“Great Things for Grievous Times”

 

TOPIC:‌“The Greatest Tragedy of the Non-Christian”

                  by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌Acts 24:25

 

‌‌“Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season,

‌‌I will call for thee”

 

‌Have you ever considered the veracity of the statement, “Trifling is tragedy?” Have you ever stopped to ponder the outcome which comes to those who will not face up to life's urgent and imperative decisions? If you have, then you know something of what Lowell had in mind when he wrote:

 

‌‌“Once to every man and nation

‌‌comes the moment to decide,

‌‌In the strife of truth with falsehood

‌‌For the good or evil side.”

 

‌Now this choice came one day to Felix. Get the picture. On the throne sat this wicked man Felix - a picture of dishonor, disgrace, and depravity to humanity. Before him stood the Apostle Paul - his arms chained, his body scarred, his health gone - as he presents to Felix the best season of the soul for one to become a Christian.

 

‌To be sure, we never lose sight of the fact that time finally ran out on Felix. That is why he is described by Clarence Macartney as “the man who was the victim of tomorrow.”

 

I.

 

‌Consider, at the outset, how this man became CARELESS over those things in life which ought to have demanded his supreme attention. Let's get it down: the recklessness of Felix was not so much his being thoughtless in the trivial things of live, but in the critical things that counted so much. He allowed solemn decisions to pass him by without a moments thought as to their importance.

 

‌Briefly, look at the road he traveled. We wade right into it in the words of verse 24: “Felix came with Drusilla his wife.” Originally a slave by birth, he forced his way into power by a number of crooked ways, until he finally reached the top as governor of Judea. His character is most remarkably revealed by Tacitus, the Roman historian, who said of him: “During his governorship in Judea indulged . . .