A legend is told of the Devil summoning his demons to consider the best way to keep the world on his side. One demon said, “Send me. I will tell them that there is no God.” Satan replied, “They will never believe you. Most of them know that there is a God.” Another said, “Send me. I’ll tell them that there is no heaven or hell.” Satan shook his head, “That will never do. They know that there is life after death.” Then a third spoke, “Send me. I’ll tell them there is a God, a heaven, and a hell, but there’s no hurry to decide.” “Ah,” said Satan with satisfaction, “that is the best plan!” He was sent out into the world to spread this lie. Although this story is merely a legend and is not based in God’s Word, the lie that “there is no hurry to decide” between life or death, heaven or hell, God or Satan has been believed by many people down throughout human history! Many are waiting for a ‘convenient season’ to get right with God, yet for most, that season never comes and they lose their window of opportunity to receive the truth of God’s Word!
In Acts 24, we find the Roman governor Felix presiding as judge over the trial of the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul had been falsely accused by the Jewish leaders of certain ‘crimes’. As Paul stood before the judgment seat of Felix, God provided Paul an opportunity to share the truth of the Gospel with Felix. The Bible says that “after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning his faith in Christ” (v. 24). Felix was about to have an opportunity of a lifetime. He was about to hear the Apostle Paul preach the Gospel personally to him and his wife. And as Paul stood before Felix, “…he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come…” (v. 25a). Paul boldly proclaimed the Gospel. He preached the righteousness of God, the sinfulness of man, and the judgment to come. And likely for the first time in Felix’s life, the Holy Spirit of God was convicting him of sin and opening his eyes to his lost condition. Felix understood that he was in serious trouble with God. The Bible states that “…Felix trembled…” (v. 25b). Something that Paul said had struck the fear of God into the heart of Felix. Felix trembled before the righteousness of God. Felix had a choice to make between salvation or condemnation. Rather, than asking “What must I do to be saved?” like the trembling Philippian jailor, Felix responded with “when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (v. 25c). As far as the Bible records, Felix’s more ‘convenient season’ never came.
There are many in the world like Felix. They hear the truth of the Gospel and they know the truth of the Gospel, but they put off their decision to receive the Gospel for a more convenient season. Rather than sensing the urgency of the gospel appeal and fleeing to Christ for forgiveness, many dull their conscience and harden their heart by putting off the things of God for a more convenient time. Yet for many that more convenient season never comes.
The Bible makes an urgent call to mankind to “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). Turn your “someday” into a “today.” The Bible says that “…now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Don’t wait for a more ‘convenient season’. Flee to Christ today for salvation!
