If my memory serves me correctly, I shared a story on this platform a long time back about a man whom I knew reasonably well. Although not English, his English was impeccable. Although not educated he was extremely clever. Unable to take both children, his common law wife took one child and fled, escaping to freedom and a new, successful life. Amongst many other vices, he was a gambler and he paid young girls for sexual favors.
Over many years I spoke to him about Jesus, the Bible and Christianity. He never rejected what I said, but would not set foot onto the Church premises. He knew that his African Traditional Religion would not get him into heaven, and the Christianity of the lady who left him was right. He knew that well … yet staying outside of the Christian Religion and church enabled his conscience to participate in his wicked lifestyle and in the process ruin young girls’ lives forever.
I thought and thought about the reason for his absolute refusal to set foot on the Church Property … or even entertain coming to a Church Service. The reason was … he was scared. He knew he was wicked and he knew the true God was angry with him. He also knew that should he come to Church, God would deal with him and he was scared so he remained in his wicked lifestyle and sadly died that way. On his death bed he lay there, unable to speak, knowing he was dying … and his eyes carried fear that I had never seen before or since. It was too late. He rejected the opportunities offered to him and succumbed to be with his wicked master, the devil, for eternity.
In reading the account of Paul defending himself before king Agrippa, this is the picture of the king I get. He could have surrendered to his conscience once hearing the Gospel from Paul, yet he chose to maintain his wicked lifestyle … and surely his fate would have been that of the man I described, unless he repented at a later date. Please read:
Ac 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” 30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
1) The one thing Agrippa does do that is positive is complement Paul of his persuasive abilities.
Ac 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
Naturally we understand that behind Paul is the Holy Spirit. Before Paul could persuade Agrippa or anyone else, he needed to be soundly converted to Jesus, which he was and he needed to believe what he preached. Only a hypocrite preaches what he does not believe. Paul was so convinced that the Gospel was God’s only rescue plan that he preached it passionately. In so doing, the Holy Spirit worked.
Here Agrippa heard the Gospel in his heart. He understood it. It made sense. Yet he needed to weigh up his sordid, debauched and incestuous life and everything else the world, flesh and devil offered him with surrendering to Jesus as Lord, being pardoned, living a repentant lifestyle, proving it through righteous living and having the assurance of being resurrected from the dead, passing through the judgment into heaven and in so doing, escaping hell. History tells us he did not choose heaven.
There are many people like Agrippa and like the man I spoke of introducing this note. Maybe you are like this … and if you are I want to plead with you by saying … “The Gospel is common sense. The Gospel is believable. Irrespective of your lifestyle and wickedness, the Blood of Jesus is able to cleanse you. You need to decide. Your eternity is in your hands at this very moment.” I also want to encourage you to share the gospel with others. Believe what you tell them, for if you don’t there shall be no fruit.
2) Paul’s hunger for souls. When you are hungry for souls you do not become selective who hears the Gospel. Whatever people’s political ideologies might prescribe, heaven’s door is open to all people who come to God through Jesus Christ’s Blood Sacrifice, according to the Gospel. One of my favorite Bible verses is:
Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
Here we find there will be people in heaven from every tribe, language, people and nation. This verse shuts the mouths of those who declare only certain skin colors or cultures may enter heaven. God stops them in their tracks. The door of heaven is open to everyone who believes the Gospel and receives Jesus as Lord. Listen to Paul’s hunger for souls:
Ac 26:29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
(1) He was not concerned about how long it took to persuade someone about the way of salvation. Some grasp the Gospel quickly, others take a long time. It took me reading the Bible from Genesis to Colossians before I believed. Others again entered a Church, hear the Gospel and are saved. Hearing is the important thing because then the Holy Spirit works. Agrippa had heard the Gospel before Paul preached to him. He refused the free offer of salvation.
(2) Paul knew he would appear before Agrippa and his entourage and prayed for them. This is why he was able to say … I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains. Note the “all who are listening to me today.” He was hungry for souls. Pray beloved pray … that God would give His Church an urgent hunger for souls. Jesus said the fields are white unto harvest … yet we don’t seem to see the crops and our harvesting skills are inadequate. Let me say it again … the way to hone our Gospel skills is to pray for and desire urgency and passion. The urgency is because souls are dying all around us. The passion is that we want to see souls saved. We ought to be praying … O God, whatever it takes, use me and use me now! There is another twist in what Paul said … He was in chains for the Gospel … they were in chains for the devil. That is how serious and urgent the Gospel plight is!
3) The king and his delegation left the hearing.
Ac 26:30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
They agreed Paul had done no crime against the Roman Empire or against the Jews.
(i) Paul convinced them of his innocence.
(ii) But Paul did not convince them of their need for salvation because their hearts were hardened … and it was their fault. The Holy Spirit could not work.
(iii) Agrippa then says that if Paul had not appealed to Caesar (to stand in trial before him) he could have been set free. But that is not what God wanted. Jesus said he needed to declare the Gospel in Rome. However difficult, this was his ticket to Rome. May we not try and get out of Gospel work because it in our opinion it could mean an easier lifestyle. We need to do God’s bidding.
O God, burden us with passion and urgency for the Gospel. Amen.