The day was very hot! We were going to drive to another state, but, first, had to run some errands.
My husband tested the car’s cigarette lighter to see if it worked, so we could charge our iPhone while we drove. It did not work. We went to the car dealership. The place was packed with customers, so cars were lined up for service. We wondered if we would make it out of town in time.
My husband decided to go into the dealership and talk to someone. They gave him a new fuse and instructions on how to replace the old one. We were then ready to go, but the car did not turn on. We had to wait for the customers to get through, so someone could attend to our need.
Finally, the supervisor came to help us. Then, another two men came and tested the car. No one could figure out what was causing the car not to turn on. One man put more gas in the car. It still did not turn on. The two men came again and pushed the car into the service area. By now most of the customers were gone.
When we told them we were on our way out of the state, they were very understanding. They caringly said, “Don’t worry; we’ll make sure you can go on that trip.” They were ever so kind!
We had been sitting outside in the heat. Later, another young man came with three bottles of water. (We had our Golden Retriever with us.) He gave us the water, and we started a conversation about where we were going. It so happened that he goes there every year to be with family for a short vacation. We talked for a while.
This young man had tattoos. My husband noticed the stitched name on his shirt. “James,” he read. “That is a Bible name.” (My husband has learned, after listening to me tell about Jesus to others, to always notice the person’s name. My heart was so thankful!)
I asked the man, “Do you know God?” While petting our dog, he did not look up. He replied, “I know that I believe in someone, but I do not know who he is.” I thought, “Oh my, just like the story about Paul.”
I told him, “James, that is the same thing that happened to Paul in the Bible. He was visiting a certain place, and the people were worshipping an unknown God. And he took the opportunity to tell them who the God that they did not know was. That is happening to you. You are worshipping a God that you do not know. Would you like to know who He is?”
The young man was now looking at me, while still petting our dog. I began, “James, now listen. This God is a holy God. He has a Son named Jesus. This Son was His sacrificial Lamb for our sins on the cross. He loves you so much that He willingly gave His life for you.”
James looked closer and more deeply into my eyes. I continued, “James, would you like to know Him now?” He was still petting my dog as he answered, “Yes, I would.” I responded, “Okay, let’s pray. Pray with me.” This young man then believed in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, repented of his sins, and gave his life to Him for His glory.
Light came into his face, and his eyes were now full of light. He then said with a huge smile, “This feels so good already!” My husband and I rejoiced with him. James was unable to move due to the joy that filled his heart! I started to cry. My husband gave a big smile! God, who has known James by name, is no longer the unknown God to him, but the God who he too now knows by name! Jesus!
The mechanic manager came to tell us that there wasn’t anything wrong with the car.
“Looked like it was a fuse error.”, He said. We just looked at each other and smiled. We knew that all this was about Jesus after James soul!
“Abba, Father, You would use the car cigarette lighter to get us to a dealership. And you would cause the car not to turn on and for there to be so many customers that we had to wait, just so we would meet James.”
“Jesus, how You cause us to wait through circumstances for a soul that Your Father has chosen to know You to appear, when we least expect it!”
“Holy Spirit, You give us patience to wait on one thing, while the patience is given not for that but for the soul that is going to believe in Jesus! Thank You!”
And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. – Genesis 15:6
Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. – Isaiah 43:10
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. – Mark 1:15
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. – John 5:24
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. – John 6:29
All scripture is KJV.