Faith, Hope and Practice of Felix

Now we may look at the picture of a thorough man of the world. We shall not dwell on it, but merely call the reader's attention to its three prominent features.
(1) As to what we may call the faith of the man of the world, the Spirit of God has given it to us in very forcible language in our chapter, Acts 24. "And as he [Paul] 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.”
The faithful ambassador in bonds stood before the governor, and thundered into his ear solemn and faithful words concerning righteousness, temperance and coming judgment—weighty themes! As the prisoner spoke, the judge trembled. How unusual! It was something new, something quite the reverse of what is ordinarily witnessed in judgment halls. "Felix trembled." Poor creature! Well might he tremble, and it would have been well if his trembling for himself had led to his trusting in Jesus. But he contented himself with the faith of a more "convenient season" which, so far as the record informs us, never came. It is vain for a man to speak of a more convenient season, inasmuch as he is sure never to have it.
There will always be something occurring to hinder his looking seriously at the great question of his eternal destiny—something to make it inconvenient. He may tremble under some powerful appeal on the momentous subject of "judgment to come," but the world, in its varied forms, will come in and make it an inconvenient season. So he goes on from day to day, and from year to year, until death comes and ushers him into that place of everlasting misery, "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." God's time is now! "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
“To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”
(2) Look at the hope of Felix. "He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul." What a thought! Felix could send for Paul "often" with the hope of getting money, but as to righteousness, temperance and judgment to come, he had no convenient season for them at all. What an unfolding of the hidden springs of action is here. What a development of the roots of things—eternity put off, and money diligently sought after. All seasons are convenient if there is a hope of money, but no season is convenient if it is the fear of judgment to come.
(3) Now a word as to the practice of Felix. "After two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound." This completes the melancholy picture of a man of the world. His faith was "a convenient season," which never came. His hope was "money," which he never got, and his practice was to leave a blameless man bound to gain a little popularity.
May the Spirit of God engrave on our hearts the profitable lesson suggested by this graphic picture of Paul and Felix.
Now none but Christ can satisfy,
None other name for me!
There's love, and life, and lasting joy,
Lord Jesus found in Thee!