The Fish Got Away

The Fish Got Away

Don is a good man with a God fearing wife. He has heard the gospel a hundred times yet still not ready to receive Christ. My wife knew that he loves fishing, although she hates fishing she asked me to invite the couple to go fishing anyway to get an opportunity to share Christ.
We went to west Branch Lake and fish under the bridge. We caught nothing from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. Not even a hit. Don is a seasoned fisherman and catching nothing just bored him to death.
We didn’t talk much. I sprawled on the rocks and just stared at the drifting clouds floating by. I begun to talked to God and said ‘ What do you want me the tell him? Don has heard the gospel so many times, what else can I say..? ” I paused a while and said again ” I will tell him this… ‘Don, I am going to pray to God and ask God tol let me catch a fish this big… I opened up my arms wide … about 20 inches long. and when I catch that fish, I am going to ask you if you are now ready to believe in God.’ ”
After praying, I stood up and cast my line – aware that I was in the same spot for 6 hours and had caught nothing.  Within 5 minutes. I was wrestling with a big fish. I reeled it in and the fish just dragged my line away. Now, Don was shouting with excitement “Fred, get your pole pointing upward, or you might break the line.”
“How big do you think is the fish?” I asked ” At least 15 pounds” Don said.
I started to tell him what I told God.  He just yelled and said ” focus on your fish Fred and don;t loose him”. I dragged the fish to about 5 yards away and at my jerk, the line snapped and the fish got away.
I sat down and asked Don point blank ” God answered my prayer Don… Are you ready to receive Christ? ” “Not now Fred” he retorted.

The fish got away. I can feel in my heart God is saying to me ” Fred, I will answer your prayer… but man has a choice.”