A Matter of Convenience

Introduction

When you go to a Circle K, Quik Trip, or an AM/PM; they are referred to as convenience stores. The reason is that everything you need; from gas to snacks and drinks, are right there. It’s fast and easy to get yourself situated and moving down the road.

Sometimes we’ll put those things off thinking we can make it a little further. If your gas tank has a ¼ left, rather than pulling into the station, you feel that you can make the next 50 miles just to put more distance behind you. Ignoring that convenience can produce dire consequences. It’s the same with putting off salvation until another day.

Simply Inconvenient

In Acts 24:24-25 it says, “And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” Exactly when was it a convenient time? In the remainder of the text, 2 years had passed and Felix was replaced.

What Felix was doing here was stalling to conversion. You can tell he was persuaded for it said, “Felix was afraid”. But rather than do what’s right, he chose to put it off when it was more convenient for him; which was never.

People like to put off what they know they need to do because when that change takes place, they know they can’t back to that lifestyle. Some don’t want to let go of their sins and they’ll say, “I’m having too good a time” or “I’m still young, I have plenty of time to convert.”

Convenience isn’t Important

In Acts 16:24-34, we have the account of the Philippian Jailer’s conversion. In verse 25 it states that it was midnight. In the next few verses it tells of an earthquake that forced all the doors opened and loosened the chains on the prisoners. The jailer was so distraught, having been asleep, that he was going to kill himself; thinking the prisoners had escaped. Paul stopped him stating that they were still here and the jailer brought them out and said in verse 30, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” To which Paul replied, “Tell you what, when it’s daylight we’ll all go to the temple, I’ll preach to you and then we’ll have you baptized. It’ll be more convenient then.”

Wait, is that what he really said? If you’re following along in your bible, you know that isn’t what he said. In verses 30-31, Paul preached Jesus to them right then and there. Look what it says in verse 33, And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. The same hour of the night he washed their stripes. He didn’t put it off but tended to their wounds right then. The part said, ‘Immediately’ he and his family were baptized. It may have been inconvenient for Paul and Silas; having been beaten and thrown in chains, but the urgency to convert one such as the jailer supersedes the convenience.

But You’re not on the Schedule

The tradition of the Catholic church has new prospects (those who want to be baptized) conduct a 40-day study during the season of Lent so that when Easter Sunday arrives, then they are baptized. What happens if someone wanted to be converted on day 29? Will they oblige them or is it an inconvenience as the tradition says after 40 days? Suppose they have a heart attack or injury on day 39 and end up in the hospital? Do they still get baptized after they are released, or do they have to wait another year?

God doesn’t run on our schedule, we run on His. If someone wants to be converted, we should oblige them at the first opportunity and not wait until the next worship service. Suppose someone wants to be converted at 2am on a Friday Morning, do we tell them to wait until Sunday? NO! If someone has a key to the building, where the baptistry is located, you head down there at that time. It may be inconvenient for you; losing some sleep, but it’s better than losing a soul by putting it off when you rather “have a convenient time”. Remember the words of Felix?

Conclusion

Salvation of the soul doesn’t not need to be put on some strict schedule for the sake of convenience. It should take place when the prospect is ready to convert; whether it be before bible class or well after the building is locked up for the night.

In 2 Cor. 5:11 Paul writes, “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.” The idea of ‘we persuade men’ shows the urgency of being converted. We should show the same urgency when one wants to be baptized regardless of the day or hour.