Give Me More Time
You have probably heard about the preacher who introduced a sermon on “Procrastination” by saying, “This is a much needed subject and I’ve been intending to preach it for several months, but for some reason, I’ve kept putting it off.” If we are honest with ourselves, we are all guilty of putting off until tomorrow what we should do today. Students put off studying until the last minute, employers put off a big project that is due. Many put off filing their taxes until April 15th. Husbands are good at putting off what their wives ask them to do.
While these tasks seem minor (maybe not to your wife), some tasks and decisions are very significant. One such matter of great significance is deciding to become a Christian. Paul preached to Felix and his wife Drusilla about righteousness, self control, and the coming judgment (Acts 24:25). Felix’s response is one of procrastination. “Go away for now; when I find a more convenient time I will call for you” (Acts 24:25b). Felix found himself believing a lie of the devil (cf. John 8:44). The lie is that there is no hurry to become a Christian. Satan has deceived countless people into believing that there will be a more convenient time down the road to obey the gospel. Sadly, many have died without ever finding a convenient time. It’s been said that, “Someday is not on the calendar.” The Scriptures teach that principle. “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring” (Proverbs 27:1). “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:13-14). We are not guaranteed the next day much less a “convenient time.”
Felix thought that he was able to make a decision about Christ later on. What he did not understand is that he made his choice that day. He chose to reject Christ! He chose to reject Christ despite knowing what Christ did so that He could be saved (cf. Acts 24:22). He chose to reject Christ even though he “trembled” at the fact that he would stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Are you like Felix, waiting for a more convenient time? Are you waiting for your friends and family to accept your obedience to the gospel? Are you waiting for a time when you will have to make less sacrifices? Are you waiting for Satan to move out of the way? If so, you are waiting for a time that will never come! Why not choose to become a Christian today? The plan is simple and it is found in the Bible:
- Hear the gospel and recognize your condition. You must come to the realization that you are a sinner and the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:8)
- Have Faith in God. You must have faith in God because we are told, “Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who see Him.” (Hebrew 11:6).
- Repent of your sins. Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:5).
- Confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10).
- Be baptized for the remission of your sins. Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. The Jews interrupted Peter on the day of Pentecost by asking the question, “what shall we do?” Peter answered, “repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37-38).
If you will accept the plain teaching of the Bible you can become a New Testament Christian today.
