May 25: Are you sure you want to say “not now”?

After some days, 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 find time I’ll call for you.”   (Acts 24:24-25 — Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Paul was in prison at this time and many of the Jews were demanding his death. The governor of that area, Felix, along with his wife call Paul and listen to what he has to say.

Paul doesn't plead for his freedom or waste time, instead he speaks about the Lord Jesus. As he explains faith, righteousness, self-control, and the judgment Felix becomes afraid. He was living as he pleased with little thought of God or others, but Paul boldly speaks about Jesus as Lord of all, the one and only Savior, and the Judge of every man. Felix could have been forgiven of his sins, and received the peace of God if he had opened his heart, but instead he sent Paul away.

The kind of fear that Felix felt is designed to cause us to reach out and embrace Jesus and to repent of our sins. It does no good to place our hands over our ears or postpone a decision. The Lord Jesus wants to be our Savior today — if we reject Him, He will be our judge on the last day. Eventually every knee will bow to Him and every tongue confess His name. But only those who do this in faith now, while they are on earth, will receive eternal life. If you wait to be forced to your knees by the very power of His presence, you will be lost.

It is crucial that we listen and respond to the claims of Jesus to be Savior, Lord, and Judge. The pride and fear that causes men and women to turn away from Jesus is from the devil, it is demonic. The sin in people's lives that causes them to turn away from the light is also a part of the trap set by the master deceiver. Turn to the Lord Jesus with all your heart and stay close to Him, and His coming will be a glorious event for you.

Felix’s last words are scary, though lots of people say the same things to their consciences, to the Holy Spirit, or to God’s voice every single day. “Not now. I’m busy. I’ll get back to you when I have the time.” But rarely do they ever get back to their consciences, to the Spirit, or to His voice. Certain things cannot be left for later. Repentance is a gift of the Holy Spirit which He gives only when He comes across sincere people. When there is no sincerity, no genuine effort to change, a person cannot truly repent because he doesn’t have that gift. — When God speaks, even when His words are uncomfortable, or the last thing we want to hear, we have to respond immediately… for our own good.