I suspect each of you, my Gracious Readers, recognizes the phrase used as the title of this article. You have heard it, said it and may even have a plaque prominently placed on a wall in your home or office quoting it. The familiar phrase serves as a call to preparation, observation, and action. “Be ready!’ is a theme found throughout the New Testament. Paul exhorts his beloved son in the faith, Timothy, to be ready to preach the truth (2 Timothy 4:2) while Peter challenges his readers to be ready to reason (1 Peter 3:15) with others concerning the hope that every believer holds close. Paul urges Titus to watch for that “blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13) while being “zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). We never know when those moments come our way, and we know the feeling of regret when we miss them.
I was driving in the Rochester, New York area in the mid-1980s, and at that time, I regularly picked up hitchhikers and used our short ride together to share the gospel. I do not recommend this activity, which in some jurisdictions is illegal and in all instances is risky. Before you roll your eyes or wag your finger at me, let me tell you my testimony.
I prayed that God would have my path cross with a road-walker needing a ride. Minutes later, I saw His answer to my prayer walking along the side of the road. I looked into my rearview mirror and a large truck (lorry for many of you!) filled its frame. With such a large vehicle following so closely, I determined it would be dangerous to suddenly pull off the side of the road and decided to pass by the walker. Did I miss my “for such a time as this moment?” Surely God would have protected me from a vehicular accident if this was His leading! Did I lack faith? It does not take more than a few seconds for me to thoroughly scold myself.
I prayed again and asked God to send me another opportunity, and our Faithful God did so in only a few more miles. The man I picked up had two broken wrists from falling headfirst off a roof he was working on. You read that correctly! Both wrists broke as he reached out to his head and body from the painful landing. With two broken wrists, he could not even call for help. He urgently needed a ride to the nearest hospital. I told him I believed in the power of prayer to a mighty and merciful God, and I asked if I could pray for his wrists. He looked at me and lifted both hands and said, “I believe God can heal these.” Then, with one injured hand, he pointed to his heart and said, “I don’t believe God can heal this.” What followed in the ten-minute drive to the emergency room was a meaningful conversation pointing to the Great Physician who heals both the body and the spirit.
Did I entertain an angel? (Hebrews 13:2) I have often wondered what happened to this man, and all I know is that my Faithful God directed my steps in a holy and miraculous way. (Proverbs 3:6) He continues to do this throughout my forty (40) years since. While I planned to write you about several recent examples, I must tell you about what happened as I wrote this article. In search of wifi, I am sitting at a local restaurant. A four-year-old boy began waving at me, and for the next 10 minutes, we were besties. Along with his mother, we talked about a lot of nothing and then a bit of something. I wear shirts with Scripture prominently displayed and today I am wearing my Fruit-Of-The-Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) shirt. All the while I am talking with Judson2 the mom is reading my shirt. In this conversation, we did not go over the Four Spiritual Laws3 or the Romans Road To Salvation.4 Did I do enough? I feel my self-scolding coming on. But I know this – I shared the Fruit of the Spirit through wardrobe and through action.
I write this simply as an exhortation to “Preparation! Observation! Action!” I know not how God will lead you to your “for such a time as this” moments. I only know that He will.
