God Moment

We have all had those special moments in our lives that we know were divine appointments.  These are those times where something happens, the circumstances line up, and we are able to experience God.  Sometimes it is when we need something and it shows up at precisely the right time.  The times where we feel all alone and we pray for God to remind us he is there, and then the phone will ring and it will be a brother or sister in Christ that calls us because they say we are on their heart.  These are those moments where God shows up and we are reminded of His presence, reminded of His glory, reminded that He is a personal, living God that loves us.  Some people attribute these times to chance, or coincedence.  But us believers usually refer to them as "God Moments".

Today was one of those days where I had a God Moment.  I had left my house this morning headed to the church I pastor, Sold Out Church.  I was running a few minutes, as is typical, and needed to get there.  This is not a mere matter of I should be the first one there as the pastor, this is a matter of I have the only key and have to let everyone in!  I can't be late.  It is unnacceptable.  Who knows how the people would feel if they had to wait outside on me.  So naturally I am pretending that I am Bo Duke straightening the curves on my way to the church.  In my '97 Prizm.  Oh yeah, we are talking fast.  It can run a quarter mile in just under ten.... MINUTES.

So here I am, hauling tail to church, worried what people will say if I am late.  And then, the first second of a God Moment.  I see a guy walking down the road.  I am about to go screaming by when he turns, we make eye contact, and he sticks out his thumb for a ride.  What?  Are you kidding me?  I don't have time to pick this guy up.  I am a pastor that is going to be late to the church he is the shepherd of.  But it is hot outside.  Even at 7:50am.  We have been experiencing 106 degree temperatures here in Arkansas of late, so even this early in the morning it is already 90 degrees.  I see this guy and I have compassion.  I can't just let him walk.  Who cares if I am late to the church?  Didn't Jesus say "Love your neighbor as you love yourself"?  I can guarantee you, I sure would not want to be walking down this long, winding road in this heat.  So I whipped my car over and parked in the gravel.  Starting putting everything from the front seat in the back.  The guy gets to the car.  He is very grateful.  I tell him hop in.  Ask where he is going.  Get this... he is walking to the hospital to see his girlfriend that is in there right now.  Are you kidding me?  That is like 8-9 miles from where we are and this guy is walking?  And it is about to get hotter than two squirrels wrestling in a wool sock on a tin roof in Death Valley during the dog days of summer. Man, that is dedication right there!

We go to the church and I open up, the young traveller helps me unload my car.  I tell the my people that I will be back, I am running this young man to the hospital.  We start heading to our local hospital, and he starts asking questions about the church.  I tell him our story, beginning with my own testimony.  I tell him how God has been showing up.  I tell him about Christ and how he has redeemed and renewed this broken man.  He is really listening as I am planting the seeds.  Says he has been thinking about God a lot lately.  I drop him off at the hospital, and he says he is going to come visit us sometime.  He thanks me again for the ride.  I pray with him and for him, for his girlfriend.  Then I started heading to the church, knowing I had done the right thing.

But this story does not end here.  You see, today I was letting a part of our core group, Chris Dendy, preach.  Chris has an anointing, and I don't want to see it wasted.  I want to see him reach his potential in Christ.  So I had him bringing the message today.  Well, Chris calls me and tells me he is running late, that he is just then leaving his house.  I tell him that its okay because I am not at the church myself.  Tell Chris about our hitchhiking friend.  Chris is blown away.  He says, "Dude, have you seen the video I am rolling today to illustrate my sermon???"  I tell him no.  I didn't want to watch it because I want it all to be new to me today, so I can sit back and listen to some good preaching and hear the words God has place on Chris' heart.  So Chris tells me about the video... it shows an internationally known pastor driving down a road and there is a woman walking.  The pastor knows he needs to pick her up.  And as he drives past her, looking at her in his rear view mirror, he still knows he needs to pick her up, but he has to be somewhere.  He doesn't have time.  He passes over a hill as she disappears from sight, all the while the pastor is saying he should pick her up.  He tells us in the video that although it has been years since this real event happened, he still thinks about the woman and regrets that he didn't do what God was telling him to do.  He regrets that he did not pick her up.

We are doing a new series about the things that us believers are called to do.  We are called to care, called to generosity, called to serve, and called to make disciples.  Today Chris was preaching on being called to care.  To have compassion.  And this driving past someone in need was a part of his illustration and teaching.  Now, is that a coincidence, or is that a God Moment?  Chris taught today that true compassion always interrupts.  It is never planned, it is a spontaneous thing.  Well, I was going to be late to the church. I was speeding down the road like the late, great Dale Earnhardt, Sr. I didn't have time to pick up this guy.  True compassion costs.  Have you guys seen the price of fuel?  My family and I get by week to week, usually relying on God's provision more than our money.  I don't have the money to pay for extra miles out of my tank.  I have a gas budget. (Like 99.9% of you reading this.)

Chris also taught one more point about true compassion.  And this is what this story is really all about... true compassion changes lives. I could have passed the guy on by.  I could have went on to the church.  I could have pretended I never saw him. And then I would have heard Chris' message.  Can you imagine the guilt, the conviction that would have placed on my heart!?!  To have heard that illustration, to have watched the video without me picking him up?  I would have had to leave the church mid sermon to go find the guy! Hey, it's a LOOOONG curvy road.  He would have still been there.

Thankfully, however, I listened to the prompting of the Spirit.  I was obedient to what God was telling me.  And because I know God's hand was all over all of this, I know this story is not finished.  This day did not begin so I could write a blog about how I was obedient to God's direction.  This day began so that I could be obedient to God and so I could plant some seeds in this young man's life.  In my heart of hearts, because I see God's handprint all over this, I know that the seed planted is going to grow and one day bear fruit.  I have no doubt that one day this man will come to know Christ in an intimate, salvation relationship!  There was no coincidence at all here.  This was not by chance.  I realize I may never see the guy again.  I know it may not  be today, tomorrow, this week, or even this year that he surrenders to the Lord.  But I know, I believe wholeheartedly that one day He will.  And I know that I did my part in God's story of his life.  Remember, true compassion breeds changed lives.

So if you read this blog, I ask that you will be praying for the young traveller, that God will continue drawing him near and that he will give his life to Him.  And if you read this blog, I pray that you will be encouraged by these words.  That you will be obedient when you are prompted by the Spirit.  That you will be moved with compassion when you see those in need.  That you can share in a God Moment by being obedient to the word of God and loving your neighbor as you love yourself.  Be blessed!