Almost persuaded...

Almost won.  Almost made it.  Almost finished.  Almost well. Almost there.

The word almost represents that which is tantalizingly close, but not quite in reach.  When you are almost, there is still that very real chance that it will fall through, you won't make it, you won't reach the finish line and realize your goal.

In this secular world, there a million temptations.  It is very easy to have one foot on the sacred plane, leaving the other in secular realm.  But God is not looking for wishy washy Christians.  Jesus did not sacrifice his life to have halfway followers.  The walk of Christian faith is not meant to be the easy route, but rather, a difficult path filled with temptations and pitfalls.  God could have made it easy, but he wants to know that our faith is real, genuine, certain ~ that we have been tested, and have consciously made a decision for him.

In Acts chapter 26, Paul is talking with Agrippa, telling him about the faith journey that led to his imprisonment and left him in chains.  He was trying to convince Agrippa to claim faith in God for his own.  Agrippa listened with great interest.  Then we read in verse 28,

"Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian."

When you are facing God on your last day, almost is not the word you want to utter.  If you are dragging a foot behind, hanging on to your secular desires, afraid to commit to the life of faith God wants for you, think about what almost really means.  Close will not be good enough.

I wish you a day of thoughtful commitment to the life God intends for you.  Be persuaded by your faith.  It will set you free for all eternity.