Persons of Conviction

[432 words] A traveling preacher in pioneer days asked a backwoods woman if she had any religious convictions. She said, “Naw, nor my ole man neither. He was tried for hog stealin’ once, but he warn’t convicted.” Some people understand the word conviction about as much as this woman did. Yet conviction is the very heart of what motivates us to live the Christian life. Conviction is being convinced and really believing. It is the assurance and confidence of true Bible faith. What is faith? The essence of faith is conviction. It is being genuinely persuaded. The American Standard Version gives a good translation of Hebrews 11:11: “Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.” Conviction drives a person to be baptized. When the eunuch asked about being baptized, Philip said, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest” (Acts 8:37). If a…