Because I know the Person in whom I have believed.
A man once said to me:
"You ought to study the various religions; you would then find out if Christianity is the true faith or not. Look at Mohammedans, Buddhists, etc., etc., they are quite as earnest and devout in their faith as you are; why should not they be right?”
Now I can quite grant that any religionist may be as sincere—perhaps more so—than I am, but (to use a simple figure) if I possess one good note, which the bank honors as genuine, what a mad freak it would be to examine all the bad notes I could find, to satisfy myself that mine is a good one!
Mahomet is dead, not alive. Confucius and Seneca have disappeared in the grave long centuries ago, therefore it would be ridiculous for one to say: "I know Mahomet;" "I know Confucius," etc., and herein lies the difference between religions or "faiths," and true Christianity. I not only believe in the Lord Jesus, but I know Him, and so does everyone who is truly a Christian. I may revere the memory and follow the teachings of a dead man, but love him I cannot: a man must live to be known and loved.
A person may know the Bible from cover to cover, and expound Christian doctrines with the clearness of an apostle; perform good works and religious ceremonies with ardor and zeal, and yet not be a Christian; for with all these things, he may be a stranger to Christ.
Having once tasted death; entered the grave, and left both behind Him forever, having accomplished redemption for man, Christ now lives triumphant over all the power of evil, and can speak and make Himself known.
To observe the outward forms of Christianity, and believe its doctrines, without knowing and loving Christ Himself, is to be no better than a Mohammedan or Confucionist; such conduct degrades Christianity into a mere religion.
The religionist asks: "To what shall I go," but he who knows and loves Christ says: "Lord, to whom shall I go? for Thou hast the words of eternal life." John 6:6868Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:68).
Reader, it amounts to this; you either know Christ or you do not; differences in creeds, -isms, -ologies, etc., will not alter the fact; upon that, and that alone will be decided your eternal destiny. Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?
Unlike the dead-and-gone philosophers, Christ lives and speaks today. His blessed voice, with all its charm and power, still invites: "Come unto Me," amid the confusion of creeds, schools, parties, churches, and sects. The "true faith" is faith in Christ Himself, the Son of God; such finds complete satisfaction in Him. He gives abiding rest and peace. Come to Him!
He undertakes to teach those who come. "Learn of Me," He says. Learn of Him, and you will have nothing to unlearn.