Almost

            There are some words in the English language that are rather ambiguous in their meaning. For example, the word "almost" can bring up different definitions to different people. I can ask a person if they are ready and their reply may be,

"almost."  It leaves you wondering just how long it is going to be, a few minutes or half an hour.  I once asked my wife if she was ready to come to eat and her reply was, "I'm almost ready."  Now, how long is that?  If a mother asks a child if their room is cleaned up and the child answers, "Almost.", you might wonder what it meant. For the mother, "almost" might mean that only one sock was left on the floor and the rest of the room was completely spotless. However, to the child, the "almost" might mean, "I just got started and should finish in about an hour or so." For some situations, the word "almost" leaves a person far short of the goal that is desired. Some writers have expressed that being close is only valid in horseshoes and hand grenades.  The term, "almost" seems to be more of a delay tactic used to just get the other person to not mention it or to not be concerned about it.  It is like saying, "I will get around to it when I am good and ready."   Acts 26:28 says, "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." 

         Agrippa's statement has gone down in history of one of the most pathetic responses to the gospel message. He was "almost" a believer. But, to be "almost" a believer is simply put, to be a non believer, or and unbeliever. Either you are a believer or you are an unbeliever. That is like saying, "I almost made it to heaven." That means that you didn't make it to heaven and that you will be spending your eternity in a different place, other than heaven. You will be spending your eternity in the Lake of Fire with Satan and his angels. To be an "almost" believer doesn't count in the spiritual realm. It is a clear cut decision and either you are or you are not a believer. For Agrippa, to be "almost" a Christian meant that he wasn't a Christian. He had turned down the offer. Many people think that God will weigh your intentions in the end. They feel that if you were almost a good person, or almost a perfect example of humanity, that God will let you into heaven. But, that is not the case. No where in the Scripture does it give a person such a hope. Rather the Scripture is very plain about salvation. The road to heaven is clear and God says through out His Word how should get there. If you so dare to look God in the eye and say, "You almost persuaded me to become a Christian." will produce His response, "Depart from Me. I never knew you." So, be decisive and make your move toward God. Don't say with Agrippa, "You almost persuaded me to become a Christian." Follow Christ today and share the message with others.  Praise God today for His plan of salvation.