Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“Then Agrippa said to Paul “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”  Acts 26:28-29 NKJV

Lots of words fall into the “sad” category but I tend to think the word almost ranks right at the top. It is a word filled with missed opportunities. It is a word filled with regrets, bitterness and struggles.  You are so close yet so far away. I almost won the race, yet I didn’t. I almost took that new job, but I didn’t. I almost won the election, but I didn’t run.  Almost, yet not. Merriam-Webster defines almost: “very nearly but not exactly or entirely, very near but not quite.” This little adverb finds itself in the company with words such as “about”, “all but”, “more or less”, “nearly”, “somewhere”. Words reflecting myriads of “could have been” and “should have been”

According to research by lottery expert Brett Jacobson, a total of $2.89 billion was never claimed by winners in 2017. Recently a $14.6 million prize expired in Arizona because no one came forward to claim the money. Hung Nguyen lost out on $1,008,624 because he lost the ticket. Lots of stories of almost.

Stefan Thomas made headlines this year when a lost password left his $220 million bitcoin account inaccessible. The Business Insider story said, “the secure hard drive, on which 7,002 bitcoins were stored, was an IronKey device. It gives owners 10 chances to guess their password before encrypting the contents.” Thomas went on to say, “It was actually a really big milestone in my life where, like, I sort of realized how I was going to define my self-worth going forward. It wasn’t going to be about how much money I have in my bank account.”

This little word almost keeps many of us from discovering the beautiful vista just over the mountain. We give up before we scale the top. Almost finds energy at the bottom of our valley experiences that are fueled by our fears, loss of time, lack of self-confidence, empty bank accounts and a host of other things that make saying almost so easy.

Scripture is filled with stories of almost:

The Israelites almost made it to the promise land but disobedience fenced them out.

The rich young ruler almost followed Jesus but the lure of riches blinded him.

King Agrippa almost became a Christian but for the pomp and power of position.

Paul, the defendant on trial, has spent two years sitting in prison based on false charges. Paul now has the chance to present his case to King Agrippa, yet instead of laying out his arguments to be released, he carefully and meticulously lays out the case for Christ in Acts 26. King Agrippa faces the ultimate decision of his life. What will he do? “If only Paul had been a little more eloquent. If only Agrippa had been a little more receptive, a little braver, a little crazier. If only God weren’t such a stickler for letting people make up their own minds without forcing their hands. But things are what they are, and almost is the closest Agrippa ever got to what might have changed his life.“ (Frederick Buechner)

In our spiritual life almost robs us of the peace and joy that God desires to give each one of us. It was almost that kept Agrippa from experiencing the greatest joy of life, Jesus. King Agrippa kept looking around at the pomp and ceremony of his position, he thought of his political fortune imploding if he said yes to Paul’s arguments. He realized people would no longer bow in his presence if he bowed in the presence of Jesus. Almost kept him from enjoying the ultimate gift of joy and peace.

“It is sad enough to miss God’s invitation. But to just miss it is sadder still, especially when an apostle is trying to help you discover it! May almost never mark our spiritual journey.” (Faith that Matters)

The world is filled with almost millionaires who will survive. The world is filled with politicians who almost won who will survive. Unfortunately, hell is filled with almost persuaded who will not survive.

Maybe almost doesn’t best fit in the sad category but, rather, in the tragic category. “If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God, it will make in the end no difference what you have chosen instead.” C.S. Lewis

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

God is great!

Pastor Lynn