Why more people aren't saved.

by John Stallings

What if an airline stewardess walked up to a man while the plane was in flight & offered him a Parachute? She told him just to hold it for the duration of the flight, there wasn’t a problem but just hold the parachute until the plane was on the ground. How long do you think the man would keep the parachute strapped on? In all probability, after a couple of hours he’d look around, see that no one else was wearing a parachute, & slip off the bulky uncomfortable pack on his back.

Now, what if an airline stewardess was called into the cockpit & told by the pilots that the plane didn’t have enough fuel to make it to its destination & would without doubt be ditching in the ocean shortly? She takes a parachute to a man on the plane & whispers to him with a voice trembling with emotion that it’s certain the plane will be ditching in the ocean within just a few moments. Now what do you think the man will do with his parachute? Obviously he’d cling to that parachute like his life depended on it, which would be true. Nothing would change his decision to keep that lifesaving burden strapped on his back. He’d make a decision quick & the decision would be heartfelt & would last to the bitter end of that flight.

Is it possible the reason we’re not seeing people saved in the numbers they were once saved is because all too often the message they hear isn’t one of impending judgment for the sinner? A message that an eternal hell that yawns before them if they’re not right with God? In other words, are we truly presenting salvation as the only way to escape the wrath of God & the absolute certainty of coming judgment? How much of that have you heard lately?

I’ve heard preachers say that we shouldn’t present the gospel as a “fire escape.” I know what the good brother is talking about & I also know that if we preach nothing but hell fire & damnation people will become hardened to it. There is some validity to this. But if sinners don’t hear & hear often that if they die in their sins they’re going to a place called hell, where doors only swing one way & the activities of the day are weeping, wailing & gnashing of teeth, there wont be enough conviction to bring them to a place of decision. Doesn’t that make pretty good sense to you?

Let me tell you a story. The apostle Paul went to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey. He had high hopes. He had been warned by various churches that it would be wiser not to go. When he got to Jerusalem everything went wrong.

Paul was falsely accused of bringing Gentiles into the Jewish area of the temple. A riot took place & Paul was kept from possible assignation by the arrival of Roman troops who took him away under guard to Caesarea.

Here Paul met his first judge Felix, a man with a reputation for killing anyone who opposed him. Felix was also living with his brother’s wife whom he enticed away from her husband. Her name was Drusilla.That's an ancient spelling for -trouble!

Oddly enough, Felix wanted to hear Paul preach, probably just curiosity. Here we have Felix, a very weak man sitting with a woman whom he calls his wife but who is actually his mistress, the wife of another man. Drusilla was the daughter of Herod, who killed James with the sword in Acts 12.

Felix had heard Paul defending himself the day before & he realized the man had incredible talent & was a master speaker. He wanted to hear more. He was also impressed by the power of Paul’s presence & his spiritual charisma. Whatever the reason, Felix was getting ready for the ride of his life. Paul knew that Felix & his paramour needed to hear a good gospel message. One thing I left out that will give you another glimpse into the heart of Felix is that he was also hoping Paul would offer him a bribe, a little cash, to get out of his situation. That wasn’t going to happen.

What do you think a man would preach in a tight spot like this? Would he asses the situation, think about the two adulterers sitting before him & bring a little inspirational sermonette? Not so much. Paul started preaching a red-hot sermon & his first point was Righteousness. Paul felt that the issue of right & wrong was something these two badly needed to hear. This man Felix was such a shameless sinner that he sat (in church) with another mans wife. Paul figured he needed to preach something to them that would bring Holy Ghost conviction. He wasn’t the kind of preacher that could “tiptoe through the tulips.”

Paul’s’ second point was Temperance. Wow! Paul is waxing elephants here. Temperance, Self-control. Self-mastery. Paul, you’re doing well! If anyone needed to hear this it was a man who’d taken another man’s wife.

Then Paul started preaching on Judgment to come. He told them there was going to be a judgment. There is judgment to come & also punishment to come for those outside of Christ.

Then something started to happen. This old hardened sinner Felix started to tremble. Thinking of the implications of his sinful life he said, “That’s enough. When I have a more convenient moment I’ll hear you again.” Why did Felix cut him off? It was probably because Drusilla, sitting next to him, dug her elbow into his ribs & gave him a scowl that Felix recognized. Drusilla was in a hot spot & she didn’t want to hear any more.Isnt it funny that we can get all the way through the singing without babies crying but as soon as the gospel is preached everyone develops a chough?

It’s sad because if they’d let Paul finish he’d have preached his fourth point which would have been Salvation through Jesus Christ’s blood. This was Felix’s great opportunity to get right with God but he didn’t take advantage of it. He was never stirred again in the same way. When God speaks directly to us in some way it’s not wise to brush His voice aside like Felix did. We should always obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

While we’re at it, let's stay with Paul a while & see what he faces next. Now he goes before Festus who isn’t interested in spiritual things, period. He asks Paul if he’d like to have his trial transferred to Jerusalem. But Paul asks that he be tried by the Emperor himself. This presents a problem for Festus. He doesn’t consider himself able to describe religious questions but he felt he had to write something.

At this point King Agrippa comes on the scene, to pay his respects to Festus. A lady named Bernice arrives with him. It seems that she had left her husband to live with Agrippa. Do you feel like you’re watching a Soap Opera?

Paul gives his personal testimony about the road to Damascus. He adds that God had called him to be a missionary to the Gentiles in order to turn them from darkness to light & from Satan to God. As Paul preached, he was interrupted by old Festus saying, “Much learning was driving him mad.” Knowing Paul as we do, what would we expect him to say then?

Paul said that he was only reiterating what the Old Testament prophets had said & King Agrippa should be well aware of this. Then King Agrippa then makes his monumental statement—
Almost thou persuadest me to become a Christian.”

In this story we have three men who were almost becoming Christians. What kept them? Felix & Agrippa had wrong relationships which they weren’t willing to give up & Festus was only mildly interested.

What a sad thing to be “almost a Christian.”

Are you fully trusting the Lord Jesus Christ who bore your sins on Calvary & rose again & is able to deal with any problem you have today? You will never regret taking that step to receive Him as your Savior.


John