it doesn’t matter what you may believe about Him, you have never believed on or in Him. You have never believed to the saving of your soul. See to it that you really and truly “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).