Conclusion

The story is told of a Christian business man who was attending a convention in a city. While he was staying at the convention hotel, he tried to explain the gospel to the elevator boy. The lad said, "I can understand what it means to believe in Jesus, to believe something about Jesus - I'm a church member myself - but what is this 'believing on' business?" The convention continued for a day or so and finally the business man had to leave. He rang for the elevator and it came to the first floor, stopped, and the door opened. The business man just stood outside with his bags. "Did you ring?" asked the elevator boy. The man answered, "Yes." "What floor do you want to go to?" the boy asked. The man replied, "I want to go to the ground floor." The boy said, "Well then, what's the matter?" "Nothing's the matter," the man replied. "I believe that the elevator has the power to take me to the ground floor." And still he stood there. In exasperation the boy cried, "What's the matter with you? It won't do you any good to believe in the elevator unless you get on it." The man replied,"That is exactly what the Bible means when it says, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved'" (Acts 16:31 - Authorised Version).

It is this final step of commitment to Jesus as Saviour and Lord - trusting him to forgive my sins, trusting him to come into my life, trusting him with my eternal future - that brings me into the personal relationship and experience of his love that the New Testament talks about. Are you prepared to get on board? If you have never made this commitment, but are wondering how to go about it, I suggest you get alone somewhere and tell him about it. You may find the following prayer a helpful guide:

It is part of faith to believe that what he has promised, he will do. He said, "Whoever comes to me I will never drive away" (John 6:37).

If you should make such a commitment then get a good modern translation of the New Testament. Faith grows as it feeds on the promises of God and that is where you will find them. Also, find some fellow believers who can assist you on the journey. Faith grows in a believing community. May God bless you as you experience this new relationship with the living God himself.

I am indebted to Dr James Kennedy, Presbyterian Minister, author, and founder of Evangelism Explosion Ministries, for the basic outline of this booklet.