By Claudia Koenig
A year ago, we were looking for an area rug in a store. After looking for several weeks, we finally found the style and color we favored. We needed to measure the room for which we wanted it, so we asked the manager if he would hold it for thirty minutes. He agreed. This man was a foreigner, and I could tell his cultural business background was that of a wheeler and dealer. The manager called over an employee, who was a foreigner from a different country than he was, to place a note that read “Hold” on the rug. The attentive young man looked at us and smiled. We thanked him and the manager for their help.
We left and returned in less than thirty minutes. When we arrived at the store, we noticed that a man in a station wagon was loading the very rug we had chosen that had been placed on hold for us. We were shocked!
We entered the store and asked the manager what had happened. He responded that he didn’t know. He called over the young man that had helped us. The young man listened to the conversation without saying a word. The manager held up the sticker with the word “Hold” on it and said, “You see here is the sticker.”
The rug was hanging by hooks that were very high, near the roof. Those hooks had to be worked by a machine. We knew the customer could not have unhooked that rug. The manager continued to insist that he knew nothing about it. The young man looked at us and nodded his head. We could tell the manager was not being honest.
We thought that, perhaps, God simply did not want that rug for us, so we were okay with it. But my heart went out to the young man whom the manager tried to use to cover what he himself had done. We simply told the manager that it was okay and thanked the young man for his help, assuring him, as well, that all was okay. His eyes wanted to say so much, but he couldn’t say a word.
It had been a year since that incident, when I went to the store again and that young man approached me. He said, “It’s been a long time since I have seen you here.” I was surprised he remembered me. I asked him how he was doing. He said, “Just moving forward.” I told him, “You cannot move forward without first looking up to God.” He said it was true that God had to be considered. I asked him if knew God. He said he never thought about it that way. I asked him if he would like to know Him. I explained that God was gentle and would not force Himself to be known; he must really want to know God. I explained that God had a Son who loved him and had given his love for him on the cross for his sins and my sins. I then asked him if he would like to know Jesus as the personal savior of his soul. I explained about heaven and hell and the fact that the choice was his. He said that he would like to know God. I asked him if he would like to pray at that moment. He said that he would.
Just then, another manager came to work on the shelves, and she listened to us praying. The young man stayed focused on our conversation and prayer. He prayed to God, receiving Jesus as his savior, repented of his sins, and asked Jesus to use his life for his glory. Afterwards, in a moment, this young man looked like he knew Jesus. He thanked me over and over again. I told him that I needed to go to the car to get some things for him. When I entered the store, I didn’t see him, so I waited. There he was with that smile. He approached me, thanking me again. I gave him a Bible and a DVD. He shook my hand, thanking me again.
We remembered who we were and the incident with that rug, but we didn’t mention it. All along, God remembered this young man’s heart during that incident and had not forgotten him. We might have lost a rug, but God had a soul to win a year later!
“Abba, Father, you never forget a heart who is seeking You. It amazes me that you kept that young’s man memory on who I was just because You had already chosen him to know Your Son.”
“Jesus, how is it that such incidents are already planned, and that You are watching over them to reap a soul? I wasn’t on a mission for a soul, but You were!”
“Holy Spirit, thank you for leading me into that store and for having that young man there at that very time.” Thank you for preparing his heart over the year so that it would be reaped for Jesus. When it comes to a soul, there is no lapse of time in heaven!”
The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! - Psalm 21:1
He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. - Psalm 24:7
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. - Isaiah 49:15
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified. - Psalm 40:16
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.- Romans 10:10
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, - Ephesians 1:3