I hate to admit this, but most of you who know me can attest to the fact that I am a bit of a procrastinator. I can almost say that most of us are in some aspects. I pick and choose things to procrastinate on. If I am working on a client’s photo-shoot, I get the pics whipped out in a few days, eager for them to behold my creation. On the other hand, on days like today, all dark and dreary, I wait until the very moment I know that my kids may be late for school to get up from my cozy bed all snuggled next to my warm husband.
Contained in the book of Acts, we are introduced to a man named Felix in the 24th chapter beginning in verse 3. In this account, a man named Tertullus is found accusing Paul of creating dissension among the Jews because he was speaking of Christ and his resurrection (5). He and others brought Paul before the governor, Felix, to be examined, and they hoped for him to be imprisoned, or worse. After Tertullus made his case, Paul made his, and Felix decided take a few days to make a decision regarding Paul, and in the meantime, allowed Paul to go back among his friends until Felix sent for him.
After a few days, Felix, with his Jewish wife, Drusilla, sent for Paul, and Paul began to speak of his faith in Christ, and in the resurrection. Paul was sharing with this couple the gospel message that we are all to proclaim to all people as instructed in Matthew 28:19-20. Felix was a man who had accurate knowledge of the Way (22) and as Paul told the exciting news, Felix reasoned about the Christian characteristics we as Christians are to have which were righteousness, self-control, and he even pondered upon the judgment to come for all when Christ returns. Amidst all of the emotion, and the Truth being revealed to this man who was needing the Gospel message, we see in verse 25 that he tells Paul to “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”
This is where our story with Felix ends, he left Paul bound for 2 years, until someone else succeeded him. He was given the most important, life-changing story of his life; he was given the Truth and the Way, and was instructed on how to obtain this hope of heaven for eternity, and he procrastinated. He left his salvation in limbo, and as we are able to look into his brief account, we are left wondering if he ever made the decision to become a part of Christ and his Church by putting him on in baptism (1 Peter 3:21).
This story applies to our lives in two ways; one, are we procrastinating our salvation because we are too stubborn as Felix to accept this new teaching and live a righteous life? And two, are we procrastinating teaching others to take hold of their salvation and encourage them to live a righteous life? Both of these statements are stumbling blocks to all who encounter them, but we can overcome them. For those who have never accepted the message, the book of Acts is full of examples of people who did, and then took steps to obtain their prize and live a life faithful to the Lord (Acts 2:37-38, 8:36-38, 9:18, 16 : 14-15, 30-33). Change is hard, admitting we were wrong is even harder, especially when we think what we have been doing was right. Without humility for our Savior, and for the way we are to become a part of him, we are in danger of never obtaining salvation. For those of us who have humbled ourselves to His way and the Truth, are we procrastinating sharing this hope with others? Do we tend to shy away from the message because of our own insecurities, or our lack of faith in the power of the Gospel message? The Truth saves lives and softens hearts (Acts 2:37) all we have to do is share it and live it as a testimony to others (Romans 12:1-2).
Procrastination is always going to be a battle for us, and we must try each time we are tempted with it to overcome the urge and be fruitful. Our salvation and the salvation of others should never be spun within the web of procrastinating, for if we do this, salvation may never get a chance to make it into our hearts, or into the hearts of those in whom we love.
Growing Pains 