Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 21-23
     New Testament Reading: Acts 24

Several days later, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you” (Acts 24:24-25).

Luke does not provide much information about this couple, however, secular history does. Felix was a freed slave who, through cruelty and brutality, had forged his way to power. He was a man given to indulgence and lust. His very name means “pleasure.” The Roman historian, Tacitus, wrote that Felix “practiced every kind of cruelty and lust, who exercised the authority and power of a king with the instincts of a slave.”

His wife Drusilla, who sat there alongside him, came from a rather infamous family. Her father, Herod Agrippa I, killed the apostle James. Her great uncle had slain John the Baptist, and her great grandfather had all the children under the age of two slaughtered, in his attempt to kill the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

This couple probably would have never attended a church where they preached the gospel, nor would they have gone to hear Paul if the apostle had come to town to speak. Yet here are these two who have this great opportunity given to them with the greatest preacher of the grace of God that the world has ever known. Oh, the wonder of the grace of God to give these two a chance!

And what a chance they had. For two years, Felix called for Paul often and conversed with him. But his heart was hardened and all he really wanted was an opportunity for Paul to offer him a bribe. But Paul used the opportunity to present a simple 3-point sermon. Paul spoke of righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. Paul gave the couple three convincing reasons to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, they had to do something about their past sin. God demands righteousness! The good news is that this same holy God not only demands righteousness but provides His own righteousness to those who trust Jesus Christ. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Romans 3:22).

Second, they had to do something about today’s temptations. Felix and Drusilla were prime examples of the lack of self-control. To live the Christian life, we must resist temptation and seek to live a holy life walking daily with Christ. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age (Titus 2:11-12).

Third, they had to do something about tomorrow’s judgment. Jesus Christ is either your Savior or your Judge. For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:10b-12).

What did Felix do? He procrastinated! “When I have an opportunity I’ll call for you,” he told the apostle. He knew he was a sinner, yet he refused to turn from his sins and obey the Lord. Like many people today, he knew about God and was convicted by hearing the message of salvation. Yet he lacked the strength of character to do what he knew he should do. He tried to gain the world, but he lost his soul. He procrastinated himself into hell.

Paul told the Corinthians, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!(2 Cor 6:2). The best time to accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior is right now, today! And the best time to tell others the good news of the Gospel is—Now!