That will do for the present; when l find it convenient l will send for you again. Acts 24:25, N.E.B.

It seems irreverent to speak of man's limiting or preventing God from carrying out His plans. Yet, since God has chosen to work with sinful man to whom He has given freedom of choice, man must do his part and cooperate with God, or His purpose has to be changed or abandoned.

The revelation of God to men does not always call forth a full response from them. Hence the importance of cooperating with God. It is God's will that we be freed from the bondage of sin. But the loss of faith makes this impossible. Man often prevents God from doing all He would like to do.

Many, like Felix, believe they should come to Christ but that this is not the time. Later, they tell themselves, they will face up or their responsibility to God. This is one of Satan's great deceptions. This unwillingness to place ourselves before God, this desire for a delay in having God deal with our problem, is an evil and dangerous frame of mind. Once we practice putting off Christ, believing that we still have time, it results in the hardening of the mind against the persuasion of God's Holy Spirit. It is easier for God to deal with men who are openly and definitely on the side of sin, than with one who trifles with the Spirit. "You have received the grace of God; do not let it go for nothing .... The hour of favor has now come; now, I say, has the day of deliverance dawned" (2 Cor. 6:1, 2, N.E.B.).

The only time we have is now. What we do in the future depends on what we do now. Take care lest we silence the voice of God, and miss the supreme opportunity of God's time for us. Let not Satan silence the call of God to your heart.

It is not difficult to appear shocked at the widespread ungodliness that prevails in the world. What is hard to perceive is how the toleration of sin in the life gradually closes the mind to God. We are to be filled with the Spirit so that there is no room for sin. Sin is crowded out by God's presence. This allows of no exception, no hanging on to sin in any part of our lives.