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The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 24:24-25,
“Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on 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.’”
After Paul was imprisoned in Jerusalem, taken to Caesarea and had his trial before Governor Felix, Felix brought his wife, Drusilla and came to listen to Paul. Luke tells us that “Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come.” We read that Felix become afraid as he listened to Paul.
Just what was it that Paul told the governor that caused this fear within him? What was it that Paul had to say about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come? The text doesn’t tell us but this is what I suspect Paul had to say given what he has said elsewhere. Paul talked about a holy and righteous God, the Creator of all things, to whom we must give an account of all we have thought, done or said. I think Paul told Felix that this Creator God is the judge of all mankind and will visit the fury of his wrath on all who have sinned. I think Paul spoke of the law and how it shows us just how sinful we are and subject to that wrath of God. As the Jews attempted to establish their own righteousness by keeping the law, they found in a very experiential way they are sinners who are incapable of living a godly life through their own self-control: they couldn’t keep the law! The domination of the sinful nature over someone who attempts to keep God’s law demonstrates they are hopeless and helpless before the wrath of God… except for one possibility… Jesus Christ! I’m sure Paul told Felix that God sent his own Son out of his love for man and visited his wrath on Jesus, taking our punishment and that if anyone embraces him in faith he can have Jesus’ payment for sin credited to his account with God.
For anyone committed to what this world has to offer, this is a terrifying message. It is bad news followed with good news – certain judgment, but there is a way, only one way, Jesus Christ. For Felix to escape the certainty of God’s wrath he would have to do what Paul had done, give up life as he knew it and embrace Jesus Christ!
What a message! No wonder Felix was fearful! All should be fearful as they consider facing the wrath of God Almighty! But what good news it is that Jesus Christ has paid for all our sins and that we can escape the wrath of God through him!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!
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