WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2025
An In-Depth Look at Delaying Salvation and the Urgency of Repentance
BIBLICAL FOUNDATION:
- MEMORY VERSE: “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgement 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)
- TEXT: Acts 24:22-27
MESSAGE: THE DEADLY PROBLEM OF PROCRASTINATION
The
Bible is filled with stories that serve as powerful warnings and timeless lessons. The account of the Roman governor Felix and the Apostle Paul is one of the most sobering examples of the
problem of procrastination. It’s a story of a missed opportunity, a hardened heart, and the eternal consequences of delaying a decision that should have been made immediately.
Paul, a prisoner in chains, was brought before Felix. He didn’t use the moment to plead for his freedom but to preach the Gospel. The Bible tells us that Paul reasoned with Felix about three critical topics:
righteousness, temperance, and the judgment to come. These weren’t abstract ideas; they were sharp, piercing truths aimed directly at Felix’s heart and conscience.
Righteousness: Paul was calling Felix to a standard of justice and integrity that he, as a corrupt and greedy governor, was far from upholding.
Temperance: This was a direct challenge to Felix’s self-indulgence and his immoral lifestyle. His wife, Drusilla, was present, a woman he had taken from her rightful husband, a clear act of intemperance.
Judgment to Come: This was the most
powerful point of all. Paul wasn’t just speaking of a future event but of the impending divine reckoning for every person’s sins.
Paul’s sermon wasn’t a gentle suggestion; it was a fervent appeal for repentance, forgiveness, and a life reconciled with God through the grace of the Gospel. It was an opportunity for Felix to appease a God who is willing to accept all who come to Him with a penitent heart. The message was so potent and so filled with the power of the
Holy Spirit that the Bible says,
“Felix trembled.”
The Danger of a Trembling Heart That Doesn’t Repent
This is the most critical moment of the story. Felix didn’t just hear the words; he was
convicted by them. The
Holy Spirit was working on his heart, and he felt the immense weight of his sin and the impending judgment. He was physically and emotionally moved. His trembling was a clear
sign that he understood the gravity of his spiritual state.
Unfortunately, Felix only trembled. He didn’t go a step further to repent and give his
life to Jesus. He was close, so very close, to receiving the warm embrace of
God’s grace. Instead of surrendering, he
procrastinated. His response is one of the most tragic statements in all of Scripture:
“Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”
This is the classic, deadly response of a procrastinator. They see the truth, they feel the conviction, they even fear the consequences of sin, but they aren’t ready to change. They believe they can postpone their day of salvation until a later, more “convenient season.”
But what is a convenient season? The truth is, there’s no such thing. A convenient season is a myth, a deceptive lie used by the enemy to lull people into a false sense of security. The devil knows that a person who delays a decision for Christ is likely a person who will never make it.
The Consequences of Delay
The story of Felix is a powerful warning, especially for young people. Many, like Felix, fear the consequences of sin, yet they continue to put off their repentance. They tell themselves they’ll get right with God when they are older, when they have more time, or when they are done with their youthful indiscretions.
But what if that convenient season never comes? What if your last breath is drawn before you have a chance to say “yes” to Jesus? We aren’t in control of the next second of our lives. The future isn’t promised to anyone.
The Bible tells us that after two years, Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus. Felix, in a selfish act to appease the Jews, left Paul bound. He never got his “convenient season.” He had many opportunities—he even sent for Paul multiple times, hoping for a bribe—but he never made the eternal decision. His opportunity was lost.
This is the tragedy of procrastination.
Opportunity lost can never be regained. The door of salvation, which is wide open today, may not be open tomorrow.
A Call to Act Now
The message today is clear and urgent:
Don’t delay your salvation any longer. If you feel the conviction of the
Holy Spirit, if you feel that tremor in your heart, don’t tell God to “go away for a convenient season.” That moment of conviction is your convenient season. It is
God Himself calling you to Himself.
The hymn
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” reminds us that we have a friend who is waiting for us, ready to bear our sins and our griefs. We can take everything to Him in prayer. This is the truth that Felix missed. He thought he could handle his life on his own terms, but he was only deceiving himself.
Give your life to Jesus today. Surrender your pride, your sin, and your plans. He is waiting to give you His warm embrace.
Prayer
Father, help me to act now before it is too late. Give me the grace to
surrender my life to You completely. I repent of my procrastination and I open my heart to You. Lord, I pray for all those who are delaying their salvation. I pray that You would give them a heart of urgency and that they would not miss their day of salvation, in Jesus’ name. Father, forgive me for the times I have been hesitant to do Your will. Help me to be a doer of Your Word and not just a hearer, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1: What exactly is procrastination in a spiritual context?
A: Spiritually, procrastination is the act of delaying or putting off a necessary and urgent spiritual decision, particularly the decision to repent of sin and accept
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It’s based on the false belief that we have a guaranteed tomorrow to make things right with God.
Q2: How can I overcome the temptation to procrastinate on my spiritual life?
A: The key is to understand the urgency of salvation and to see it as a gift that must be received now. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you a heart of urgency. Focus on the finality of
death and the uncertainty of life. Remind yourself that there’s no guarantee of tomorrow. Also, seek support from a Christian community that can encourage and hold you accountable in your faith journey.
Q3: Can a person who has procrastinated for years still be saved?
A: Yes.
God’s grace and mercy are infinite. The
Bible says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). As long as a person is alive and has breath in their lungs, they have the opportunity to repent and be saved. The danger is that they may run out of time while they are still delaying.
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