Almost

I was driving to work one day and I noticed as I looked out my window the trees had started turning yellow. I am always amazed by God’s creation and how on cue the seasons flip channels, if you will. I started looking around at the busyness of the world. Cars were whipping in and out of traffic, people were honking, some were reading (yes and driving), and some were applying lipstick to their faces. Imagine what would happen if someone decided to just stop for no reason. What a mess! But I began to notice a Jeep in front of me with one of those wheel coverings on it and it read “Almost a Landmark.” Of course, it was talking about the company that it was purchased from being almost a landmark but God began to speak to my spirit, “what if Christians had something like that on their cars that said, ‘Almost a Christian.’ How sad would that really be? People are driving around that way, William.” I had to stop thinking for a moment and realize that there are people like that. “It’s time to either be on fire for me or not for me at all.” I really pondered that. Then I was reminded of Laodicea in Revelations 3:15-17, “I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth! For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” In other words, you are either going to be on fire for God or you are not.
Picture with me a cup of coffee sitting on a countertop. You notice that the coffee pot is on and so you safely assume that it’s a hot cup of coffee. However, you take a sip and it is as cold as ice. You immediately spit it out into the sink. That is how God feels about being “almost” a Christian. Later in the Chapter, Jesus stands at the door and knocks. Could you imagine someone coming over to your house and knocking on the door and you just ignoring them? Ok, except for the annoying sales people. Let me paint another picture. The Pharisees were religious men who were “waiting” on the Messiah to come as the prophets had foretold. Jesus came and knocked on their hearts but they refused to believe that He was the Messiah. Could you now imagine someone you have been waiting for and they knock on the door but you decide not to answer it? I believe we are to be like the high school girl waiting for their prom date to arrive. They don’t just sit in the living room watching television all day, but they prepare themselves for when the time comes. I believe we should be this way for Christ, waiting in anticipation for His coming by and preparing for that event.