Felix and Drusilla Hear the Wonderful Good News
Not long after this, Felix and his wife Drusilla sent for Paul, to hear him “concerning the faith in Christ.” They were eager to listen to these new truths—truths that, if rejected, would witness against them in the day of God.ULe 154.2
Paul knew that he stood in the presence of a ruler who had power to put him to death or to set him free, yet he did not speak to Felix and Drusilla with flattery. Forgetting all selfish considerations, he tried to awaken them to a sense of their danger. The apostle realized that one day they would stand either among the holy around the great white throne, or with those to whom Christ would say, “Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23).ULe 154.3
Few had ever before dared even to hint to Felix that his character and conduct were not faultless. But Paul had no fear of any human being. So God led him to speak about those virtues that are essential to Christian character, which the haughty pair before him so greatly lacked.ULe 154.4
He held up before Felix and Drusilla God’s righteousness, justice, and the nature of His law. He showed that it is our duty to live a sober, temperate life in obedience to God’s law, preserving the physical and mental powers in a healthy condition. There would surely come a day of judgment when it would be clear that wealth, position, or titles cannot deliver anyone from the results of sin. This life is our time of preparation for the future life. If we neglect present opportunities, we will experience eternal loss. We will receive no second chance then.ULe 154.5
Paul especially showed how God’s law extends to the deep secrets of our moral nature. The law searches our thoughts, motives, and purposes. Dark passions hidden from human view—jealousy, hatred, lust, and ambition, evil deeds we may think about yet never do for lack of opportunity—all these God’s law condemns.ULe 154.6
Paul pointed to the one great Sacrifice for sin, Christ, as the only source of life and hope for fallen humanity. As holy men centuries earlier saw the dying agonies of the sacrificial animals, they looked across the gap of ages to the Lamb of God that was to take away the sin of the world.ULe 154.7
God justly claims the love and obedience of His creatures. But many forget their Maker and give Him back hatred instead of love. God cannot lower the requirements of His law. Neither can we meet the demands of the law in our own power. Only by faith in Christ can the sinner find cleansing from guilt and power to be obedient to the law of his Maker.ULe 154.8
In this way Paul the prisoner urged the claims of the divine law and presented Jesus as the Son of God, the world’s Redeemer.ULe 155.1