Accidentally on Purpose: On the Providence and Impartiality of God
First I want to thank Peter for his wonderful post yesterday. It spoke of God's impartial love for sinners. The Living God is no respecter of persons, loving all kinds with equal grace and astonishing mercy.
I had an experience Monday evening that brought this to mind. First of all, for one of the very few times in my whole life I drove off a new car parking lot with a brand new car Monday afternoon. Pretty cool how God provides. Later that day, Gayline and I were itching to take it out for a spin so we decided to drive up to the Jackson Outlet mall to look around. We got there in fine shape with a total of 42miles on my new wheels.
Having done our shopping and then made mention of that little "only 42 miles" detail to Gayline, I started down the drive to exit the mall, and then stopped to pull out onto Route 571, only to have the guy behind me fail to stop when I did. Sure enough he bounced off the back of my five hour old car, leaving a couple of ding marks to show for it.
When I got out I saw that the driver was a 18-ish year old Jewish young man, complete with distinguishing garb. He was mortified, and offered me money on the spot with great sorrow for what he had done. When I sat with Gayline in the car for a moment to think about what I should do, I noticed that I had John Piper's "Quest for Joy" tract in my dash compartment.
How did it get there? Just before I had driven out of my driveway I had to get something out of my other car. When I did, I "happened" to notice the tract, which I thought to pick up, just in case. There you have it: something remembered at the last minute before departure led to something seen at just the right time, led to a Spirit-led moment to pick up that something (the tract) and bring it along, led to timing that put me in that spot and be hit by that young man and be given that opportunity for Christ.
I took the tract, went back to the trembling young man, put my hand on his shoulder,and said: "Tell you what: all I ask from you is that you read this and we'll call it even."
He said, and I quote: "Wow!!"
And that was it. Or was it?
Driving home, Gayline and I reviewed the providence of God in making that whole thing happen. God wanted that young Jewish man, who probably has heard hardly one good thing ever said about Christ or Christians, to have a "wow" moment. Perhaps he will--at least for a few minutes--begin to wonder if maybe not all Christians are "Jew-haters" (pardon the phrase) after all. Maybe for one moment or two he will wonder if Jesus and His followers are really as evil as some of history might seem to suggest. Perhaps for one moment or two, this man might have his heart opened an inch to read, to think, to see Christ as being the Source of all joy that He really is.
I don't know what will come of it, but this I know: my God makes accidents happen on purpose and with purpose. That accident was no accident. God times everything according to His watch. And He is no respecter of persons. Jew, Gentile, drunk, or product of a Christian home: all kinds of us alike need Christ, and all kinds of us alike are loved by Christ.
Heaven will show the outcome. That's all I need to know.
How sweet it is to live such an adventure with such a God..
I had an experience Monday evening that brought this to mind. First of all, for one of the very few times in my whole life I drove off a new car parking lot with a brand new car Monday afternoon. Pretty cool how God provides. Later that day, Gayline and I were itching to take it out for a spin so we decided to drive up to the Jackson Outlet mall to look around. We got there in fine shape with a total of 42miles on my new wheels.
Having done our shopping and then made mention of that little "only 42 miles" detail to Gayline, I started down the drive to exit the mall, and then stopped to pull out onto Route 571, only to have the guy behind me fail to stop when I did. Sure enough he bounced off the back of my five hour old car, leaving a couple of ding marks to show for it.
When I got out I saw that the driver was a 18-ish year old Jewish young man, complete with distinguishing garb. He was mortified, and offered me money on the spot with great sorrow for what he had done. When I sat with Gayline in the car for a moment to think about what I should do, I noticed that I had John Piper's "Quest for Joy" tract in my dash compartment.
How did it get there? Just before I had driven out of my driveway I had to get something out of my other car. When I did, I "happened" to notice the tract, which I thought to pick up, just in case. There you have it: something remembered at the last minute before departure led to something seen at just the right time, led to a Spirit-led moment to pick up that something (the tract) and bring it along, led to timing that put me in that spot and be hit by that young man and be given that opportunity for Christ.
I took the tract, went back to the trembling young man, put my hand on his shoulder,and said: "Tell you what: all I ask from you is that you read this and we'll call it even."
He said, and I quote: "Wow!!"
And that was it. Or was it?
Driving home, Gayline and I reviewed the providence of God in making that whole thing happen. God wanted that young Jewish man, who probably has heard hardly one good thing ever said about Christ or Christians, to have a "wow" moment. Perhaps he will--at least for a few minutes--begin to wonder if maybe not all Christians are "Jew-haters" (pardon the phrase) after all. Maybe for one moment or two he will wonder if Jesus and His followers are really as evil as some of history might seem to suggest. Perhaps for one moment or two, this man might have his heart opened an inch to read, to think, to see Christ as being the Source of all joy that He really is.
I don't know what will come of it, but this I know: my God makes accidents happen on purpose and with purpose. That accident was no accident. God times everything according to His watch. And He is no respecter of persons. Jew, Gentile, drunk, or product of a Christian home: all kinds of us alike need Christ, and all kinds of us alike are loved by Christ.
Heaven will show the outcome. That's all I need to know.
How sweet it is to live such an adventure with such a God..
Labels: Evangelism, Providence, Sovereignty of God
posted by Tim Shorey at
4:21 PM
4 Comments:
Great story Tim... and just like you and Gayline to respond that way-- and just like God to arrange the whole thing. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see this son of Abraham in paradise! Far more precious than the $200 you might have enjoyed a few dinners out with!
Is it also possible that the "couple of ding marks" was God's gentle response to your "only 42 miles" comment? "Timothy my son... don't get too comfortable with this sort of thing..."
I could not help but think that you and Gayline had gone through a test.
Be encouraged with these words from James and Peter.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
The providential testing of your faith reveals to me what God can do with a man or woman who live gospel saturated lives!
All glory to God for His grace in you both!
praise the Lord
now you dont have to be anxious over who will get the first ding on the car
To be sure folks there was much for Gayline and me in this episode! How to express grace, how to hold on loosely to things, how not to worry about the shine and glitter of stuff, how to love people more than polish.
Most of all how to marvel in a sovereign God who orchestrates every moment of life for the spread of His love to sinners of every shape and size.
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