Communication
Almost Persuaded
There is a very sad story recorded in Acts chapter 26. The Apostle Paul is brought before King Agrippa to explain his innocence of the charges brought against him by the Jews who wanted him dead. As Paul comes before the King, instead of defending himself, he gave his testimony to the King. He was more concerned with Agrippa’s eternal destination than his own acquittal.
He told the King of how he had been a Pharisee and persecuted the Christians…until the day of his Damascus Road experience. He told of how Jesus Himself had appeared to him. How He had blinded him with His light and asked him “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” How Christ gave him charge to be a missionary of the gospel - to open the eyes of the Gentiles, and turn them from darkness to light through Jesus Christ. He spoke of how for many centuries the Jews had looked for their Messiah and that Jesus was that Messiah. Now Agrippa was a learned man and knew of the prophets of old and the message they brought to the Jews.
At the end of Paul’s dissertation he asked the fateful question (vs27) “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.”
Agrippa was put on the spot. He undoubtedly had a huge entourage of servants, guards, and followers who watched his every move. He could have made a decision right then and there for Christ, but alas there were too many stumbling blocks in his path.
His reply was (vs28) “Almost, thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” How sad…that he felt the pesence of the Holy Spirit and had the chance to receive Christ, but didn’t. He sent the Holy Spirit away. I am sure he would that he could go back and relive that day differently ~ now.
An old Preacher once said; “He who is almost persuaded is almost saved, and to be almost saved is to be entirely…lost.”
How many times have you been almost persuaded to be a Christian? People think they have forever to make that decision but ~ what if ~ there is no tomorrow???
There is an old hymn called by this name written many years ago. It goes like this:
By Philip P Bliss
“Almost persuaded” now to believe;
“Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say,
“Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day
On Thee I’ll call.”
“Almost persuaded,” come, come today;
“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here,
Angels are lingering near
Prayers rise from hearts so dear;
O wanderer, come!
“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!
“Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail;
“Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail—
“Almost,” but lost!
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