“Horseshoes & Hand Grenades”


BIBLE READING: Acts 26
                All my life I have heard the expression, “Being close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades”.   The literal meaning of the saying is derived from the fact that you win points in horseshoes by landing your horseshoe within a horseshoe's breadth of the stake, even if it doesn't ring the stake or touch the stake. Hence, "close" counts in horseshoes.  Also, in throwing hand grenades, an almost direct hit still does pretty good damage to the target.  In virtually every other aspect of life, close doesn’t really count.  You don’t get points if the ball almost goes in the basket, you don’t score a touchdown if you almost get in the endzone, and you’re not going to eat the chicken if it is almost done.  In Acts 26, we see a great example of “almost” not being enough.  Paul has again recounted his conversion and boldly preached God’s message to King Agrippa.  Paul can sense that he is making some progress as he says “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe.”. I imagine there was a long awkward silence before Agrippa answers “You almost persuade me to be a Christian.” (Acts 26.28).   We must not make the mistake Agrippa made in being almost persuaded to be a Christian, because “almost” is not good enough.

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