Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go your way for this time… If unbelief has slain its thousands, procrastination has its ten thousands. Where one sinner is frightened into religion, a hundred are deceived to ruin by the siren's voice crying Tomorrow. The devil cares not how moral a man is, nor how anxious he is about his soul, so long as he is disposed to wait on a future opportunity. Procrastination is both "the thief of time" and the great harvest gatherer of lost souls. I. TOMORROW HAS NO PLACE IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION. From first to last, with God and His offered mercy, it is now, today! There is not one promise in the Bible for tomorrow, or the next opportunity. II. TODAY IS THE MOST FAVOURABLE SEASON ANY SINNER WILL EVER HAVE TO SEEK GOD IN THE WAY OF REPENTANCE. A "convenient season" to repent of sin and return to God will never come. Repentance is a bitter cup to all. To love what one has hated, and hate what one has loved, will never be found convenient. Come when it will, it will be crucifixion, a going counter to all the strong currents of human nature. And if you have not resolution, strength, for this today, you will have less inclination and strength for the distasteful service tomorrow. III. THE LAW OF HABIT COMES IN HERE AS A TREMENDOUS FACTOR. It cost you a struggle to resist conviction the first time God's Spirit wrought upon you. But now it has grown into a habit, under its fell power you can resist every appeal without effort. IV. THE MEANS OF SALVATION, WHEN RESISTED, LOSE MORE AND MORE OF THEIR POWER, TILL FINALLY THEY CEASE TO HAVE ANY SAVING INFLUENCE. The Word of God ceases to alarm. The voice of conscience is hushed. The tender heart is gone. The striving Spirit is grieved away. The Sabbath and the sanctuary lose their charm. Chastisements no longer check the downward trend. Awful monitions of a hastening doom! V. MEANWHILE THE OUTWARD OBSTACLES TO SALVATION ARE CONTINUALLY AUGMENTING BOTH IN NUMBER AND IN INFLUENCE OVER THE SINNER. Evil habits, associations, entanglements, the infirmities of age, etc., block up the way of life and draw with the strength of a leviathan towards perdition. (J. M. Sherwood, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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