The Tragedy Of "Almost"

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

       "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."  Jeremiah  8:20

     The harvest in Israel usually was limited to the two months of April and May; later came the "ingathering of summer fruits."  Jeremiah in our text speaks to the people of what will happen when the times of reaping are past and there is no longer opportunity to obtain the Living Bread that nourishes to eternal life.  What a tragedy when the springtime and harvest of life is over and one has not reaped the fruits of grace and obtained the salvation needed to enter heaven's sinless portals.

     Has it ever occurred to you how near a sinner can come to the Lord Jesus Christ and yet pass by the opportunity to receive eternal life?  The Bible contains many a solemn warning to show us that individuals can almost come to the point of being saved, and yet be lost forever.  Think of the rich young ruler, held by the devil in a "grip of gold," or of procrastinating King Agrippa who perished  in his indecision.  Call to mind the thief on the cross who was so near to the Saviour that he could hear Him pray,  "Father, forgive them,"  and who yet went down to hell an unforgiven sinner, when he might have heard the joyous words along with the other malefactor:  "Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise."

     Judas is another illustration of how near a man can come to Christ and yet remain unrepentant.  Christ called him  His "own familiar friend."  For years he moved in the very presence of the Son of God Himself, heard His gracious words, listened to His repeated invitation, and even His last soulful, personal appeal to him at the Passover supper, and yet Judas went out into the "night" of unbelief and everlasting perdition.

     Jesus said,  "Remember Lot's wife!"  Why should we remember her?  Because she was almost saved, but still lost!  She had heard the Word of Life, and she had started to obey it, but she looked back and perished. She is now with those who say:  "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." Lest her fate be yours, accept Christ today!

"Bread For Each Day"