Divine Appointments and Missed Opportunities

The Lord has been working on my heart lately regarding stopping short. I think of King Jehoash in 2 Kings 13:18-19 who was told to beat his arrows on the ground but stopped short and true victory was never reached. I look back over the times in my life that I have stopped short, accomplishing the task, but not taking it to the level of excellence that could have been...a missed opportunity.

Yesterday I had a divine appointment to share the gospel with a total stranger at the gas station. I argued with the Lord for a few minutes while I pumped my gas (I actually argued from the time I drove into the gas station, saw the man I should talk to and felt in my spirit I should talk to him.) I struck up a conversation as I pumped my gas (being partially obedient) and found out that he was traveling back to Miami. As I got back into my car I felt that I was not done and needed to finish. I looked at his car and saw the fish on the back. My first thought was, well he already knows the Lord, but I knew in my heart I needed to continue with the mission. I got out of my car and mentioned that I saw his fish and asked if he knew the Lord. His answer was that he did and he didn't. I told him that answer was strange to which he answered he went to church, but that was it. I asked do you know Him? He said he had been too busy. I said it didn't take much to know Him. He made some more excuses to which I said again that it didn't take much to know Him. He said he could tell I was a real nice lady. We got into our cars and drove away. As I left the parking lot I realized I had missed an opportunity. I felt that I needed to ask him if he WANTED to know Him. I did not...I was too scared! As I drove off the gravity of the situation hit me...what if I was the last messenger sent before he met the God of the Universe. What if he was scheduled to die on the road back to Miami and I was his last chance to meet Jesus before he MET Jesus, and I never asked the question. In reality I know that God is bigger than my failures and shortcomings, but at the same time it was a lesson I'll not soon forget. I asked that the Lord would first forgive me and then that He would water the seeds planted. I pray that the man will indeed come to know Him and that I will see him again someday. I also pray for another opportunity to step out in faith a little further.