Faith

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November 12, 2011 – Convenient Opportunities

25 But as he continued to argue about uprightness, purity of life (the control of the passions), and the judgment to come, Felix became alarmed and terrified and said, Go away for the present; when I have a convenient opportunity, I will send for you. – Acts 24:25 AMP

Felix was governor of Judea when Paul was imprisoned in Jerusalem. He was taken to Felix in Caesarea after an assassination plot on Paul was exposed. Forty men had vowed not to eat or drink until Paul was dead. They either starved to death or broke their vow, because Paul lived for several years after they took that pledge. Felix became so scared at Paul’s defense that his defense was postponed. Felix heard from Paul later, but Felix never released him from prison.

My focus today is not on Paul’s release or on his defense, but on Felix’s behavior. Why was he so scared? Consider his circumstances during Paul’s defense. Felix had his wife, Drusilla, with him. Drusilla was a Jew and more than likely engrossed in Paul’s defense. The problem was that Felix had stolen Drusilla from another man. Perhaps he was worried that his wife was going to take Paul’s words to heart and return to her former husband. Perhaps he was confronted in his heart by his own sin and just couldn’t face it. Maybe he was worried about the judgment of God and became afraid. Whatever the case, Paul’s trial was postponed because of Felix’s fear.

Are you like Felix? Do you have sins in your life you are afraid to expose? Are you afraid of turning from your current life and following God? Are you afraid of your friend or spouse hearing about Jesus and how it will affect your life? Are you thinking that you can only have a relationship with God after you get your life straight? Felix more than likely had to face one or all of these questions.

Christians and non-Christians alike must face questions like these. Sure, the preceding questions are geared more toward those who are not saved, but Christians should think about them as well. The fact is that many Christians do have sin in their life they have not confessed. Other Christians say they follow God, but their life paints them in a different picture. And some Christians claim to know Jesus personally but their relationship is only one lived on the surface. Christians like this are similar to Felix, and should be terrified. They should know better. They should know there is no better time than the present to get things right with God.

A great example of one who got things right was Paul. Think about his life. Before he was saved, he was one of the most notorious persecutors of the Christian faith. But after his conversion, he went just as headstrong in the opposite direction. He didn’t sit around with a “poor old me, look at all I have done to you guys” attitude. He exposed all of his sin. He lived a life for God. And he even died for his faith. I’m not saying you have to die for Jesus to prove you live for Him, but I am saying that Paul was always ready. He was ready to share his faith. He was ready to stand up for what he believed. He did not try to make his own opportunities; he made the best of every chance God gave him.

15 Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), 16 Making the most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:15-16 AMP

Paul told the Ephesians to make the most of their time. And he followed these words up by example. Paul used every moment of every day to share the message of Jesus with those around him. In today’s world, we can share the Gospel of Christ with someone on the opposite side of the globe at the click of a button. It’s easy to do that. It’s easy to hide behind a computer screen and share your faith. Paul shared his faith in his day, only he was face to face with many of those he ministered to. He did send letters to various churches, but for the most part those letters were to reinforce things he preached while he was ministering in person. I am well aware that Paul was an international missionary, but you have a mission field as well. Your mission field is wherever you are, doing whatever you are doing. Your mission field is at your job, at the grocery store, even at church. Your world around you is your mission field. Whatever you are doing, wherever you are doing it, remember: let God be glorified in it.

So are you like Paul or Felix? When there are opportunities in your life that shake your faith, how do you respond? Do you stand up for what you believe like Paul, or do you look for a more convenient opportunity like Felix? When we run or hide from things that challenge our faith or occasions that draw us closer to a faith we’ve never known, we are simply making our own life fitting for no one but ourselves. When we try to make our faith convenient, we’re just like Felix was when things got tense: anxious, afraid, and running for cover.

Where do you fit into all this? Paul loved opportunities and made the most of them. Felix on the other hand, procrastinated. The fact is that people only come to God when they are ready. They have to want God to be part of their life. But when you become a Christian and follow Him, a Felix lifestyle must be left behind. You should always be ready to share your faith. You should always be ready to stand your ground. The truth is many times Christians are not ready to share and do not stand their ground. They watch life pass by and wonder why no one takes their faith seriously. It is at that very moment they are hit with a harsh reality: they realize exactly what Felix felt like.

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