Almosters

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.” - Acts 26.28-29

‘Almost’ must be one of the saddest words in all of Scripture. Agrippa got right to the point of salvation. He and Felix were a lot alike. Felix said ‘a more convenient time.’ Agrippa said ‘almost persuaded.’ But neither took that final step. Both were ‘almosters.’

There is an old song that has pretty much gone out of vogue that captures these moments beautifully. Below is the story and the song.

Almost Persuaded, the Song and the Story

Composer Philip Paul Bliss Writes Almost Persuaded

More than 2,000 years ago King Agrippa told the Apostle Paul “Almost, you persuade me to be a Christian.” (Acts 26:28). In 1871 Reverend Brundage expounded upon this sad story in Acts, and then ended his Sunday Morning sermon with the words "He who is almost persuaded is almost saved, and to be almost saved is to be entirely lost".

Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876), composer of many hymns, including The Light of the World is Jesus and Dare to Be a Daniel, was among the congregants listening to Reverend Brundage's sermon. The pastor's powerful closing words left such an impression upon Bliss that he set about composing a song with the same sentiment.

Almost Persuaded was published that same year in The Charm: A Collection of Sunday School Music, and quickly found its way into the majority of English Christian hymnals; the compelling words have since been sung at many an alter call.

Almost Persuaded

Almost persuaded now to believe;

Almost persuaded Christ to receive;

Seems now some soul to say,

Go, Spirit, go Thy way,

Some more convenient day

On Thee I'll call.

Almost persuaded, come, come today;

Almost persuaded, turn not away;

Jesus invites you here,

Angels are lingering near

Prayers rise from hearts so dear;

O wanderer, come!

Almost persuaded, harvest is past!

Almost persuaded, doom comes at last!

Almost cannot avail;

Almost is but to fail!

Sad, sad, that bitter wail

Almost, but lost!

Written by: Connie Ruth Christiansen

Source: http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/almost-persuaded,-the-song-and-the-story.html

Paul’s desire was clear – ‘I wish that you were not only almost, but fully persuaded along with everyone else in the room.’

Let’s pray for all the ‘almosters’ that are out there. As Rev Brundage put it 'He who is almost persuaded is almost saved, and to be almost saved is to be entirely lost.'