As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” (Acts 24:25)
Felix, the governor of Judea, started well. He and his wife Drusilla sent for the apostle Paul, who was being held in prison for the “crime” of being beaten by a mob. Felix listened to Paul’s powerful presentation of the good news of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul had no intention of watering down the Gospel, but rather he preached the truth clearly, boldly, and with great conviction. Sadly, the governor responded to Paul by saying, “When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” Felix is never mentioned in Scripture again.
This is what I call “The Curse of the Convenient Time,” and we all struggle with it from time to time. All too often we put off until tomorrow what we ought to be doing today. We have a tendency to practice procrastination, which starts as an infection and eventually, if allowed to continue, becomes a disease that drags us down into the mire of miserable mediocrity.
Another name for this curse is “Discomfort Dodging.” Clearly, Felix was growing more and more uncomfortable as Paul spoke of righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. So in order to dodge his discomfort, Felix sent Paul away until a more convenient time which, as far as Scripture reveals, never came.
When was the last time you postponed a situation that needed your attention, hoping for a more convenient time that has not yet come? Listen, I simply cannot remember when a more convenient time arrived at my doorstep; the time is always now. The longer I procrastinate, the less convenient the time becomes. The nagging feelings of gnawing guilt begin to grow, and then worry wreaks havoc on my walk with Christ.
How do we rise above the curse of the convenient time? We must keep this truth before us: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Only through Christ can we conquer the insidious disease of procrastination. It is in His strength, His power, and His wisdom that we can take responsibility for what we must do without delay, knowing that the more convenient time is always now when we face it with Christ at our side.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 