A Costly Excuse
Acts 24:25 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.
Years ago, I served alongside a Godly deacon who would frequently say: “Everyone has an excuse – what’s yours?” Many times we can offer up weak reasons for not doing the right thing. Excuses have cost men their families, workers, their jobs, and Christians their faithful service to the Lord. In fact, some people are not in Heaven today because they offered an excuse as to why not accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
In Acts 24, we find Paul under a type of house arrest. He is permitted visitors and is able to move around in his home. A guard is with him at all times. We know Paul became a great witness to those who were given the task of guarding this “prisoner of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!” Felix is the Roman Governor of Judea. In the verse above, He brings Paul to his governmental hall and allows for him to plead his case. He lets Paul expound on the faith in Christ that Paul is so willing to be persecuted for.
As the story unfolds we find that Felix really wants to let Paul go – only if he receives a large sum of money in the form of a bribe. That of course does not happen. Was Felix only interested in the money he thought he could possibly get – or was he moved by the message of Paul? Many times we read over the verse above and look at how Felix wants a bribe in verse 26, but verse 25 makes it clear – the message Paul spoke was working in Felix’s life! Notice: “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.” Felix trembled. What Paul was saying was the truth and the truth started to convict Felix of his need of salvation! Wow – what a moment – Paul may have thought that Felix was about to be saved and then….
Then Felix offers an excuse. Any excuse is costly when we reject God’s truth. Felix was rejecting God’s Word, Jesus the Savior, and the Servant of the Lord. He suddenly says, “it is not convenient for me to listen to you anymore.” What happened? When Felix was confronted with the truth, he was convicted and made a choice to “Excuse” himself from the facts of the message that Paul was proclaiming.
If you are not sure about your eternity – STOP – consider, listen to the message of the Lord. God loves you so much, He gave His Son to die on the cross for your sins. You can be forgiven because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross. The blood of Jesus was shed so we could be forgiven and given a home in Heaven. Don’t make an excuse – trust the Lord Jesus to forgive and save your soul. Place your faith in Jesus alone for your salvation. Any excuse will be a sorry and sad excuse in eternity.
Christians, let’s not make excuses – when we hear the Lord speaking to our hearts – let’s respond the right way. Let’s not obey the Lord only when it is “convenient” to do so. Any excuse for obeying the Lord is a costly excuse when we stand before him one day!
EDC Christian 