Righteousness, self-control and the coming judgment

Paul was beaten, but ultimately rescued through an arrest by Roman soldiers (Acts 21:32-34). After two impromptu trials and a plot to kill Paul on his way to a third trial, he was sent to governor Antonius Felix in Caesarea by the order of Claudius Lysias, the Roman tribune in Jerusalem (Acts 21:37-23:35). Acts 24 describes the court case between Ananias the Jewish high priest and Paul, the alleged “ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5). After the opening arguments by the two parties, Felix declared a recess.

During this two-year recess, Felix would send for Paul. With every opportunity to speak, Paul would tell the governor about faith in Christ Jesus. In these meetings, Paul reasoned with Felix about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment (Acts 24:24-25). After hearing Paul, Felix reacted a certain way. How familiar is Felix’s response to Paul’s words when our own morality is challenged by a divine message?

Like Felix, do we respond with insecurity? The Bible tells us that “Felix was alarmed.” Jesus provides the cure to insecurity. The remedy is in who we know, what we say, what we do, and how we live. We must know Jesus (John 14:6), confess Jesus (Matthew 10:32-33), repent, and be baptized (Acts 2:38). Upon obedience to the glorious gospel of Jesus, we must live as one saved by grace (Titus 2:11-14).

Like Felix, do we respond with a false sense of control? Felix told Paul to “Go away for the present.” We must understand that censoring man does not silence God (Acts 5:40-42). Of course, we can be sent away, but God’s word will never pass away (Matthew 24:35). Furthermore, refusing to hear God’s word does not annul having heard it, nor deny it was ever spoken. Just ask King Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36).

Like Felix, do we have a misconception about time? Felix told Paul, “When I get an opportunity, I will summon you.” Martin Luther King Jr., once said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Therefore, the opportunity to become righteous in Christ Jesus, exercise temperance, and prepare himself for the judgment to come was “now” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Tomorrow may never come (James 4:13-17) because time and chance happen to us all (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12).

As far as trouble and attitudes go, we are not so removed from the events of 1,963 years ago. So, let us learn in this pandemic from the man who was in prison:

Always be true to our faith, do right because it is the right thing to do, practice self-control, even when others around us may be out of control, remember, what we do today we will have to answer for tomorrow.

If we learn and apply these principles, then Felix’s response will not be our response.