Almost!

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 could fall into the sad category, but I tend to think the word, almost ranks right at the top in this category. Almost 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, but I came short. I almost took that new job, but I didn’t apply. I almost won the election, but I failed to enter the race.  Almost!

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”.

Almost could be the defining component of lottery expert Brett Jacobson’s research. According to 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 $1,08,624 because he lost the ticket. Almost winners, but no one claimed the prize.

Stefan Thomas fits nicely into the almost category. He almost had $220 million except he lost the password. Thomas made headlines last year when he revealed forgetting the password to access his bitcoin account. 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.” As of January, this year, he has two attempts left to unlock his riches or the contents will be permanently encrypted. Thomas said of himself that the mistake left him feeling like a “complete idiot.” “But much worse than the loss of the money was my self-reproach: I simply couldn’t believe I had lost something so important.”

This little word almost keeps many of us from discovering the beautiful vista of life just over the mountaintop. We get tired and give up before we scale the peak.  Almost finds energy at the bottom of our valley experiences. They are the moments in our lives fueled by fear, lost opportunities, lack of self-confidence, empty bank accounts, and a host of other things. Things that make saying almost, too easy.

Reading scripture, you find stories filled with almost moments:

The Israelites almost made it to the promised land but disobedience kept them out.

The rich young ruler listened well to Jesus and almost followed except for his money.

King Agrippa almost became a Christian but he couldn’t give up the pomp and power of position. Paul, the prisoner, carefully and meticulously lays out the case for Christ in Acts 26. Almost but never became King Agrippa’s ultimate decision of his life.  “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

“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. The world is filled with politicians who almost won their election. The world is filled with lots of almost moments.  Unfortunately, hell is filled with almost persuaded people who will miss the opportunity of a lifetime. “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

In our spiritual life, almost can rob us of the life that God desires to give. For King Agrippa, almost persuaded is as close as some will get to experience the greatest joy of life, Jesus. Is there an almost that is keeping you from enjoying the life that Jesus offered? Life is too short to let almost be the defining word of your life.  So maybe the category for almost isn’t sad but tragic.

Jesus is the best answer to an almost lifestyle. “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!