Acts 24: 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. 27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
A few years ago Al Gore made a documentary/wrote a book about global warming. It was the beginning of a public push on it. I’m not here to talk about global warming but just want to point out that it has been the focus of many speeches that you thought would be about something else. Even the pope talks about it instead of the sins of mankind. The Bible is the truth and if it is inconvenient God makes no apology. James said let God be true and every man a liar. When it comes to lifestyles and what people are doing, the things that matter are those leading men and women down the road to hell. Every year before Jesus came and every one since, man has had the tendency to believe lies and reject the truth. Many would rather be deceived with a convenient truth or something watered down, in part a truth, and think they’re fine and will go to heaven.
Sometimes we wonder what truth is. Where is it? Paul stood before Felix the governor and his wife. Felix wanted to hear what Paul had to say. He had never heard anyone talk like Paul talked. Many didn’t like it but it did something to them. It’s like falling for the “as seen on TV” inventions all the while knowing most aren’t worth it. We want our conveniences now. We are an impatient world. There is one thing never convenient to our hearts: salvation. Naturally we’re at enmity against God. Paul said there is nothing in our body that agrees with God. We’re tainted and deceived.
Jesus didn’t go through a ‘nothing’ salvation. To say that what he did was inconvenient puts it mildly. But because Jesus went through the cross we can be convicted of sin. We’ve all sinned and come short. We can’t straighten our life out by ourselves. That’s why God designed the plan as he did and sent his only begotten son to be our Savior. It is truth and not designed for convenience. We put it on the shelf for a more convenient day or mood or situation. Being a Christian gives a different—better—life to those who accept it. It gets us off the bed of deception and the couch of unbelief. It’s designed to inconvenience us in our sins so we’ll trust in God’s son to save us. We realize our way and what the devil promised is not the way. We learn about what we are without Jesus. He died for us when we didn’t deserve it. We learn that now is the time. It is inconvenient to believe the Bible over the lies of the devil yet it disturbs us of the danger to our soul. There is something wrong with our soul. Even those who supposedly have it all, don’t. You’d think Hollywood stars and big singers would be happy in all their fame and money yet many kill themselves. Things don’t buy peace of mind or peace for the soul. Sometimes they make things more unsettled.
Before I got saved I’d come home at night and pray not to die in the condition I was in. No matter how intoxicated I was I didn’t want to go to hell. I’m glad the Lord gave me another day. He could have cut me off in my sins and let me go to hell. I was trying to deal with God and put salvation off for one more day with sin. I’m thankful I woke up. Don’t you let the devil take you one step farther down the road to hell. Felix and his wife trembled. I have no doubt that if I had not accepted God in March of 1972 that I would have died in my sins. It inconvenienced me as a sinner but it felt so good to kneel down and pray. I asked God to save me. It’s a challenge to respond to the gospel. Sin gives a limited and temporary comfort that will strike your soul with death in hell in the end. At the cross Jesus made a prayer for us that we couldn’t make. He said “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” He wanted to be our Savior and offer salvation to all.
As they trembled in front of Paul they were uncomfortable being in the presence of truth. He said Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. There will never be a more convenient season than now to accept Jesus. Every day that a person is lost they get farther from God. Go no farther. Today is the accepted time. I have peace in my heart because I trust in the One who bore the nails and said ‘it is finished.’
If this truth inconveniences you, I pray that you’ll accept Jesus as Savior. Jesus said ‘come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest…for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ He took the difficulty of the cross to give us what will make us happy now and for eternity.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 