On the Fence?

A baseball player’s swing for the fences is sometimes caught by an outfielder on the warning track. A soccer player’s shot at goal might narrowly miss. A golfer’s putt stops just short of the hole, or a swimmer misses a world record by the smallest fraction of a second. Nearly, but not quite. In light of eternity, a sportsperson coming up short is of no consequence, but when it comes to matters of salvation, it’s an entirely different story. The apostle Paul appealed to King Agrippa from the Word of God, urging him to surrender his heart to what he knew was the truth.

Paul knew Agrippa believed the Scriptures. But Agrippa’s reply to Paul in Acts 26:28 is one of the saddest statements in the Bible.

“You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Almost persuaded, but totally lost. The Holy Spirit was pricking the king’s conscience.

He was being drawn to Jesus in a powerful way.

It was decision time for King Agrippa.

It might have taken Agrippa more effort to resist the Holy Spirit than it would have to yield. Pride, self-interest, peer pressure, and likely more prevented Agrippa from surrendering to God’s appeal. Agrippa came close to becoming a child of God.

One day he will stand before the throne of God and bitterly regret his stubbornness. God spoke to his heart through one of the greatest Christian workers in the history of the church, yet Agrippa chose to harden his heart against God. He was almost persuaded. He came close to salvation. But not close enough.

If you are still trying to decide what to do with God and the Bible, Agrippa’s experience speaks to you today. It wasn’t Paul who was appealing to the heart of the Jewish king, but God. God wanted Agrippa to be saved for all eternity, and He wants the same for you. When God speaks to your heart, let nothing prevent you from yielding to the moving of the Holy Spirit. The God who appealed to Agrippa appeals to you now.