The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to the deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 1 Timothy 4:1-2

Almost is an interesting word.  It’s definition according to the dictionary is very nearly, but not exactly or entirely.  It can be a bad thing.  My cousin’s sole desire was to be a flight attendant. She was 1/4 of an inch too short for her dream job, so she hired on with a commercial airline in reservations.  She was almost tall enough to have her dream job.  I am happy to say that they have since lifted the height requirements and she is now a flight attendant.  It can be a good thing if you almost get into an accident but are able to stop your car just in the nick of time. There is an old saying that “almost doesn’t count except in horseshoes and hand grenades.”

Unfortunately today, I see people who almost completed their salvation.  Those who held to the faith for a while, but were derailed somewhere along the way.

For many years  my family prayed for my dad’s salvation. Finally at the age of 80, he accepted Christ and was baptized.  My dad died at the age of 85, so the wonderful new is that he “almost” died without being saved, but was saved in the nick of time.

What’s really tragic are those of us who are saved as children or teens, but stray from God in our later years.  We become lovers of the world and want to satisfy the flesh and forget about pleasing God.   I suffered through this in my 30’s and early 40’s.  The upbringing that I had from my mom is what I credit for getting me through this.  I had that background of regular church attendance and knowing what the bible said was right and what it said was wrong.  I knew what I was supposed to do and so I lived this sort of in and out life.  At times being in close relationship with God and at times straying away and outside that relationship.

It’s a real tragedy when people “almost” get to heaven.  It is very sad when they start going to church and you can see those positive changes taking place in their lives and then for some reason, they just stop.  Think about a marathon runner.  This runner is running toward the finish line.  They won’t just stop unless something is terribly wrong.  Well folks, let me tell you, there is something terribly wrong going on today.  People have all kinds of excuses for staying out of church.  People have all kinds of excuses for allowing their young children to not go and learn the way to salvation and study God’s word.

We should all use Philippians 3:14 as our motto:  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  This race is not a sprint, but a marathon.  If you want to run a good race, endure, and complete it, you must train.  You must pray, you must read your bible, and you must get yourself involved in a good bible teaching church.

The great news is that while we have to maintain a close relationship with God, we can trust God to help us with this.  Philippians 1:6 tells us, And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to the completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  God will help us to finish the race and finish strong, if we just trust in Him.  Hebrews 12:1 says, Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

I beg of you, don’t stop 10 feet before the finish line.  I leave you with one final thought in closing.  The last thing Jesus wanted to do was go through the suffering, humiliation and death on that cross.  We know this because in Luke 22:42, he prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me, yet not my will, but yours be done.”  Jesus went through it for sinners like you and me.  What if Jesus had stopped?  What if Jesus had almost gone to the cross and almost paid for our sins?  Where would we be now?  Hebrews 12:2 says, Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

I don’t know about you, but I am so glad that Jesus didn’t almost go to the cross.  I am so thankful that He endured all He had to endure to assure my salvation.  As for me, I am not going to allow his suffering and shame to be in vain.  I am taking full advantage of all that He has offered me.  I pray that you will do the same!

Have a great day!