Faith Is More Than Believing Facts

John Hopper - Charles Blondin, the French tightrope walker, successfully crossed Niagara Falls several times in the late 1850s—no small feat, considering the rope spanned 1,100 feet and hung 160 feet above the raging waters.

It is reported that on one occasion, Blondin pushed a wheelbarrow across. He then asked how many people in the crowd believed he could push the wheelbarrow across with someone in it. The crowd cheered their affirmation. Given the enthusiasm, he asked a further question: “Does anyone believe enough to get in the wheelbarrow and cross Niagara Falls with me?” No one volunteered.

With no volunteers available, Blondin upped the ante and had his manager climb onto his back. It took 42 minutes, but together they crossed the great Falls.

Often, when we speak to others about Jesus, people readily admit to believing in Him. But by this, they often mean they believe He lived, that He was a good man, and that He is worthy of a certain degree of imitation.

Of course, I am glad for that kind of belief, but it still falls short of the belief Jesus asks of us. Rather than mere intellectual assent or even admiration, Jesus seeks the kind of trust that has us climbing onto His back, knowing He is the only way to bring us safely to God’s side of the great divide.

Some of my friends have been wrestling with questions about life, God, and the Bible. Recently, they came to understand that the biggest question of all is whether to place their trust in Christ as the only way to be made right with God, now and forever. That’s the kind of question we want others to grapple with as well.

So don’t be satisfied if your friends are comfortable with a few facts and figures about Jesus but have yet to trust Him to carry them. Keep up the friendly conversations and point them to the One who is the “resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).

John Hopper is the Executive Director of REACH, the evangelism training arm of Search Ministries. He served 16 years as a pastor in Houston, Texas, completed his doctoral studies at Biola University, and is the author of Questioning God? and Giving Jesus Away. He loves his wife, tennis, and apple pie at very different levels of magnitude!