“Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian…” Acts 26:28
I am always struck by King Agrippa’s silence as he sat intently listening to Paul’s defense in a Roman court. Even when the Roman governor burst out that Paul must be crazy to believe in the rising from the dead, he remained silent, intent, listening.
King Agrippa knew. He knew the prophets had foretold of the Messiah and that it had been noised abroad that this Jesus had fulfilled all those prophesies. He knew of the stories of all the miracles that had been done, and how multitudes had been electrified at the preaching of Jesus Christ. Lives had been changed, the diseased had been healed, and even the dead had been raised. These things were not done in a corner.
He also knew of the corruption and greed of the Sanhedrin that had incited the crucifixion of this man. But then, that was fulfillment of prophecy also, wasn’t it? And then there were those reports of Jesus Christ rising from the dead and ascending into the heavens.
So he listened silently and intently as Paul unfolded the Gospel. He knew Paul was not a mad man. He was too lucid, too bold, too sure of himself. There was something to this Gospel message that laid a finger on him and touched his soul. He was almost persuaded.
What held him back? Agrippa was no fool. He knew that if he accepted the Gospel, he would have to surrender everything he had. No more palace, riches, pomp and splendor. He would have to make a decision between the glories of this world and the cross of Jesus Christ. He was almost persuaded, but not willing to give it all up for the Truth.
Agrippa may be in Hell right now as you read this article, but he understood one thing that many who claim to be Christians today have not. He knew that there was a price that had to be paid to follow Jesus Christ.
Many today have turned the Gospel message around to just the opposite. We hear that Salvation is a way to receive blessings and glory, success and prosperity. We are encouraged to become a Christian because it is a good deal. God loves us and wants us to prosper and be rich.
God has a message for those of us who have become like the Laodiceans in chapter 3 of the Book of Revelations. We know the Truth, but have become content in the fullness of our sufficiency. We are rich and have need of nothing. Our hearts are neither cut, nor on fire. We’re not affected by Holy Ghost conviction, and therefore not given to a brokenhearted repentance, a crucified walk in Christ, or to partaking in the sufferings of the Body of Christ. We have settled into a lukewarm porridge. Not too cold; not to hot – just right.
That may be all right for Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but it’s not all right with God. He would rather you were either hot or cold. If you are lukewarm, you’ll burn in Hell. Christian or no Christian, there is no middle of the road; no comfortable place in-between, no compromise with the things of this world. God calls you to burn with a passion from the fire that comes off the Altar of God.
King Agrippa knew this, and he made his choice. You will have to make yours also.
Are you almost persuaded? Do you know the Truth but have convinced yourself that it is OK to be a Laodicean Christian? Like Agrippa, is the price too high to pay for you to give up everything? Have you figured that somehow you will escape judgment simply because you have heard the Gospel? Have you yielded to the conviction of the Truth, or have the desires of your fleshly heart forged your path in life?
The path to the Kingdom of Heaven is narrow and hard, and few there be that find it. Don’t allow yourself to go along with the crowds who have settled for that wide, easy path. It leads to destruction. Don’t be almost persuaded.
Brother Dale, dale@revivalfire.org