The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1912-01-30
"ALMOST, BUT LOST"

MI Lowry TOOK as his text for his
closing message to the people of this
community, Acts. XVI, %: Then
Aggripa said unto Paul, Almost thou
persuadest me to be Christian.
MY theme for tonight is: Almost
but Lost | have taken this theme
as my last message to you, for | am
fully convinced that there are many
who are almost persuaded to be Chris
tians, and | fear if you are not alto
gether persuaded tonight it means that
some Of you never will be. You have
been awakened to think on eternal
things in a way in which you have
|'never thought before. The spirit is
striving with your soul and while 9TH
ers are being saved it would be the
easiest thing for you to decide this
question. If, under all these favor
able circumstances, you will not yield
to Christ, then allow me to put to you
this question: What is it that would
lead you to step over the line? Some
of you are outside the church, some
OF you have your names upon a church
roll, yet you are awakened and want
to be right and for some of you it is
tonight or never. The saddest thought
surely that can haunt any soul in the
lost world will be that at some time
they were almost persuaded to be a
Christian, but went back and were lost
/ want to call attention to some Bible
characters who were seemingly almost
persuaded to be Christians, yet drove
away their convictions and are for
ever lost.
Herod, the Adulterer.
First, call your attention to Herod
You will recognize the name, for we
always associate him with the murder
of John the Baptist. And l can imagine
your saying right away: When was
that murderer and adulterer almost
persuaded to be a Christian% Ii you
will turn to Mark you will see that he
was once awakened and seemingly on
the verge of the Kingdom. Mark VI. |
20 For Herod feared John, knowing |
that he was a just man, and holy, and |
him. Notice that eXpression.) |
He did many things and heard him |
gladly You notice that expression:
He did many things that is, he re-
formed his life. | doubt not if some of !
Johns disciples had gone over to Her
DDS place they would have found him
opping off many of his old sins. Per-
laps he quit swearing for while.
He may have quit gambling and get
ing drunk. He seems to have become
lutte virtuous in certain directions.
He did many things but why was not
1erod saved then? Why, for the very
same reason that many of you here to-
light are not saved-he had darling,
pet sin, which he was not willing to
rive up. | used to wonder why all
,eople are not Christians, but l have
ong since found out that the real
eason is sin in the life. Then notice
low sin grew in his life.
First, we find him an adulterer, and
.ext a murderer. Sin grows in the
life of every Christ-rej soul. We
annot run along on a level in any
hing. We are either advancing or
etrograding; that is true in educa-
ion, in business, in the professional
ife 1t is also true in character. You
re either getting better or worse. You
ave no assurance that you will not
ecome an outbreaking sinner as long
S you are rejecting Jesus Christ 1t
OH do not turn to Jesus Christ, re-
,enting of your sins, some Of you sit
ing here tonight will one day fill a
runkard's grave; some of you fell
ms cell; some of you follow the path
# the harlot and some of you will be
/ the divorce courts. You would doubt
ess say: That won't be me'-every-
ne thinks his case is an exception.
BUT those who have fallen, once con-
idered themselves just as strong as
GU consider yourself today.
PLATE, the Coward.
Then, there was PLATE, who seemed
} be almost persuaded to take his I
tand for Jesus when He was brought
efore him. 1t is very easy to see why
ilate turned back 1t was simply be-
ause of a lack of moral courage.
ut the Jews cried out, saying: If |
lou let this man go, thou are not
aesars friend; whatsoever maketh g
mself king speaketh against Gaze t
IT, John XIX, 12.) He was afraid 9
lat he would lose his own head. That o
the reason many in this city are not L
lristians-it is simply because they n
i've not the courage and moral back il
me. al
Judas, a HyprOcrite. q
"And then I think there must have Il
en- many times when Judas was al IL
)st persuaded to turn from his hypoc- tt
sy and be a true Christian. Remem- tt
+, Judas was member of the church tt
d many times Jesus warned him bl
ainst his hypocrisy. Yes, he was a pt
urch member, but unsaved Let
rson get his name on a church roll sc
d yet be unsaved and he is in a dan p
rous place. One of the hardest per- "a
rs on earth to reach for Christ is an 81
converted church member" gr
Following this, Mr.. Lowry called at SO
ltion to quite number of Bible wi
aracters that were at some time al tn
st persuaded to be Christians, but err
Mt back and were forever lost, and gu
n closed with the following illus M
ton: "The Royal Charter, mag wi
cent ship, had been around the Oh
rid. She had touched at almost su
ry important harbor and was home pc
I'd bound. She arrived at Queens list
n and a message was sent to Liver of
j saying she would arrive the next full
rning. A man, formerly a member to
Dr.. Chapman's church, was in Liv- sal
DOL, and waited, with many others,
night on the dock to see her come the