January 2003
The Kennedy Space Center boasts the “largest unpaid security staff in the world — 5000 ten to twelve-foot alligators!”
While touring this amazing facility in January, we marveled at the changes in the last five years. Now the entrance security is tighter than any airport. Besides the usual walk-through scanners, every purse and bag is opened and examined. Any sharp objects are taken and not returned. Back packs and luggage are not allowed at all.
Prior to our visit, we stood on the beach and saw the shuttle launch. A few days later, we stood at the launch site. We wondered how terrorists could possibly get in this place. No doubt hidden equipment and cameras scan, laser, and photograph the entire area. While we didn’t see any burly guards with guns, we did see the alligators. Even though the space center is well protected, it cannot protect everyone from everything. The very shuttle we saw launched now lies in pieces, and seven astronauts are dead.
Christian missionaries need security and protection too. A few weeks ago I told of a friend who experienced a terrorist attack on a Christian school in Muree, Pakistan. The missionaries at that school realized that only God’s amazing care kept them and the students from being killed. They wrote a book called “Angels in the Rafters.”
Other missionaries tell of believers who work in dangerous places. One night, a hostile crowd surrounded the home of one man and his family. They feared for their lives, but strangely, the attackers left without harming them. Some time later, one of the would-be attackers was converted to faith in Christ. When asked about that night, he told the missionary that they planned to kill him and his family but were turned back by the sight of hundreds of soldiers standing guard around the house. The missionary had not seen anyone.
The Bible offers a similar story in 2 Kings 6. God’s prophet, Elisha, delivered several warnings to the king of Israel to let him know where the enemy would be camping. This enraged the king of Aram who was at war with Israel. He thought he had a traitor in his army, but one of his officers told him that Elisha was doing this.
The king soon learned that Elisha was in Dothan. He sent a strong force and surrounded the city. The next morning, Elisha’s servant got up and saw the army all around them. He ran to tell his master. Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then he prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.”
The Bible says, “Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses, and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” God’s angels kept them safe.
However, angels do not always prevent death. When Jesus was about to be taken and crucified, He confirmed that God could have stopped it. As the soldiers arrested Him, one disciple drew a sword and Jesus told him to put it back. “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”
A Roman legion consisted of six thousand soldiers. That means Jesus could have summoned more than 72,000 warriors, an army far larger than any group the Jews or the Romans could send. But He didn’t do it, and they didn’t come. Out of love for us, He refused their protection, and allowed Himself to be taken to the cross. He said “no” to protection and security, and instead died for our sins — that we might live forever.
Unlike Jesus, few people can control how long they live, or how they die. For our death, God offers eternal life through faith in His Son. For our life, He offers us the protection of His even more enormous than NASA’s “unpaid security staff.”
Showing posts with label angels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label angels. Show all posts
Friday, August 3, 2018
Friday, May 25, 2018
Are angels real? ............. Parables 746
March 12, 2002
John G. Paton, a former missionary in the New Hebrides, tells how hostile natives surrounded his headquarters. They intended to burn his house and kill him and his family. He and his wife prayed all night. They were amazed when their attackers left in the morning.
A year later, the chief of that hostile tribe became a Christian. Paton asked him about that night and the native man said, “Who were all those men you had with you there?”
Paton said there were no men, just himself and his wife, but the chief told him they had seen hundreds of men in shining garments and drawn swords standing guard around his house. Did that native man see a heavenly host of angels?
Artists assume angels fly from heaven to earth so paint wings on their backs. Hollywood and television shows depict angels like humans and even give them our sinful tendencies. The Christmas story puts golden halos around the heads of angels. Some writers depict them as warriors. Other people think they are more like the fairies of folk lore.
What does the Bible say about angels? First, the word angel means “messenger” implying that angels convey something from God to His people. They are depicted as actual beings that usually take human form but are distinct from both God and humans.
Angels were created before the world and are spiritual beings. They have the ability to make choices (some choose evil and fell from heaven) and have emotions and intelligence. The Bible says they cannot reproduce themselves.
Angels are holy, powerful and do not die. They are usually designated as masculine and ranked in order with various classifications, duties and definite ministries.
Angels appeared in the Old Testament, but not often. Some references describe “the angel (or messenger) of the Lord.” This was probably a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ Himself rather than an actual angel since the Bible also says Jesus is not, and never was, an angel.
The New Testament tells how an angel came to Mary and told her she would become pregnant with the long-expected Messiah. An angel also reassured Joseph that this child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would be God’s Son. Later, an angel directed him to take his family to Egypt so Herod would not kill the baby.
Not only did they predict and announce the birth of Christ and protect Him, angels also strengthened Him after His temptation in the wilderness and at Gethsemane, rolled the stone from His tomb, and announced the resurrection.
While angels also announce impending judgments, inflict punishment, and act as reapers to take unrighteous people from the earth at the end of this age, Hebrews 1:14 says angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.”
For instance, an angel released the Apostle Peter from prison chains. Another stood beside Paul and told him what would happen next and what to do. Jesus told a story about several angels carrying a beggar to heaven after he died.
Scripture is clear that even though angels can take human form, they are not like human beings. They do not sin. Nor do people become angels when they die. Jesus said that when Christians go to heaven, we will “be like the angels” and will “not marry nor be given in marriage” yet angels and humans are distinct beings.
The missionary, John Paton, probably was protected by angels. His story is like an Old Testament account of the heavenly host that protected God’s prophet Elisha when His enemies threatened him. However, Hollywood angels miss the mark.
How can we know if the “angels” people claim to see today are really angels? All angel sightings should be tested by God’s purpose for creating these beings. They are holy messengers who speak and act on His behalf. They are not willful (like people) nor do they exercise mysterious and magical powers. They simply carry out the intentions of God and by doing this, He is glorified.
John G. Paton, a former missionary in the New Hebrides, tells how hostile natives surrounded his headquarters. They intended to burn his house and kill him and his family. He and his wife prayed all night. They were amazed when their attackers left in the morning.
A year later, the chief of that hostile tribe became a Christian. Paton asked him about that night and the native man said, “Who were all those men you had with you there?”
Paton said there were no men, just himself and his wife, but the chief told him they had seen hundreds of men in shining garments and drawn swords standing guard around his house. Did that native man see a heavenly host of angels?
Artists assume angels fly from heaven to earth so paint wings on their backs. Hollywood and television shows depict angels like humans and even give them our sinful tendencies. The Christmas story puts golden halos around the heads of angels. Some writers depict them as warriors. Other people think they are more like the fairies of folk lore.
What does the Bible say about angels? First, the word angel means “messenger” implying that angels convey something from God to His people. They are depicted as actual beings that usually take human form but are distinct from both God and humans.
Angels were created before the world and are spiritual beings. They have the ability to make choices (some choose evil and fell from heaven) and have emotions and intelligence. The Bible says they cannot reproduce themselves.
Angels are holy, powerful and do not die. They are usually designated as masculine and ranked in order with various classifications, duties and definite ministries.
Angels appeared in the Old Testament, but not often. Some references describe “the angel (or messenger) of the Lord.” This was probably a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ Himself rather than an actual angel since the Bible also says Jesus is not, and never was, an angel.
The New Testament tells how an angel came to Mary and told her she would become pregnant with the long-expected Messiah. An angel also reassured Joseph that this child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would be God’s Son. Later, an angel directed him to take his family to Egypt so Herod would not kill the baby.
Not only did they predict and announce the birth of Christ and protect Him, angels also strengthened Him after His temptation in the wilderness and at Gethsemane, rolled the stone from His tomb, and announced the resurrection.
While angels also announce impending judgments, inflict punishment, and act as reapers to take unrighteous people from the earth at the end of this age, Hebrews 1:14 says angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.”
For instance, an angel released the Apostle Peter from prison chains. Another stood beside Paul and told him what would happen next and what to do. Jesus told a story about several angels carrying a beggar to heaven after he died.
Scripture is clear that even though angels can take human form, they are not like human beings. They do not sin. Nor do people become angels when they die. Jesus said that when Christians go to heaven, we will “be like the angels” and will “not marry nor be given in marriage” yet angels and humans are distinct beings.
The missionary, John Paton, probably was protected by angels. His story is like an Old Testament account of the heavenly host that protected God’s prophet Elisha when His enemies threatened him. However, Hollywood angels miss the mark.
How can we know if the “angels” people claim to see today are really angels? All angel sightings should be tested by God’s purpose for creating these beings. They are holy messengers who speak and act on His behalf. They are not willful (like people) nor do they exercise mysterious and magical powers. They simply carry out the intentions of God and by doing this, He is glorified.
Friday, June 9, 2017
Surviving Ursus ................ Parables 599
June 9, 1998
A few years ago, when our youngest was still a baby, we were tenting in a mountain campground. About midnight, Bob and I woke up to loud crashing and scraping noises. We quickly peered out the tent door window. Much to our amazement and only a few feet away was a large black bear.
Bruno was intensely interested in our metal cooler. He straddled it and pulled off the drain spout releasing the smell of food inside which drove him into a frenzy. But batting it ten or twelve feet at a time was not working. After half a dozen swats, he decided to take a run at the door of our tent. He stopped several feet away then whirled back to the cooler. Again and again, he charged the tent, each time coming closer. Soon Bob could smell and feel his hot breath.
Our little guy was still asleep. The older two were awake, shaking in fear. Bob handed me a knife and said, “When I tell you, cut a hole in the back of the tent and take the kids to the washroom.” It was a few yards behind our campsite.
My mind was strangely calm. In fact, running through it were the words of a comical country and western song: “Lord, you delivered Daniel from the lion’s den; now for goodness sakes do something about that bear.” I took the knife, wondering if cutting canvas was difficult.
In a few moments, the occupants of the next campsite drove into their parking space. We had asked them earlier to be quiet because their noisy party kept our baby awake. They left and now were back, obviously from another party.
Getting their attention seemed to take a long time but once they spotted the bear, their bottle-derived courage flared. One started yelling. Soon all four were throwing rocks. The confused bear decided the food in the cooler was not worth this harangue. He lumbered off.
After thanking our rescuers and safely stowing the cooler in the trunk of the car, we went back into the tent. The children went back to sleep. Bob and I enjoyed sudden peace with trees silhouetted on the wall of our tent. About an hour later, we woke again to a new silhouette. The bear was back, but again, we were unexpectedly calm. He snuffed up to the tent, dug a small hole near our heads, then shuffled away. Soon we were sleeping.
Years later, we tell of this strange event. Common sense says we should have been terrified, or at least much more concerned than we were. Yet faith often reassures me of what was really happening that night. God was there — and He taught me at least three important truths.
One is that prayer does not have to be theologically deep, solemnly spoken, in King James English, or said on my knees with heart-felt emotion and pleading. It can take any form, even that of a silly song running through my head. As the Bible says, God “hears the cry of our hearts.”
Second, I learned that God answers the needs of the moment. His response may not be a miracle, nor is He limited to our ideas of what constitutes a miracle. Also, His answers may not come through angelic beings or even pious people. If God wants to meet our needs using the drunken bravery of four partying campers, He can do it. He says, “Call unto me and I will show you great and mighty things which you do not know.”
Third, I learned that when I am in the care of God, I do not have to be afraid; nothing can harm me unless He wills it. That bear may have been the biggest and most dangerous in the park, but God knew how to influence its actions and choices.
Our tenting days are over now. Our children do not even remember that night, but I will never forget it. It is a memory not just because of the bear but because of God’s faithfulness to hear and answer a prayer that was never quite prayed.
A few years ago, when our youngest was still a baby, we were tenting in a mountain campground. About midnight, Bob and I woke up to loud crashing and scraping noises. We quickly peered out the tent door window. Much to our amazement and only a few feet away was a large black bear.
Bruno was intensely interested in our metal cooler. He straddled it and pulled off the drain spout releasing the smell of food inside which drove him into a frenzy. But batting it ten or twelve feet at a time was not working. After half a dozen swats, he decided to take a run at the door of our tent. He stopped several feet away then whirled back to the cooler. Again and again, he charged the tent, each time coming closer. Soon Bob could smell and feel his hot breath.
Our little guy was still asleep. The older two were awake, shaking in fear. Bob handed me a knife and said, “When I tell you, cut a hole in the back of the tent and take the kids to the washroom.” It was a few yards behind our campsite.
My mind was strangely calm. In fact, running through it were the words of a comical country and western song: “Lord, you delivered Daniel from the lion’s den; now for goodness sakes do something about that bear.” I took the knife, wondering if cutting canvas was difficult.
In a few moments, the occupants of the next campsite drove into their parking space. We had asked them earlier to be quiet because their noisy party kept our baby awake. They left and now were back, obviously from another party.
Getting their attention seemed to take a long time but once they spotted the bear, their bottle-derived courage flared. One started yelling. Soon all four were throwing rocks. The confused bear decided the food in the cooler was not worth this harangue. He lumbered off.
After thanking our rescuers and safely stowing the cooler in the trunk of the car, we went back into the tent. The children went back to sleep. Bob and I enjoyed sudden peace with trees silhouetted on the wall of our tent. About an hour later, we woke again to a new silhouette. The bear was back, but again, we were unexpectedly calm. He snuffed up to the tent, dug a small hole near our heads, then shuffled away. Soon we were sleeping.
Years later, we tell of this strange event. Common sense says we should have been terrified, or at least much more concerned than we were. Yet faith often reassures me of what was really happening that night. God was there — and He taught me at least three important truths.
One is that prayer does not have to be theologically deep, solemnly spoken, in King James English, or said on my knees with heart-felt emotion and pleading. It can take any form, even that of a silly song running through my head. As the Bible says, God “hears the cry of our hearts.”
Second, I learned that God answers the needs of the moment. His response may not be a miracle, nor is He limited to our ideas of what constitutes a miracle. Also, His answers may not come through angelic beings or even pious people. If God wants to meet our needs using the drunken bravery of four partying campers, He can do it. He says, “Call unto me and I will show you great and mighty things which you do not know.”
Third, I learned that when I am in the care of God, I do not have to be afraid; nothing can harm me unless He wills it. That bear may have been the biggest and most dangerous in the park, but God knew how to influence its actions and choices.
Our tenting days are over now. Our children do not even remember that night, but I will never forget it. It is a memory not just because of the bear but because of God’s faithfulness to hear and answer a prayer that was never quite prayed.
Friday, December 30, 2016
What about angels? .......... Parables 530
October 22, 1996
Angels are everywhere. They are fashioned into stick pins, earrings, tie tacks, cross stitch designs and wall plaques. They are the topic of books and poems. Three “angels” even star in a television series. Of course all are “good” angels, who do kind deeds and have beautiful faces.
Far from being figments of human imagination, angels are described in the Bible as created beings who do the will of God and act as His messengers. There are referred to more than 300 times in both the Old and New Testament. Most bring messages to God’s people, some are warnings and others, like those who appeared to the shepherds near Bethlehem, bring good news.
There is a negative category of angels too. Jesus’ disciples excitedly reported, “even the demons submit to us in Your name.” To this, Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven . . . Do not rejoice over this but rather that your names are written down in heaven.” Jesus downplayed their focus on demons but did not deny that they exist.
Fallen angels are not like those people who go astray and we call “fallen angels.” People have hope—Christ promises to save and give new life to any who come to him—but the angels who fell from heaven are not similarly blessed.
Jude 6 says, “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these He has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.” These angels are doomed. God “hurled” them out of heaven without offering them a second chance.
The prince of these fallen angels has many names. Revelation 12 calls him, “the great dragon,” “that ancient serpent,” “the devil,” “Satan,” and the “accuser” of God’s people. In another passage of Scripture, Jesus calls him “the liar” and “the father of lies.”
While some say there is no devil, Jesus describes him as an actual personality, a created being who resists God. Others think he is behind every corner and all evil. The Bible keeps a balance. Satan does exist, but we are capable of doing wrong all by ourselves. Furthermore, Satan is not a counterpart to God; he is not all powerful nor does he know all things. He cannot be everywhere. He can disguise himself as “an angel of light” but since God “hurled him out of heaven,” his domain is darkness and lies.
The prophet Isaiah described his rebellion this way: “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’”
With those expressions of pride, Satan lifted himself above God but his ambition backfired. As Isaiah says, God “brought (him) down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.”
Before he is finally judged, the devil “roams the earth, like a roaring lion.” His main activity is putting untrue ideas in our heads in such a way that we think they are true, even that they are our own thoughts. He is subtle and powerful but we are not helpless. Through studying Scripture, we can learn to detect his schemes. Through “the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony and by not loving our lives” we can overcome him.
Christ death and shed blood guarantee forgiveness and eternal life to those who believe in Him. Christians can give testimony to His saving power and we know Satan cannot ruin what God has done for us. Our fear of death is broken. Unlike fallen angels who have been cast into outer darkness, we know when we are “absent from the body, we will be present with the Lord.”
Angels are everywhere. They are fashioned into stick pins, earrings, tie tacks, cross stitch designs and wall plaques. They are the topic of books and poems. Three “angels” even star in a television series. Of course all are “good” angels, who do kind deeds and have beautiful faces.
Far from being figments of human imagination, angels are described in the Bible as created beings who do the will of God and act as His messengers. There are referred to more than 300 times in both the Old and New Testament. Most bring messages to God’s people, some are warnings and others, like those who appeared to the shepherds near Bethlehem, bring good news.
There is a negative category of angels too. Jesus’ disciples excitedly reported, “even the demons submit to us in Your name.” To this, Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven . . . Do not rejoice over this but rather that your names are written down in heaven.” Jesus downplayed their focus on demons but did not deny that they exist.
Fallen angels are not like those people who go astray and we call “fallen angels.” People have hope—Christ promises to save and give new life to any who come to him—but the angels who fell from heaven are not similarly blessed.
Jude 6 says, “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these He has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.” These angels are doomed. God “hurled” them out of heaven without offering them a second chance.
The prince of these fallen angels has many names. Revelation 12 calls him, “the great dragon,” “that ancient serpent,” “the devil,” “Satan,” and the “accuser” of God’s people. In another passage of Scripture, Jesus calls him “the liar” and “the father of lies.”
While some say there is no devil, Jesus describes him as an actual personality, a created being who resists God. Others think he is behind every corner and all evil. The Bible keeps a balance. Satan does exist, but we are capable of doing wrong all by ourselves. Furthermore, Satan is not a counterpart to God; he is not all powerful nor does he know all things. He cannot be everywhere. He can disguise himself as “an angel of light” but since God “hurled him out of heaven,” his domain is darkness and lies.
The prophet Isaiah described his rebellion this way: “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’”
With those expressions of pride, Satan lifted himself above God but his ambition backfired. As Isaiah says, God “brought (him) down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.”
Before he is finally judged, the devil “roams the earth, like a roaring lion.” His main activity is putting untrue ideas in our heads in such a way that we think they are true, even that they are our own thoughts. He is subtle and powerful but we are not helpless. Through studying Scripture, we can learn to detect his schemes. Through “the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony and by not loving our lives” we can overcome him.
Christ death and shed blood guarantee forgiveness and eternal life to those who believe in Him. Christians can give testimony to His saving power and we know Satan cannot ruin what God has done for us. Our fear of death is broken. Unlike fallen angels who have been cast into outer darkness, we know when we are “absent from the body, we will be present with the Lord.”
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Entertaining Angels and the God who is Here ................ Parables 330
August 11, 1992
Remember the first time you tried backing up a trailer? Remember how it twists every direction but the way you want it to go? So no wonder my biggest fear during last month’s camping trip was parking our large tent trailer in a heavily-treed site that does not have a pull-through approach. My husband always does the engineering in our family. I had no experience with that rig and my confidence level was zilch.
But I was willing to try; my daughter and her two girls were depending on me. So we registered at the camping centre and found our site. I pulled past the narrow, tree-lined opening, put the van in reverse and turned the wheel in what I hoped was the right direction.
Suddenly a stranger appeared at my window. “Would you like me to do that for you?” Without hesitation, I jumped out and watched him park our holiday vehicle. We said thank you and he was gone. We giggled for hours about this “angel.”
The next day, Karen struggled with a small propane barbecue. Neither of us could get it burning. Suddenly another stranger appeared, “Would you like me to do that for you?” He lit it, then was gone. Just like the other man, he appeared out of nowhere and disappeared the same way. We never saw either of them again.
Later on we talked about these strangers who answered our prayers for a safe and enjoyable camping trip. Were they really angels? And we wondered if they also intervened in some unknown way so we did not encounter the bear and her cub that reportedly were in the campsite. Maybe they protected us from other hidden and unknown dangers as well.
Even if our speculations had no foundation, we are sure that the big thing I feared the most (parking that rig) and the little annoyance that Karen struggled with were neither too big or too small for the loving notice of our God. He cares, and whatever and however He managed it, two people were in the right place at the right time to help us. Thank you, Lord.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is God’s promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Even though there have been times when I have felt deserted and alone without a friend, or just plain lonely in a crowd, God has continually reminded me that He is with me. Sometimes He causes a subtle sense of His presence, sometimes a spectacular emotional awareness, but His promise does not include either. Nor does He say He will always supply handy helpers when we struggle or do not know how to carry on. He simply says He is there — what a comforting thought to grab hold of and believe.
Of course the Bible says God is everywhere, but if our concept of God is that He is our heavenly Father (with all its images of personality), it is difficult to understand how He can be everywhere. But if we think of God as an entity like wind or atmosphere, the idea of Him being personally with us has no meaning. This combination of an omnipresent God that personally walks beside us with great care and compassion boggles our minds. And that is the way it should be — God is far more than we can comprehend.
Yet in our inability to fully understand Him, He does make Himself known. Jesus promised to all those who believe in Him that we would experience the reality of God with us — He makes Him known. Furthermore, we often see Him in the lives of others who follow Him, in the joys and the trials of life, and certainly in the people who appear out of nowhere to help us.
Were they really angels? Maybe not. But God used them to make us aware that He cares for us — and aware that He is not limited by snaky trailers, women drivers, and two people who can’t find the right end to light on a gas barbecue!
Remember the first time you tried backing up a trailer? Remember how it twists every direction but the way you want it to go? So no wonder my biggest fear during last month’s camping trip was parking our large tent trailer in a heavily-treed site that does not have a pull-through approach. My husband always does the engineering in our family. I had no experience with that rig and my confidence level was zilch.
But I was willing to try; my daughter and her two girls were depending on me. So we registered at the camping centre and found our site. I pulled past the narrow, tree-lined opening, put the van in reverse and turned the wheel in what I hoped was the right direction.
Suddenly a stranger appeared at my window. “Would you like me to do that for you?” Without hesitation, I jumped out and watched him park our holiday vehicle. We said thank you and he was gone. We giggled for hours about this “angel.”
The next day, Karen struggled with a small propane barbecue. Neither of us could get it burning. Suddenly another stranger appeared, “Would you like me to do that for you?” He lit it, then was gone. Just like the other man, he appeared out of nowhere and disappeared the same way. We never saw either of them again.
Later on we talked about these strangers who answered our prayers for a safe and enjoyable camping trip. Were they really angels? And we wondered if they also intervened in some unknown way so we did not encounter the bear and her cub that reportedly were in the campsite. Maybe they protected us from other hidden and unknown dangers as well.
Even if our speculations had no foundation, we are sure that the big thing I feared the most (parking that rig) and the little annoyance that Karen struggled with were neither too big or too small for the loving notice of our God. He cares, and whatever and however He managed it, two people were in the right place at the right time to help us. Thank you, Lord.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is God’s promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Even though there have been times when I have felt deserted and alone without a friend, or just plain lonely in a crowd, God has continually reminded me that He is with me. Sometimes He causes a subtle sense of His presence, sometimes a spectacular emotional awareness, but His promise does not include either. Nor does He say He will always supply handy helpers when we struggle or do not know how to carry on. He simply says He is there — what a comforting thought to grab hold of and believe.
Of course the Bible says God is everywhere, but if our concept of God is that He is our heavenly Father (with all its images of personality), it is difficult to understand how He can be everywhere. But if we think of God as an entity like wind or atmosphere, the idea of Him being personally with us has no meaning. This combination of an omnipresent God that personally walks beside us with great care and compassion boggles our minds. And that is the way it should be — God is far more than we can comprehend.
Yet in our inability to fully understand Him, He does make Himself known. Jesus promised to all those who believe in Him that we would experience the reality of God with us — He makes Him known. Furthermore, we often see Him in the lives of others who follow Him, in the joys and the trials of life, and certainly in the people who appear out of nowhere to help us.
Were they really angels? Maybe not. But God used them to make us aware that He cares for us — and aware that He is not limited by snaky trailers, women drivers, and two people who can’t find the right end to light on a gas barbecue!
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