Jul 8 – 2 Kings 16, 2 Kings 17 Acts 26:24-32, Acts 27:1-12 Psalm 81:8-16

2 Kings 17:24

And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.

This is the start of a rift between the Jews and the Samaritans and this is the cause. The people of Israel were taken out of Samria and replaced by the King of Assyria with people from Babylon and so on.

Because Israel was stubborn, and had been so for generations, persecution and captivity is upon them. Hoshea was the last king of Israel.

This influx of people into Samaria led to a strange mixed, hybrid religion – we read “They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.” Which this passage points out, is nonsense. If you are serving other Gods you are not really worshipping The Lord, who commanded us to serve no other gods.

We need to be very careful we don’t allow this hybrid religious thinking into our lives. We cannot mix other gods into our beliefs and still call ourselves Christians. God demands exclusivity.

And that, of course doesn’t just mean gods from other faiths, but anything that becomes an idol in our lives.

Acts 26:27-29

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”

And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”

And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am-except for these chains.”

The King James words this slightly differently to the ESV – “You almost persuade me”. Almost.

The trouble is, what is almost? Nothing.

This, to me is one of the saddest moments in the bible. We see God reaching out and a man who believes, but just becomes an almost.

Paul even says – I know you believe and Agrippa doesn’t disagree “The king knows these things”. Paul was in danger of his life, yet took the opportunity to preach the Gospel to the King. God knew that the King’s heart was ready to hear this – ready to have a chance to hear and make a decision.

This was a huge moment in the life of Agrippa. He had heard the gospel. He had understood it. And it seems very much like he’d also believed it. He was at a crossroads – a point where he could make an informed decision.

Paul knew that Agrippa believed in the teachings of the Prophets and the Law. Agrippa believed, he understood, he knew the truth, but would he make the ultimate decision and say “yes” to Jesus?

Sadly Agrippa’s answer was something that many others would also say. 

“You ALMOST persuade me to become a Christian”. Almost. But he missed out. He didn’t say I almost believe. He didn’t say I almost think you are right. He said you ALMOST convince me to become a Christian. He was almost convinced to make that step.

So why did he hold back? If you believe that it’s true, that Jesus was the son of God that the bible is really God’s word… why hold back?

Well I don’t think that’s just true of Agrippa. I think the world is full of Almosts. People who know it’s true, but just can’t make that step. I wonder – are you an almost?

Almost. One decision between heaven and hell. What a tragedy to be an almost.

What is it that you are letting make you an almost? Are you sacrificing the eternal for the here and now? Are you just ALMOST convinced?

Don’t make the same mistake as Agrippa. As far as we can tell, he was never given another chance to respond to the gospel. It seems that the decision he made that day in front of Paul decided his soul’s eternity.

What decision will you make? It really is a serious decision. Your eternity hangs in it.

Don’t be an almost.