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.
Whatever do you mean? Surely you are splitting hairs.
On the contrary, the difference is most important. Let me illustrate my meaning.
A medical friend of the writer's visited Mount Vernon, in the United States, 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 dear 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 professors 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."
Just as my friend tells me about this celebrated physician, he comes out of his house, and steps into his carriage, and I am privileged to see him. His face and whole look bear out my friend's remarks. Intellectuality and kindliness mark his appearance.
But my heart happens to be as sound as a bell. I believe all my friend has told me ABOUT the doctor, but the information is of no importance to me, for I don't need his services.
But suppose a few weeks after the conversation I am stricken down with sudden heart-seizure. I immediately think of the 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 one beautiful summer day. We see the lifeboat lying on the sands. We admire its strength, its elegance, 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 steamer, and our only hope of rescue from a watery grave 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. Friend, have YOU ever come as a needy sinner to Christ, and received Him as your personal Savior? Have you received from Him salvation? If you have not, I don't care what you may believe ABOUT Him, you have never believed ON or IN Him, you have never believed to the saving of the soul. See to it that YOU really and truly " Believe ON the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved " (Acts 16. 31).