The Tragedy of “Almost”
“For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?” Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.” The king rose up with the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them.” (Acts 26:26-30 WEB)
The passage above records a very tragic moment. King Agrippa was on the verge of believing in Jesus as Lord, but he hardened his heart and stood up, rejecting the free gift of eternal life.
His actions are essentially saying this, “Stop it. I don’t want to hear anymore. I refuse to accept Jesus Christ as Lord.”
Other translations render Agrippa’s words like this:
“Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time [and with so little effort] you [almost] persuade me to become a Christian.”” (Acts 26:28 AMP)
The word “almost” is the great tragedy.
It is like coming so close to the finish line in a race but fainting and being disqualified when you are just a hair’s breadth away.
Hell contains many souls who are “almosts”.
“I should have responded when that preacher asked for us to place our faith in Jesus. Why did I harden my heart? I almost got saved, but now it is too late...”
“Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested me by proving me, and saw my deeds for forty years. Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, ‘They always err in their heart, but they didn’t know my ways;’ as I swore in my wrath, ‘They will not enter into my rest.’”” (Hebrews 3:7-11 WEB)
It is possible to know with the mind that Jesus is the Son of God and everything that He claims to be, and yet not be saved.
A person has to believe and confess Him as Lord. If you just believe that He is the Son of God but don’t receive Him as Lord, you are not saved.
Even the demons believe that God is real, but they don’t submit to Him as Lord.
The Holy Spirit convicts the hearts of unbelievers about their sinfulness and woos them to receive Jesus Christ as Lord. But they can choose to reject it. Every individual must choose to accept or reject the gift of eternal life.
Yet, it is God’s will for all to hear the Gospel and to be saved. No matter how dark someone’s past is, he can freely receive forgiveness of sins when he places his faith in Jesus as Lord!
If you are already a born-again believer, through faith in Jesus, you have entered God’s rest—the rest of your conscience and also rest from works-based justification.
You are a saint who is already sanctified, justified, saved, holy, righteous, pure, and blameless. The next time you read these words in the Bible, don’t feel condemned or shrink away. These words describe who you already are in Christ.
“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” (Colossians 2:8-10 NKJV)
Dear brethren, you are not an “almost”. You are complete in Christ.
Let someone know the Gospel so that they are not almost, but fully saved through faith in Jesus Christ!
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How God Teaches You
“Whom will he teach knowledge? To whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts? For it is precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little.” (Isaiah 28:9-10 WEB)
Do you want God to teach you? He will do so through the Scriptures—precept on precept, line on line, here a little, there a little.
He knows the pace that is right for you, and what you need to be hearing in each season.
You can’t say that you want God to teach you but not through hearing or reading His word. He will choose how He speaks to you.
The enemy has gotten people so distracted by entertainment that they have no interest or patience to receive enlightenment.
When you just start to read the Bible, it may feel difficult and laborious, but when it becomes a habit, you will begin to love it.
Some days when you feel so low, receiving the life-filled words in the Bible is like eating a hearty meal that reinvigorates you.
“Here a little, there a little”. Like gathering manna to strengthen you in the wilderness of this world.
Don’t rush. Chew on your food, and God will introduce you to new parts of His word, letting you sample different tastes and flavors of all that He has for you!
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The Key to Good Success in Both Day and Night Seasons of Life
“While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”” (Genesis 8:22 WEB)
The Bible says that while the earth remains, day and night will not cease. The sun will rise every morning to announce the day, and the moon appears at night to welcome the night.
Life also happens in day and night seasons.
Daytime represents the times you’re walking in victory, abundance and having a clear vision of what needs to be done at each moment.
You feel the warmth of God’s love through the tangible goodness in your life.
Nighttime represents a time of trouble where you’re walking in defeat, when trials come your way, and you don’t know what to do because of all the darkness that surrounds you.
It may even feel cold like God has abandoned you (although this is not true).
When Judas went out to betray Jesus, that kickstarted the whole nighttime season for Jesus, ending with His death on the cross. It was a time of great darkness and suffering for Him.
“Therefore having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night.” (John 13:30 WEB)
But thank God that in the early morning on the third day, before sunrise, Jesus rose from the dead. After the night, comes the day.
In the Book of Revelation, we read that Jesus has the title of “Bright and Morning Star”.
This is a bright star that appears before the break of dawn.
In every night season you experience, Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star that scatters the darkness and ushers in the light of day.
Daytime seasons have their own danger, which is the tendency of forgetting God and becoming self-reliant.
Because of the abundant blessings, one may start to take the blessings for granted and neglect his relationship with God.
That’s why in both day and night seasons, it’s important to meditate on God’s word.
“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.” (Joshua 1:8 WEB)
The Law we are under today is not the Law of Moses which is for servants, but the royal Law of love and the Law of the Spirit of life which is for sons of God.
We, the beloved children of God, are taught to believe and confess God’s promises, and walk in love by following the leading of the Holy Spirit.
These types of New Covenant truths are what we’re encouraged to meditate on and speak about day and night.
Following the Holy Spirit leads to prosperity in all things and good success—wholesome blessings with no negative collateral damage or compromises.
The secret to good success in both day and night seasons is to consistently receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ, believe it, and speak it. Then you shall have good success.
This is exactly what I teach in my book “Messiah’s Miracles: The Power of Having Faith in Jesus Christ”.
The book’s promotional tag line is “Hear, Believe, Speak, Have”, which is the secret to answered prayer taught by Jesus Himself.
Day and night will continue, and daytime and nighttime seasons will also keep happening in our lives.
One day, at the end of time, this current earth will be replaced by a new earth, and there will be no more night.
“There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:5 WEB)
It will just be daytime forever—unending victory and basking in Abba God’s glorious presence and love. He Himself will illuminate us and we will reign together with Him.
Until then, keep receiving the Gospel which is a lamp to your feet for every season of your life!
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