Almost

It seems as if the whole country is holding its breath in anticipation of the moment when the last snowflake will disappear and little green shoots will begin to appear all over the countryside. There is something about spring that holds an enchanting promise, and we're almost there.

Almost.

Isn't that an intriguing word?

Almost.

When it comes to a lot of things, it's a beautiful word. My sister and her fiance are almost married. The weather outside is almost warm. Opening night for the show I'm in right now is almost here. There are a thousand almosts holding a promise that something entirely new and wonderful is about to happen.

But what about the other almosts? What if life is on the brink of something incredibly beautiful, but I'm not quite willing to step out of my comfort zone and onto a limb to try it?

What if I am an almost?

Lindsey and I were talking about lukewarm Christians the other day- Christians that have so much potential to be incredible vessels for the light and love of Christ, but just barely fall short of that potential. It wasn't until after we each hung up our phones that I realized the person of whom we were speaking might as well be me. There are plenty of almosts in my life- am I missing my potential?

It's a frightening thought, isn't it? At the end of this life, when we are entering into the beauty of heaven and are beginning an eternity at the feet of our King, will He look into our eyes with tears in His own and say, "You were so close, My darling. You were almost there."

A.W. Tozer says it this way: "Why do we consent to abide all our days just outside the Holy of Holies and never enter at all to look upon God? We hear the Bridegroom say, 'Let Me see they countenance, let Me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely.' (Song of Songs 2:14) We sense that the call is for us, but still we fail to draw near, and the years pass and we grow old and tired in the outer courts of the tabernacle."

Thankfully, dear friends, it isn't too late. We're never too old or too tired to make the choice to press through the outer courts into the Holy of Holies. He has a potential for us so much greater than our imagination can handle, but it won't come without change.

It can't come without change anymore than spring could come without the snow melting and the flowers pushing up from the slowly thawing soil.