Abraham Terah sat at his tent door in his modest home in the plains of Mamre. He lifted up his eyes to see three unusual visitors passing by. It was the Lord Himself, accompanied by two angels. He quickly ran towards them, bowed in worship and constrained them to stop over for a meal. After the sumptuous meal, the Lord began to release blessings that culminated in Sarah having a baby at 90 when Abraham was 100 years old.
Suppose Abraham sat back and did nothing when that opportunity came knocking? (Gen. 18)
It was at that instance that he began to intercede on behalf of Sodom - where Lot his nephew lived.
When the two angels got to Sodom, with a clear mission - to destroy it, they sat in the open square, where Lot was to pass by on his way home. He saw the visitors and compelled them to go home with him. It was in his home that they revealed their mission to that city and eventually brought him out with his family as the fire of the Lord consumed the city. Again, suppose Lot had passed on and done nothing about the plight of those visitors? (Gen. 19)
Later on, God would put Abraham to test by demanding for his only son whom he loved so much. Abraham did not know it was a test but thank God he obeyed anyway. He passed the test and became the heir of the world (Gen. 22).
How many times have we missed opportunities of being blessed because they weren't so apparent? How many times have we flunked the various tests that come our way because we couldn't recognize them as such?
Think of the Shunamite woman who saw Elisha passing by her house every now and then. She spoke to her husband and they decided to lodge him. That was how her years of barrenness came to an end. Later on her child died but was brought back to life. (2Kings 4)
When a famine was to arise, the prophet instructed to travel ahead of its arrival. So she was spared years of living in squalor. When she returned, everything she owned that was taken away was restored to her. All because of a prophetic encounter. But it all started because she told her husband, "I perceive that this man that passes by us continually is a holy man of God," and thereafter opened up her home to him. Thank God for an equally discerning husband.
Or suppose the widow of Zarephath had turned down Elijah's request for a meal on the 'legitimate grounds' that all she had was her last before she would die? She would have truly died after consuming what was her last. But by recognizing a God-ordained opportunity, she shared her last meal with the prophet of God - in fact he ate first before the woman and her son. That last meal lasted till the end of the famine.
May God open our eyes to the various opportunities He brings our way.
One thing I can bring out in these instances is that God would bring opportunities your way, close enough, but will not force them on you. It's your responsibility to recognize them and then grab them. Seize the moment - whether it's the opportunity to serve in God's house or the need to give to God's work or God's servant, or the need to help somebody in need, I pray you will not be blind to that golden opportunity when it comes knocking.
But why do people miss opportunities? Lots of time it's because these opportunities don't always unveil their potentials. They don't always come on a platter of gold.
In the words of the great inventor, Thomas Edison, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
For some others, it is because the situations and conditions around them don't seem favorable.
"If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done." (Eccl. 11:4, TLB).
I know of people who turned down some suitor's proposal because they didn't look qualified, only for them to be full of regrets later when they see the person they despised doing very well and happily married to some other person who could see what they couldn't see.
Stop the excuses. Maximize the moment. Seize that next opportunity. Take the moment.
God bless you.
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