Martin Luther once said that the heart of Christianity lies in its personal pronouns. The apostle Paul believed that and so he wrote, “I know whom [not what] I have believed, and I am persuaded that he [not 'it'] is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).
Paul’s faith was firmly resting on the person of Jesus Christ. He had made a commitment of his soul to the Lord Jesus for safekeeping and he had absolute and settled confidence that the Lord was able to guard, protect, and keep that which had been entrusted to him. His assurance was based on “whom” he knew not “what” he knew.
On February 7,1736, John Wesley entered in his journal an account of a visit to two German pastors. He had called on them to inquire concerning his own conduct:
One of the pastors said, “My brother, I must first ask you one or two questions. Have you the witness within yourself? Does the spirit of God bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God?”
I was surprised and knew not what to answer.
He observed it and asked, “Do you know Jesus Christ?”
I paused and said, “I know He is the Saviour of the world.”
“True,” he said, “but do you know He has saved you?”
Ultimately it comes down to that for every one of us. It is not enough to know that Jesus is the Savior of the world. You must know that he has saved you. It is not enough to know that he died on the cross for all men. You must accept the fact that he died for you. Until Christianity becomes personal, it is neither vital nor dynamic in our lives.
Give your heart to Jesus Christ today. Talk to him directly in prayer, let him speak to you individually through the Bible. Walk with him as a close friend, and life will take on new meaning for you.