Stan and I were again at the Twelve Baskets Cafe for breakfast and conversation about growing in our faith. Ricky had poured the first cup of coffee and taken our breakfast orders. While we waited for Cook to prepare what we wanted, Stan asked, “Have you ever encountered someone who almost came to faith, but didn’t take the final step of faith?”
“I suppose so,” I responded, “but I’m not sure. I guess I won’t know for certain about some people until I get to heaven. Why do you ask?”
“Earlier this morning in my journaling time,” Stan replied, “I was reminded of a guy I spent a lot of time with sharing my faith, but as far as I know he never came to faith. He just couldn’t make that decision.”
“There’s probably a lot of people like that,” I ventured. “Why do you think that is?”
‘There are probably as many different reasons as there are people,” Stan replied. “And while I can only speak for myself, there’s a clear parallel path in the Bible that I’m so thankful I didn’t follow.”
“What’s that?”
“It has to do with a man named ‘Agrippa’ who just couldn’t get a grip!” Stan replied with a smile.
“Agrippa couldn’t get a grip?” I repeated. “What’s that mean?”
“Oh, it’s a long story,” Stan replied, “but in a very small nutshell, the apostle Paul appeared before a King named Agrippa to make a defense about why he’d been arrested. As part of what Paul said to Agrippa, he told him what God had done in his life.”
“Kind of like a personal testimony?” I asked.
“You could say that,” Stan replied. “It’s like the personal testimony each one of us is to have to tell others about how we came to faith.”
“So,” I asked, “when Paul told Agrippa about his faith did Agrippa come to faith?”
“Not then,” Stan replied, “and, as far as I know, Agrippa didn’t ever come to faith. I may know for certain when I get to heaven, but it seems he just couldn’t make that decision. He came close, but close isn’t close enough. Close doesn’t count!”
“Close doesn’t count?”
“Yeah,” Stan said. “The Bible indicates that Agrippa told Paul that in a short time Paul might persuade him to become a Christian, but it looks like he wasn’t persuaded. He came close, like a lot of people, but close isn’t close enough!”
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Bible verses to consider:
And Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.” Acts of the Apostles 26:28-29.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you, too, for the people you brought into my life to tell me of your free and gracious gift of salvation and redemption through Jesus so I could accept it and not stop short of accepting all you have provided. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence because I didn’t stop short of accepting your provision, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t seek to help others know about and accept your eternal provision for them. Please forgive that foolishness and help me help others not stop short of accepting all you have for them. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted all that God has provided through Jesus? If no, why? Do you agree that being close to coming to faith is not close enough for your eternal salvation? If you have come to faith, do you know others who may be close to coming to faith, but have not yet made that decision? If you do know such people, what can you do to help them come to faith? Is that something you would like to do? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need, not only to personally come to faith, but to help others do so? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling about what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?
Coming close does not count when I play basketball and in faith.
I pray that people step over the line of faith, not just come close to faith in Jesus.