Almost There

On November 13, 2015, Henry Worsley, a fifty-year-old retired British army soldier, began a 950-mile (1,530-kilometer) journey, crossing Antarctica through the South Pole. For more than two months, he pulled a 330-pound (150-kilogram) sled containing eighty days’ worth of food, fuel, and survival gear. While all other polar explorers (including the famous Sir Ernest Shackleton) traveled as part of a group, Worsley was very close to becoming the first individual to walk the entire journey alone and unassisted.

But 30 miles (48 kilometers) short of his goal, Worsley wrote: “The 71 days alone on the Antarctic with over 900 statute miles covered and a gradual grinding down of my physical endurance finally took its toll today, and it is with sadness that I report it is journey’s end—so close to my goal.”48 Calling for help, he was flown to the Clínica Magallanes in Punta Arenas, Chile. An abdominal infection (bacterial peritonitis) soon morphed into complete organ failure. Henry Worsley died on January 24, 2016.

After forty years of pilgrimage with the Israelites in the wilderness, Moses was called by God to the top of Mount Pisgah, from which he was shown the land of Canaan. Due to his previous lack of faith, Moses died just short of his goal—the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12; Deuteronomy 34:1–6). Even so, Moses was raised from the dead to inherit everlasting life (Jude 9) and appeared later with Elijah at Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–7), and his name is listed as one of the heroes of faith (Hebrews 11:23–29).

Unfortunately, just as Worsley never reached his final destination, many people who dream, speak, and sing about heaven will never make it there.

“Almost saved means totally lost,” goes the saying.

Let us thank God that today we have another opportunity to renew our commitment to Him and walk in His presence! He is giving us another opportunity because His compassions “are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22, 23), and He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

However, we must never forget that only those who endure “to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).