“I had an appointment over in Wilsonville yesterday,” Stan commented one morning. “It turned out that God had a different appointment for me.”
“What was that all about?” I asked.
“Well,” Stan replied, “I had an appointment with a fellow in the community church over there to talk about setting up a discipleship class.”
“And that didn’t happen?”
“Oh, no,” Stan said, “that appointment occurred and was very valuable, but the appointment God had for me was earlier.”
As I didn’t say anything, he continued. “There was some road construction right near the summit going over Weston Mountain. The construction caused traffic to back up because only one lane was open. The flagger would stop traffic until it was clear to go through.”
“That can be a bit aggravating,” I commented.
“Sure can,” Stan replied. “And in this instance, I was just about to get through the delay, when the flagger held up the sign for me to stop so I was at the front of the line.”
“Front of the line for the next bunch of traffic, rather than at the end of the line for the last bunch that went through,” I replied. “That must have been real frustrating!”
“It was,” Stan replied, “but that’s when God’s appointment occurred.”
“How so?
“I was at the front of the line, feeling more than a little agitated that I was going to be late for my appointment. The flagger came over, I rolled down the window and he told me it would be about a ten-minute wait until it was clear to go through. The fellow then said, ‘I hope you’re not in a hurry’.”
“What did you say to that?“ I asked.
“I told him I was going to be a bit late getting to a church in Wilsonville. He asked me which one, and when I told him he said he lived in Wilsonville and had been thinking of checking that church out.”
“Wow,” I said, “what a coincidence.”
“Don’t think so,” Stan replied. “I believe that God had a divine appointment for me with that flagger. We spent the next ten minutes talking about church and the difference God had made in my life by altering my eternal destination. I gave him one of the pocket testaments I always carry with me, the one that has the Gospel of John, an explanation of the plan of salvation, and how to accept Christ. The fellow thanked me.”
“Do you think he will become a Christian?” I asked.
“Up to God,” Stan replied. “While I do hope so and I will be praying for him, that choice is beyond what I can do. My role is to present the truth and leave it in God’s very capable hands.”
“I will also be praying for him,” I responded. “Did you get his name?”
“I didn’t,” Stan said. “Probably should have, but I didn’t. Anyway, God knows who he is!”
“After all,” he added, “God scheduled an appointment for me with the man! And God’s appointments are always a whole lot more important than mine. I just have to stop and listen to what He has for me to do.”
“As with the flagger fellow,” Stan concluded, “God brings people into my life and asks me, ‘Are you or are you not going to make a difference in their eternal destination and in their lives on this side of eternity?’”
“It’s up to me to be obedient and show up for God’s appointments.”
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Bible verses to consider:
Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel. Philippians:1:12.
It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. Luke 21:13.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you have divine appointments for me that are much more important than the appointments I make for myself. You know, and I know, how many times I fail to pay attention to the appointments you have for me and I miss the opportunity to make a difference in lives and eternal destinations. Please forgive all of those times when I have made what I want to do a priority over what you have for me to do. Please open me to see everything in my circumstances from the standpoint of how it affects what you want for your kingdom, rather than focusing on how the circumstances affect me and what I want to do. Please help me follow every step of your lead. Thank you I can and do bring all of these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted God’s free and gracious provision so you have an appointment for being in His eternal presence when your time here is completed? If no, why? If you do have that eternal appointment, how about God’s appointments on this side of eternity? Are you open to being available for whatever God has for you even though it may interfere with your own appointments? If you sense a need to be more open to see and respond to God’s appointments for you, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 