[The name of the man being discussed has been changed to protect the privacy of his family, but the events are true.]

The phone rang at 2 a.m. Those calls are almost never good and cause the one answering to awaken with a start. The sheriff’s deputy on the other end of the line said, “Carter has passed away, and his wife wants to know if you can come over.” Of course, my answer was “Yes, I will be right over.”

It seemed odd to think that I had just visited him in the hospital a few hours earlier that same day. He had a serious heart attack that required several stints, but doctors were optimistic about his recovery. Soon after my visit, he was allowed to come home. Now, he was being wheeled out of the home on a gurney with a sheet covering his entire body and being placed in the ambulance.

I drove up and exited my vehicle as his body was being taken away to the funeral home. What does one say upon such an occasion? I offered my condolences and prayed with the family, but one glaring truth remained—he died unprepared to meet his God.

Without question, the most tragic part of the situation was that he had never obeyed the gospel. As is the case with most preachers at new works, I had enquired about those who were not Christians and some of the brethren mentioned his name. After meeting with the two preachers who worked at the congregation before me, it became clear that he knew what he needed to do to be saved for several years. He had heard countless sermons revealing the truth about salvation, but for whatever reason, he never became a Christian.

Every Sunday he would stand motionless during the invitation clutching the pew in front of him as his faithful wife and others hoped he would step out into the aisle and put Christ on in baptism. He had even told the preacher who was there before that he wanted him to “baptize him one day,” but that day never came.

Now, he was deceased. The time for becoming a Christian was at an end. All that remained was a faithful, Christian wife who would be separated from him for eternity and two children who worried about the eternal fate of their father.

I was not asked to preach at his funeral, which was fine. Ironically, the preacher that Carter asked to “baptize him one day” offered the eulogy. In a private conversation with me, the former preacher of that congregation shared the tragic nature of one who “almost” obeyed the gospel but ultimately died lost.

People who are “almost persuaded” are completely lost. Paul encountered a similar set of circumstances during his ministry. After preaching the word of God to the lost, a member of the Roman political machine expressed sentiments like the gentleman mention in this vignette. Acts 26:27-28 records, “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe." 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."

Paul, and inspired Apostle, knew that King Agrippa believed, but his faith alone was not enough to effectuate his soul’s salvation. James 2:17 says, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” He, like every other convert in the book of Acts, had to be baptized to be saved (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16; cf. I Peter 3:21). Sadly, there is no record—biblical or otherwise—that demonstrates that Agrippa became a Christian.

All faithful Christians know of individuals who need to become Christians. While it is incumbent upon God’s people to teach them the truth, they must make the decision to be come a Christian. This choice has a urgency to it because time is limited and slipping away quickly. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 says, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Dear friend, if you are contemplating becoming a Christian, why are you waiting? The more convenient time might never come (Acts 24:25). Why leave your family in a state of despair by never obeying the gospel (II Thessalonians 1:8-9)? Why take a chance that there will even be a tomorrow (James 4:14)? Why deny the appointment that all men must keep (Hebrews 9:27)? Why spend an eternity in a hell that can be avoided (Matthew 10:28)?

You need to become a Christian today by being immersed for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38) and living a life faithfully dedicated to Him until the time of your passing (Revelation 2:10). To almost be saved, is to be totally lost!