“Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.”
Acts 8:28-29. (NAB)
An angel spoke to Philip, telling him to go down the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza. As Philip headed down that road, he noticed a royal chariot. The Eunuch riding in the chariot was the treasurer for the Queen of Ethiopia, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah in his chariot. The Holy Spirit told Philip to run up to the chariot. Philip ran to catch up to him and when he came alongside him, he asked if he understood what he was reading. The eunuch immediately invited Philip to join him and explain the prophet Isaiah’s writing to him. Philip began to share his faith, teaching him how the prophecies of Isaiah, pointed to the Messiah, who was in fact, Jesus. During that brief ride, the Ethiopian man became a Christian convert, and asked to be baptized, so Philip baptized Him and then they went their two separate ways.
Sometimes God briefly diverts our plans and we end up somewhere we never planned to be. He may lead us to a person for only a brief time, but for a special purpose.
Many years ago I was visiting a Vineyard church and someone invited me to attend an Alpha group in a church member’s home. I went to the Alpha meeting and met a lady there, who was also a first time visitor, named Teddy. I found out she lived only two blocks away from me, and we became friends. I would pick her up and bring her to church services and Alpha meetings.
Teddy had a serious health problem, but was searching for meaning and hope in her life. When I met her, she was in remission from colon cancer but recently learned it had spread to her liver. We spent many good times together, going to Alpha meetings, church services, and even dancing in Greek town on weekends. I saw her transform, as she found peace and strength through a deeper relationship with Jesus. Her faith upheld her during all the ups and downs of that difficult period in her life. It was a very brief friendship, because the cancer in her liver quickly progressed and she passed away within the year that I met her.
I think about our short but vibrant friendship, and how she solidified her faith. That brief friendship was my “chariot” experience, because I feel like I jumped into Teddy’s chariot and took a short ride with her, doing my small part to make her chariot ride more purposeful. All that she really needed and longed for at that time in her life was satisfied through a deeper relationship with Jesus, and the brief friendship that we shared.
Teddy found an inner peace to help her continue on her life journey, until she was called into the loving arms of Jesus. Whatever chariot God leads us to climb into is always in sync with His perfect timing. Is there a chariot that the Spirit is directing you too?
Lord, lead us to the chariots where we might briefly share our faith with someone, according to the perfect timing you have planned for all of our lives.