You know those times when your eyes meet with a total stranger, and you can either say,”Hello,” or walk by? This morning at the gym I happened to meet met Lou, a 91 year old man who was just leaving. I asked, “How’s it going, buddy?” He gave me a surprised look, and then began to tell me about how he had just unexpectedly lost his 65 yr old son.
We talked about that for a few minutes and prayed together about the whole situation. Then we talked some more about life and death, and he remarked that he has buried pretty much every friend he ever had.
I asked how it felt to know that he had so many people waiting for him, and he said, “If I get there! I’ve done a lot of thing I wish I hadn’t.”
At 91, he had heard and knew the gospel, and even said he believes it, so I gave him the scripture from 1John 1:9, which says that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Then I talked about the fact that, at 37, I too have done a lot of things I wish I hadn’t, but God forgives. “Getting there” doesn’t depend on my performance, but on Jesus’ work at the cross.
Then we talked about his wife, Jorita Irene, and how she doesn’t get around as well as he does, even though she’s 5 years younger, since she has circulation problems in her legs. We prayed for her too, and I also prayed that God would help him trust solely in Christ and give him assurance.
Then, as we parted, I encouraged him to read the book of 1 John. It was written so that we “might know that we have eternal life.”
We both agreed that it was more than “coincidence” that we bumped into each other this morning.
Guys, being used of God is an easy thing. Everyone you pass by has their own life, each with their own trials, anxieties, and loved ones.
When you choose to love people and make the effort to care about them, God will bring people across your path to reach with His love. He will set up divine appointments.
Make yourself available to God, and He will use you.
Jesus called us to be salt and light. We aren’t supposed to hide our light, but set it out so it illuminates the world around us. Which are you doing with the light God has given you?
2 Cor 2:14 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.”
How are you impacting your world for Christ?