Ice Cream and God's Plan

Even a trip to get ice cream with the kids can be a mission trip. Took the kids to a local ice cream shop. It was a bit late and there wasn't much of a crowd. After the woman took all of the kids' orders, I ordered last.

After she took my order, I told her I was out of Million Dollar Bills. I normally carry Million Dollar Bill gospel tracts, but I was out. I asked if she ever received a million dollar bill. "No," she said, somewhat surprised.

"It's got the million dollar question on the back, and it's a gospel tract," I explained. "Ever heard the gospel?" "No," she said. "Really?" I replied. "You've never heard the gospel?" "No," she answered. "Gospel means good news," I added. "You've never heard the good news?" "No," she repeated.

I pulled out a "God's Plan" gospel tract from my wallet, showed her the cover, which said "God's Plan for Your Life," and told her the good news relates to God's plan for our lives. "Do you know God's plan for your life?" "No," she answered. I asked if she'd like to know. "Yes," she said.

"What do you think happens after we die," I asked. "We go to heaven," she said. "Who gets to go to heaven," I asked. "People who believe in God and choose the right path," she answered. "Well, Jesus did say there's a narrow path that leads to life and few there be that find it," I said.

I then shared with her that the bible says in Hebrews 9:27 that after we die we stand before God in judgment, and God will judge us according to his moral law summarized in the 10 commandments. I asked how she would do if God judged her by the 10 commandments. She wasn't sure. So, I told her that the 9th commandment says, "you shall not lie." I then asked her if she'd ever told a lie, and she admitted she had and couldn't count the number of lies she's told. "But everyone lies," she said.

I explained that God won't judge us in comparison to others but in comparison to his perfect moral law. I shared that Revelation 21:8 says "all liars will have their part in the lake of fire." I explained that our sins separate us from God and that we all deserve to be judged guilty for our sins. I shared that God made a way for us to be judged innocent and have eternal life, though we don't deserve it.

Since customers were coming, I told her the "God's Plan" tract explained what God has done so she can know her destiny will be heaven, and it explains what to do to follow God's plan.

She asked if she could keep the God's Plan tract. I said, "of course you can!" I encouraged her to read it and take the steps that are in it so she could know her destiny will be heaven.

She thanked me for the tract. And my kids got to experience a successful witnessing encountering.

Afterward, we prayed for the woman to read the tract, repent of her sins, and place her faith and trust in Jesus' death and resurrection alone for her salvation. The rest is up to God!