I know this is long, but please do read it.
so... for those of you that don't know, I drive a GMC envoy, which could be categorized as somewhat of a gas guzzler. Therefore, I fuel up at least once, sometimes twice a week. I also play a taylor electric electric/acoustic, which requires a 9V battery. There is a gas station semi-close to my house that I used to go to almost exclusively, both to get gas, and because they had a generous stock of 9 volts...
In this gas station there was an indian man that seemed to be working EVERY single time I walked in. I got to the point where, if I was outside filling up, and I saw that he was there, I'd walk in to buy a drink or something just so I could say hello to him...and eventually, we ended up being on a first name basis. After a month or so of me coming in and buying a 9V every week, he finally questioned me about it, and so I explained to him that I played guitar, led worship at church, and was the only female in a wildly popular local band (thats right, i said it). He seemed really interested in the fact that I led worship, so... one day I invited him to my church (which was conveniently 5 minutes down the road from there). But alas, he explained to me that he worked every single sunday morning, and couldn't get off (i mean, when did this guy NOT work??). So I began the ritual of leaving a few minutes early for church every sunday so I could stop in to get some cheap, gross coffee...but mostly just to see him and tell him happy sunday :). However, due to higher gas prices/busyness/the fact that I had to do an annoying U-turn to get there, my diligent attendance soon waned, and then stopped all together, for several months. I suppose I just put him to the back of mind.
Well, I stopped in there last night to get some milk on my way home... and when I pulled in, he popped in my head, and I hoped that he would be there...but...he wasn't. It was some guy I had never seen before.
I suddenly had this deep and intense feeling of guilt, failure, and desperation. What if he really was lost? What if I was the only one in the world who cared enough to stop in just to say hello, to invite him to church, and to pray for him?
What if I missed my only chance. HIS only chance.
I was slammed right in the face with the fact that in this world, every encounter with someone can truly be life or death. And it's possible that my loss of interest could mean that man's eternal death. Not to be morbid, or even a pessimist...but it is God's honest truth. I've been asking all night, and day, that God would give me a second chance with that man. Sheesh..what are we on now? Chance 780548376287465 to get it right?
All that giant mouthful to say: Be aware of the people you come in contact with...you aren't just running into them by chance. We should be compelled by the great love of Christ in all that we do. We are called to be His ambassadors in this dying, retched world (II Corinthians 5).
I challenge you to take hold of, and run with every opportunity Christ puts into your path. Always be ready to give a reason for your hope.
Romans 5:1-11
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
