Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.
Acts 24:25-27
What a sad commentary on Felix’s attitude toward matters of eternal importance: “when I have a convenient time”. His heart was moved at Paul’s first declaration of the gospel, but as time went on, Felix became more and more calloused to the truth. After two years of hearing the apostle speak, rather than release this faithful servant of the Lord, Felix left him bound. All fear and trembling in Felix’s heart was gone! Responding to the gospel when it’s convenient to do so is a dangerous gamble for a person to make with his soul. Jesus said in Joh 16:8 that part of the work of the Holy Ghost was to “convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment…” Why is it so dangerous to put off a response to the conviction which the Holy Spirit brings as the word of God is declared? Because when a person has such an attitude, he foolishly assumes he will have another opportunity to hear God’s word! Even if in God’s mercy he hears that word again, he is presumptuous to think that the next time conviction will come like it did previously. Man needs to understand that the only time he has for certain is right now! “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2Co 6:2)
We have no guarantee that the mercy of God shown us today will be repeated tomorrow. To hear the gospel one time is enough to render a man inexcusable. In fact, the Lord says there is enough truth concerning Himself revealed in His creation that mankind has no excuse for not seeking Him! (Rom 1:20) To expect we will have one more breath to use to cry out to God is arrogant. Yes, God’s word is clear that He is longsuffering, but He is well within His right to determine at any moment that He has suffered the rejection of His glory long enough. Let’s consider King Manasseh and King Amon as examples of God’s right to extend mercy for as long or as little as He sees fit.
2Ch 33 tells us that Manasseh came to the throne of Judah when he was twelve years old. He reigned for a period of fifty-five years, the longest of any king of Israel or Judah. But Manasseh has another distinction besides the longest reigning king. He was also the most wicked! In fact, God said he did “more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel”. He wasn’t just the worst among the Israelites; he was the worst of all who had lived in Canaan before God gave the land to Israel! Further, God said that the destruction of the kingdom of Judah along with the captivity of the people by the Babylonians would be a direct result of this king’s wicked reign! (2Ki 24:3) So, behold the longsuffering of our God that He would grant the longest rule to the most wicked of all the kings!! But His mercy doesn’t end there. In the latter half of his reign (I could hardly believe it the first time I read this passage), God saved Manasseh’s poor soul, and he began to serve the Lord God. (2Ch 33:11-16) And so, Manasseh stands as a monument to the amazing grace and mercy of the Almighty!! (The hymn “Hallelujah! What a Savior!” is swelling up within my heart!)
But, now we come to Manasseh’s son, Amon. We read the following of him as he took the throne: “But he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done; for Amon sacrificed to all the carved images which his father Manasseh had made, and served them. And he did not humble himself before the LORD, as his father Manasseh had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.” (2Ch 33:22-23) I suspect that Amon thought his reign would be long like his father’s. Perhaps he even assumed that one day, late in life, he would repent as his father had done. But, we read of Amon that “he reigned two years in Jerusalem,” and “his servants conspired against him, and killed him in his own house”! (v. 21, 24) Amon died in his sins! He had two years to respond to the word of God rather than fifty-five, but even with the shorter time frame, Amon would have to confess that God showed him more mercy than he deserved.
There is a great “day of the Lord” coming in which every eye will see Christ and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. (Rev 1:7, Rom 14:11-12) But, for many, a “day of the Lord” has already come. Just ask the ones carried away by the flood. Talk to those of Sodom and Gomorrah. Speak to the Jews who inhabited Jerusalem as it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. One thing is certain about every “day of the Lord”: “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” (1Th 5:2-3) And so, the Scripture is clear about the urgency of this present hour: “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isa 55:6-7) There is mercy with the Lord. Seek it now.
Jamie