Today I was reading Acts 24, where Paul gives his defense before Felix. And in vv.14-16 he says, “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men” (NASB 1995, emphasis my own).
I think it’s very easy for us to claim to follow Christ and to label ourselves as “Christian.” But what does it mean to truly follow Him? Just a few verses later, in vv.24-25, we’re told, “But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you”” (NASB 1995, emphasis my own).
In v.16, Paul stated that he does his best to maintain a blameless conscience before both God and men in light of the coming resurrection of the righteous and the wicked. In v.25, we’re told that Felix became frightened when Paul, after speaking about faith in Christ Jesus, was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come.
I wonder: how often do we think of these things? Jesus told us, “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect” (Luke 12:40, NASB 1995). How often do we truly examine ourselves to see whether or not we are living lives of repentance before God? How often do we think, “Christ could come back in Judgment today, therefore I need to live my life in such a way that I will be found blameless in Him. I need to be ready!”?
I thank God that, for those of us who have repented of sin and trusted Christ for salvation, we will be found blameless at Christ’s coming, as His perfect, sinless record will be ours. But at the same time, true followers of Jesus desire to live for Him and obey Him. Jesus said, in John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Are we seeking to turn from sin and live for Jesus? Are we seeking to honor the Lord with our obedient lives, that we might be found blameless at His coming? Are we pursuing God’s will for our lives, which is our sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3)? Have we “become sober-minded as [we] ought, and stop[ped] sinning” (1 Corinthians 15:34)? The Lord is coming again to judge the living and the dead. May we be found blameless in Him – walking in repentance, doing good works that cause people to see and glorify our Father in heaven, and sharing the good news about Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for sinful human beings.
Chase Thompson 