There are many
things we do not
know about
angels, and it
seems our
ignorance tends
to makes us
skeptical about
what they do and
about their
actual presence,
or lack of it.
We know
they are
messengers,
servants of the
saved,
protectors,
etc., but we
have trouble
sometimes
fitting those
job descriptions
into reality.
At least,
what we deem to
be reality.
Daniel
and John both
saw angels as
messengers, but
Abraham once saw
two angels who
looked like men
(no wings) and
who were on a
rescue and
judgment mission
to Sodom.
One night two
thousand years ago
some angels brought
word of the birth of
Messiah to some
socially low-class
Jewish shepherds who
were in their fields
with their sheep.
I wonder what
that was like.
One thing is
for sure, it most
definitely trumps a
visit by any king or
president.
The Apostle Paul
said that spiritual
warfare has to do
with angelic
spirits, both good
and evil, in that
dimension that is
all around us, yet
which is unseen.
But, though
the actual warfare
is unseen, that does
not mean we have not
at times seen the
combatants — perhaps
most of the time not
knowing who, or what
we were
entertaining.
It seems that
when such incidents
occur we are unaware
of what actually
happened until we
take time to re-live
the event and think
about it.
Almost 40 years ago
I was involved in
the search for a
small girl who had
become lost in a
large section of
thick woods crawling
with cottonmouth
moccasins and other
creatures deadly to
a 4 year old child.
After being
found unharmed the
next day she was
asked if she had
been afraid.
She replied
that she had not
been afraid because
her friend had been
with her all night.
Imagination?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
On the other
hand I have known of
similar instances
where children did
not survive such
tragedies.
But, their
deaths do not
necessarily prove
they were not in the
presence of similar
friends who escorted
them peacefully
through the ordeal
and directly into
the presence of our
Lord.
That is what
happened to Lazarus.
Edwin S. Barnes put
music to the words,
"Angels we have
heard on high ", and
of course
Mendelssohn put
music to Wesley's,
"Hark, the herald
angels sing".
Though we do
not know all about
them, we can still
sing about these
special beings God
created for our
benefit.
Angels.
It seems we
can't live—or
die—without them.
Christmas 2000 Years
Ago and Now
No one can be sure
of the time of year
when Jesus was born.
For several
reasons I believe it
was in the spring of
the year, but that
aside, the important
thing is that He was
born.
When Jesus came the
first time the world
was in a state of
conflict, and
Israel, His people,
was under the iron
boot of Rome.
He was not
born in a palace in
Jerusalem and was
not afforded even
the primitive
comforts of an inn.
When the
Creator inserted
Himself into His
creation that night
He was surrounded by
the sights, smells
and sounds of a
stable.
Not exactly a
royal entrance.
Further, the news of
His birth caused
problems.
King Herod
was troubled about
it because he saw
His birth as
unwanted
competition, and the
people of Jerusalem
were troubled
because they were
not expecting His
arrival and thus did
not know what to do
with the news.
A secret
birth?
No, not at
all.
An unexpected
birth is a better
term.
The religious
leaders knew what
the scriptures said
about the King's
place of birth and
linage, but they
made no effort to be
ready for it.
Ceremonialism
and liturgy had
taken the place of
God in their hearts,
and as a result they
had a somewhat
ho-hum attitude
about the prophesied
Messiah's arrival.
Had they been
looking for His
coming they would
have had priests on
duty 24/7 in
Bethlehem so that
the word could go
out immediately.
But, that
would have been a
lot of trouble for
something they did
not really pay much
attention to anyhow.
As a result
they missed it.
Instead of the
religious leaders
being invited to
visit the King, some
lowly shepherds in
the field got a
personal invitation
from God delivered
by angels, no less!
I wonder if
the High Priest had
ever received an
invitation to some
event personally
delivered by God's
own angels.
I doubt it.
So, the
shepherds went and
returned in
amazement.
Later, magi from the
east followed a star
to the house where
Joseph had moved
Mary and her baby,
and brought gifts to
the family.
Not only did
they return to their
homelands by another
way, but they also
returned, no doubt,
with a different
heart.
It appears that
things have not
changed much in 2000
years.
Most people
are still not
prepared for His
coming for His
church, and most of
the church itself is
troubled by even the
thought of such an
event.
Imagine such
a thing...Jesus
coming suddenly and
taking His church
out...sheesch!...where
would anyone get
such an idea?!
A secret rapture?
No, not at
all.
An unexpected
rapture is the
better term.
Email authorat
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