Procrastination And The Gospel Series

Introduction

John Antioco was the CEO of Blockbuster, whose ubiquitous stores were then a fixture of American life, renting videos and DVDs to millions of customers.

In 2000, Antioco received two young men, Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings, into his office.

The two men started a business three years earlier, renting DVDs via the postal service to customers. They had also begun renting DVDs via a streaming service.

Randolph and Hastings wanted Blockbuster to buy their business for $50 million.

Antioco flat-out rejected their offer and laughed them out of the room.

Antioco deemed their business too niche and said, “The dot-com hysteria is completely overblown.”

What business did Antioco reject?

Netflix.

Today, Blockbuster is bankrupt and Netflix is worth an estimated $497.55 billion.

John Antioco missed a tremendous business opportunity.

History is replete with individuals who have missed opportunities.

The Bible is also full of people who have missed opportunities regarding eternity.

For example, Jesus called people to follow him, but they asked if they could attend to some personal business before following him.

One man wanted to bury his father before following Jesus.

Another man wanted to say goodbye to those at home before following Jesus.

In each case, they lost the opportunity to follow Jesus because of procrastination (see Luke 9:57-62).

Jesus told a parable of wise and foolish virgins (see Matthew 25:1-12). The foolish virgins show us the tragedy of a missed opportunity.

Judas was one of Jesus’ original Twelve Disciples.

He spent three years with Jesus.

He saw Jesus’ miracles.

He heard Jesus’ teaching.

He was one of the twelve people closest to Jesus during Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Yet, he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

Judas shows us the tragedy of a missed opportunity.

Today, we will examine another example of a missed opportunity.

Paul was in custody in Caesarea.

He was waiting for a trial before the governor named Felix.

According to John MacArthur:

Felix was tragically similar to Judas. Judas lived with the Lord Jesus for more than three years; Felix had Paul in his palace for two. Judas had many opportunities to talk with Jesus; Felix “used to send for [Paul] quite often and converse with him” (v. 26). Judas betrayed the Son of God for money; Felix “was hoping that money would be given him by Paul” (v. 26). Judas betrayed the Lord to the Jewish authorities; Felix, fearing those same authorities, betrayed Paul by refusing to release him despite his innocence (John F. MacArthur Jr., Acts, vol. 2, MacArthur New Testament Commentary [Chicago: Moody Press, 1994], 301–302).

We will examine Paul’s trial before Felix in the message I am calling, “Procrastination and the Gospel.”

Scripture

Let’s read Acts 24:1-27:

1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— 19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’ ”