North Carolina pastor Mark Courts was on his way to a revival one evening, and was running late. He hurriedly pulled into a full-service gas station. As he sat in his vehicle, he felt God leading him to share the Gospel with the young man who was pumping gas. He argued with God: I don’t have time, I don’t have the ability… He pulled away from the gas station, promising God (and himself) that he would return to that same station the next night and speak with the young man.

The next night’s revival service lasted longer than expected, so he couldn’t return that night. He did return to the gas station the next morning, and was surprised to find the station closed. Puzzled, he began to pull away—until he noticed the wreath on the front door.

He noticed a small note hanging beside the wreath. Numbly, he walked toward the door, knowing what he’d find written there. Sure enough, the young man had been killed in an automobile accident the day before. Mark had missed an opportunity that wouldn’t come back again…

At that moment, he recalled the biblical story of King Saul. Because Saul was disobedient, God had no choice but to “put him on the shelf” and call another person to be His appointed king. When we let once-in-a-lifetime opportunities slip by, we’re running the risk of forcing God to “put us on the shelf,” and find someone else who’ll be more willing to do His bidding. (And, of course, that’s not to mention the irreparable damage we can do to others by refusing to minister to them.)