Convenient Time?

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. (Acts 24:25 KJV)

Been to a convenience store? Think of convenience when you travel? Felix didn’t live that way – he made things convenient for himself. Tacitus in his Roman Annals tells us that Felix felt very powerful through his brother in Rome:

“Not equally moderate was his brother, surnamed Felix, who had for some time been governor of Judaea, and thought that he could do any evil act with impunity, backed up as he was by such power.”

This man of power, who later was elevated to Roman judgeship, trembled. But delayed. For two years he held discussions with Paul, but there is no record of Felix accepting Christ. That has changed little in two thousand years.

Today people discuss religion in the abstract. Seldom do people tremble when they consider righteousness, temperance and judgment to come. Often do people respond with “Not now.”

If not now, when? If not now, why? (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV)

Felix didn’t go as far as Agrippa in his response to Paul: Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. (Acts 26:28 KJV)

We’ve all had much more than two years of religious instruction and discussion. Some do tremble, and many are fully persuaded. Others linger in discussions, filled with unanswerable questions. Those questions won’t be answered until “then”:

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV)

Is now almost a convenient time? There will be no time then.