Linda Buishas
Follow me into an imaginary day in heaven. We’re strolling along the streets of gold and meet Moses along the way. He invites us over to his mansion. We meet his guests and wait for our chance to turn to Moses and say, “Moses, tell us the story.” Moses stands up and says, “It looked really bad. They pursued us in chariots, wielding their swords. We were unarmed. But I stood there in faith, held up my staff and said, ‘God, use me to deliver your people.’ The wave came in and swallowed up Pharaoh’s army.” We all say “Wow.”
We spot David across the room. We say, “David, tell us your story.” David stands up and says, “It looked really bad. I was only a boy. The enemy was trying to kill us. Here’s this giant Goliath that all the grownups were too afraid to fight. So, I struck him with my slingshot and a stone and chopped off his head with his sword. That was only the beginning of how God used me.” We all say, “Wow.”
Lovely Esther catches our eye. “Tell us the story, Esther.” She stands and simply says, “It looked really bad. I knew if I die, I die. No one was to approach the king. But God used me to save my people.” We all say “Wow.”
Gideon steps up, “There’s 135,000 enemies. I have 32,000 men, then 10,000, but God said, ‘It’s still too many. Go drink from the creek’ and then only 300 remain. It looked really bad. Then God said, ‘watch this’ and delivered the enemy into my hands and used me to save my people.” We all say, “Wow.”
Then all eyes are on us. It’s our turn to tell our stories. We search our hearts and remember all the ways God had planned to use us, but we didn’t have enough faith or courage to obey. But thankfully this was all only imagined.
One day we’ll be there, because of Jesus, but for now, we’re still here and it’s our turn to deliver God’s people from the enemy. We know the battle isn’t against flesh and blood. Satan’s trying to steal, kill and destroy all that God designed. But greater is He that’s in us than He that’s in the world and no weapon formed against us shall prosper.
It’s our turn to be used by God, from the pulpits to the campus grounds, at home and in public places, and more importantly than ever, in the voting booth. We have the Word, the Holy Spirit. and spirit-filled leaders to guide us. May we allow God to use us to make a difference that lasts throughout eternity.
If we’re asked to tell our story, will we stand up and say, “It looked really bad, but God said, ‘Okay everybody, watch this. I’m sending my best. I’m using them to deliver my people.’” Who knows? Maybe we’ll hear all God’s saints say “Wow.”