Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (Acts 26:28)

I am sure you are familiar with the expression: “Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades”. Well, we almost got our occupancy permit this week. The saga of the relocation of Crest Bible Church has been a year and a half in the making. We first decided to pursue the acquisition of the South Park Elementary School at our annual meeting in January of 2009. On March 9, 2009, we submitted our bid to the School Board, and after several months of “due diligence” investigation, we took full and formal ownership on August 28, 2009. For the last 11 months, we have been in the remodel phase, updating the building to current codes and adapting it to church use. Last Thursday, we called for our final inspection. The city codes inspector found about 20 items that needed to be finished. They always find something – it is their mission in life. By the end of the day, we had knocked out 15 of them, and the other 5 were well on the way to being completed. So we called him back on Friday afternoon. Three items on the list were almost done. Even though we were at 98% compliance, almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, and we now know for sure it does not count in building inspections.

Paul witnessed of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to one of the nobles of his day, king Agrippa. Read the entire account sometime in Acts chapter 26, it is one of the most persuasive arguments ever for becoming a Christian. Agrippa gave the classic “excuse” to Paul that has been repeated hundreds of millions of times since then: “Almost…” I don’t know how many times I have heard it, “I’m just not quite ready yet.” “Maybe next week.” “What would my friends say?” Those who are waiting for some “engraved invitation” are going to wait a long time. Jesus gave you the invitation when he stretched out his arms on the cross. What more do you need?

On the other hand are those who think they are Christians because they attend a church that can in some way be identified with the name of Jesus Christ. Just the simple act of dragging your sorry carcass into a particular building does not make one a Christian. I heard it put this way recently: “Going to church does not make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.” Many people think they are saved simply because they believe in God – as if God is impressed with a man acknowledging his existence. Still others are “trying to be good” and striving to be accepted, hoping that when they get to the “pearly gates” that they have done enough good to outweigh their bad and gain entrance. They are “almost Christians”. I’m sorry, but no one is “almost” a Christian any more than a lady can be almost pregnant. You either are or you are not. There is no indication in the Bible that Agrippa ever got saved. If he never received Jesus as his Saviour, he is in hell still today. For the last 2,000 years, he has been crying out, “Almost!!!” Likewise, the overwhelming vast majority of those who are “almost Christians” will never actually get there by trusting Jesus Christ to save them from their sins.

Becoming a Christian means you have to recognize that you are a sinner who has fallen short of God’s standard for your life (Romans 3:23). “Close enough for government work” does not count. You must acknowledge that you cannot save yourself, and that only Jesus can. Then you must “call upon the name of the Lord” to save you (Romans 10:13). Just the best you know how, ask Jesus to save you from your sins. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins. He rose from the dead to guarantee the victory. Those of us who have placed our trust in the risen Saviour are given the privilege of sharing that news with everyone we can. It is not a message of hate, division, or exclusion. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) God loved you enough to “send the very best” – his Son. Anyone can come by faith. Will you?