My older sister told me a story of a woman who attended her church. She was in her 80’s and lived in a nursing home. One night while in bed, she felt a strong prodding from the Lord to go across the hall and speak with a woman who had moved into the facility that day. She told the Lord that she would go over there first thing in the morning, but again, she felt Him urging her to go at that moment. After the struggle continued a few more times, she finally put on her robe and ventured across the hall. The new resident was awake, and the two women sat and talked. Of course, the discussion quickly turned to the subject of Jesus Christ, and after a while, the new resident invited Jesus into her heart as Lord and Savior. The joyful and dutiful woman returned to her own room for a restful sleep and slept later than normal, having been up most of the night. She awoke to much activity and asked what was going on.
“The woman across the hall, who only moved in yesterday, passed away last night, poor dear,” said the attendant.
God speaks to us all in different ways. Some people are much more sensitive to the still, small voice within. Some people feel God speaking the loudest when they are reading the Bible. Others seem to be more aware of their dreams. Some of us need God to tell us numerous times. When God is trying to get me to understand a particular verse, that verse pops up so often that it couldn’t be a mere coincidence! But if we are the Lord’s we do hear His voice:
25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. 26 "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
John 10:25-28 (NKJV)
What if the woman would not have heeded the voice of God? I guess a better way of looking at the situation is that she did, for God had a purpose and a plan. I can’t help but imagine that the woman had friends or family who had been praying for her salvation. Though that intercessory prayer might have gone on for years, they might not know the result until they arrive in heaven and see her. To me, those are the sweetest prayers, as they are devoid of selfish motive. Both Paul and Moses were willing to give up their own salvation if God would not save their people! Do you have a heart for evangelism like that? I don’t think I do, but God is not finished with me. Yet all of us have those special people in our lives that we would love to bring to the Lord, as we know the joy and peace it would add to their lives, and we want to share eternity with them. Sometimes, God will use us in those lives. Yet sometimes, He won’t. This verse is very interesting:
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
Matthew 11:1 (NKJV)
Jesus commanded His disciples to go out and spread the gospel. While they were busy in the Lord’s work, He was teaching and preaching to their families and friends! Sometimes, we lose sight of the master plan of the omnipotent God. He is so much bigger than we imagine. He loves us, and knows the hearts that He gave us. If those hearts are grieving for our lost family and friends, He will go to them. What makes us think that He has to use us?
53 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. 54 And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 "And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" 57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Matthew 13:53-58 (NKJV)
Even the people who knew Jesus as a boy had trouble seeing God in Him. It’s difficult for the people from our past to see anything more in us than the person they used to know. If you ask any of my friends from 20 years ago about my godly influence in their lives, they simply would laugh loudly. Yet with God’s help and my continued prayers, some of those people might find the Lord and see a different person when they look at me.
At my younger sister’s wedding, one of her friends noticed the change in my life and told me that when she was a freshman, they had an all-night prayer meeting with the focus being my salvation! It made me cry, for once again, those prayers have such an unselfish nature. Additionally, those prayers powerfully were answered.
When the Lord puts it on your heart to share His love with your unsaved friends and family, be obedient. But if you feel a closed door, spend your time in prayer for them, stay busy in what He has commanded you, and leave it to Him. He won’t let you down!
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