By Zach Vertz
About a year ago I was driving back to my college, Dallas
Baptist University to head back to school for another week of classes. On the
way, I remembered that I had a few grocery items that I needed so I stopped by Walmart
on the way. I got all my groceries and began to make my way out of the parking
lot. I drove up to the four-way intersection to turn onto the highway but I was
stopped by a red light. I looked over to my left and saw a homeless man holding
up a cardboard sign saying, “Everyone needs a little help sometimes.” At this
very moment the song, What We’re Here
For came onto the radio station KLTY.
I was instantly reminded that we as Christians are here to help people and that
our life isn’t about us. So I rolled down my window and I introduced myself. I
asked him his name and he responded, Cody. At this second the light turned from
red to green and because there were four cars behind me at the time I had to no
other option but to just give him some money and say goodbye.
Now most people
would say, “that’s so nice, what a good deed.” But what was going through my
mind at that second was how was giving him that money and driving off going to
impact his life for the Kingdom in anyway? How was that small gesture going to
win his soul to Christ or heal him?! I then felt like God said to me, "Turn
around and go pray for Cody’s foot, I want to heal him. Also, go take him out
to eat and get to know him." As I continued to drive farther and farther
away I was overcome with conviction to go back to that street corner and obey
God. I thought to myself, “What could it possibly hurt to go back, another
measly $10? 1 hour of my day?” What We’re
Here For continued to play on the radio but I continued to drive the
opposite direction back to DBU until I finally got back. I regret to inform you
that I missed that chance and I will never be able to get it back again. I
couldn’t help but ponder why God had laid it on my heart so heavily to reach
out to Cody that day. God may have wanted to heal him using me but I missed
out. God may have wanted to use me to bless him, to show him that God really
did hear his prayer and wanted to use me to show Cody that He was listening but
I missed out. God may have been grooming his heart for sometime bringing him to
a place of surrender and God may have wanted to save his soul that day but I
missed out. It all boils down to the fact that I didn’t care enough about his soul to reach out to
him. That hurts to hear but that’s the truth. Don't miss your chance to be used
by God. You aren’t here for yourself but to fulfill the mandate of the Great
Commission.
Matthew
28:18-20
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all
authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.
And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
These were the last words that Jesus ever spoke on earth before he
ascended to heaven. Jesus last commandment was for all believers to make
disciples of all nations. That means wherever you are, whether that’s your
home, your school, your team, your job or across the world, our mission in this
life is to be making disciples. Don’t miss your opportunity like I did because
this is What We’re Here For.
You can check out What We’re
Here For at the link below:
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ReplyDeleteDon't over look what the Lord wanted to do in your heart through this missed Oppty. God is all about healing and changing the hearts of the giver and receiver. Just bc we our blessed financially does not mean we are in a better state spiritually. In fact it could be a hindrance to us spiritually. As the rich man who said he kept all the laws but when asked to sale all he had and give it to the poor he could not and lost not only his Oppty but his call to follow Jesus. All his needs were met but yet his heart was sick and needed healing from Jesus but he could not take the medicine that Jesus placed before him. His heart went unchanged and still needed healing. He trade wealth for his salvation. What does it profit a man to gain wealth but lose his soul? Jesus will send someone else to meet this man's needs and he will send u another Oppty to follow him deeper.
ReplyDeleteI have been in the same situation multiple times. There are two stories in particular that come to mind - Both happened at Walmart. The first one was a lady who my fiance reached around (and kindly said excuse me) to grab a folder while school supply shopping for our daughter. She said "I'm so sorry, I'm always in the way. With my family, with friends, and even at stores, no matter where I go, I'm always in the way." I said "oh no you're fine, don't worry". And that was that and we went our separate ways. It brings me to tears every time I think about what I didn't do.
ReplyDeleteThe second thing is a lady who was loading groceries in her trunk, she dropped the bag of potatoes and they rolled all around her vehicle. I was right next to her with my daughter in the back seat, I was already inching out of the parking spot. I stopped and thought 'I should get out to help her pick up the potatoes' but then the fear of rejection crept in and I imagined her yelling at me. I guess it was the look of frustration on her face. I just continued to back out and I left. It also brings me to tears. Especially thinking about what it would have taught my daughter if I had done something these two times. :'(
I think about these two women who I will probably never see again (and if I did wouldn't recognize), quite often and I pray for them. Reading your story and seeing it from a different light has made me realize something. Maybe Cody needed prayer. Maybe you did just that for him and this situation has stuck out in your mind so much that's it's worth sharing as much as you have and now, not only do you get to pray for him but so do we. You have probably blessed him more than you think Zach. And thank you so much for sharing this because it has helped me too. I haven't felt a peace about these two women until now. I thank God for you wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ every day because you help me when it's least expected!
Have a great weekend!!
Also, I think you're right!!! We HAVE GOT to take advantage of these opportunities!
ReplyDelete