Have you ever done or said something
that you wish you hadn’t? Or have you ever
not done or not said something, that later you
wish you would have? I know I have had both of
these scenarios.
I have had many regrets throughout my life
but one that haunts me more than others;
occurred with a total stranger.
I want to tell you about the time that I didn't say or do anything. I went to get
my car washed and as it went through the process; I sat on a bench in the front of
the building to wait. I sat in a chair and next to it was a bench that could seat four.
While I waited; I decided to memorize scriptures that I had written in an index card
binder. I really struggled with remembering verses, so I was challenging myself to
take every free moment to work on my project.
A young man in his teens, dressed in all black with a spiked dog collar around his neck
and a large silver chain hanging on his jeans came and sat right next to me. He could have sat
any where on that bench but he chose not too.
I glanced up at him and returned to my beloved task. Out of the blue; I heard a small voice
that said, “Talk to him.” I ignored the voice. Again I heard, “Talk to him.” Concentrating on the Word that I was repeatedly reading, I heard the voice a third time. “TALK to HIM!” I asked the Lord, "What am I going to say to him? He doesn’t want to talk to me. And Lord, he is so close to me; he could just read these scriptures himself.” Well, with that, the young man got up and walked away from me.
As I watched him walk away, I felt sick to my stomach. I knew, I had missed an opportunity to
share the Word that I was trying so desperately to memorize. But when I saw the three 10“ white numbers “ 666” imprinted on the back of his shirt, I started to cry.
My car was clean. My heart was dirty and broken. My spirit man was burdened. I was disobedient and rebellious to God. I knew it was Him speaking, but I just didn’t feel like doing
what He wanted me to do. That was the very last time; I ignored God’s voice.
I started to pray for that young man, and continued to pray for him for many years. I often wonder if God sent someone else to talk to him. I hoped and prayed that He did.
I did learn a valuable lesson that day though. I have never missed an opportunity since then to talk to people about the Lord; whether I know it is of God or just my own impression.
Regrets, yes, I have had a few. Most of them I have forgotten. This one however, I will never forget. I share this story often to encourage others, to listen for God's still small voice and then to respond obediently. Each time I share this message; I pray for that young man. I pray that He came to know the Lord and His overwhelming love.
Preach the word; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not,
{whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome}...
2 Tim.4:2 Amplified
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