Articles
Almost or Altogether?
In Acts 26:28-29 Paul had this conversation with Agrippa: “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’ And Paul said, ‘I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.’” Many times we ought to be altogether committed to serving God, yet we are just almost doing what we should.
We see this illustrated with Lot’s wife. She was almost saved from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19, but was altogether turned into a pillar of salt because she violated the command of God by looking back. Jesus warns us, “Remember Lot’s wife. “ (Luke 17:32)
Nadab and Abihu offered worship that was not altogether what God commanded. They offered incense as God wanted, but used the wrong fire. Fire devoured them, and they died. Their worship was almost right, but was altogether rejected by God. (Leviticus 10:1-2)
Agrippa was almost persuaded to be a Christian. Paul knew what it was to be altogether a Christian. He was determined to remain faithful to the end. “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
How about us? Are we almost or altogether faithful ?
