Angels Among Us

     Last night, my husband and I watched the movie, Heaven is for Real, about a little boy who claimed to have been taken to heaven during a serious illness and surgery. He talked about singing angels and when he asked them to sing a secular song, not particularly godly in nature, they laughed politely, but didn't sing it. Apparently, they are called to glorify God in all that they do, so singing ungodly lyrics is not in their repertoire.

     Reverend Billy Graham in his book, Angels: God's Secret Agents, told of angels protecting missionaries. Here is an excerpt from that book: 

The Reverend John G. Paton, pioneer missionary in the New Hebrides Islands, told a thrilling story involving the protective care of angels. Hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night, intent on burning the Paton's out and killing them. John Paton and his wife prayed all during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see that, unaccountably, the attackers had left. They thanked God for delivering them. 

A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Jesus Christ, and Mr. Paton, remembering what had happened, asked the chief what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, “Who were all those men you had with you there?” The missionary answered, “There were no men there; just my wife and I.” The chief argued that they had seen many men standing guard – hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. They seemed to circle the mission station so that the natives were afraid to attack. Only then did Mr. Paton realize that God had sent His angels to protect them. The chief agreed that there was no other explanation. Could it be that God had sent a legion of angels to protect His servants, whose lives were being endangered?

     In the Heaven is for Real movie, a woman who had lost her son was upset that God would spare the boy that had the heavenly vision, but not save her own son who had lost his life in the war. The father of the little boy, who was also a pastor said that God surely loved both of the boys just as parents they loved their boys. But he didn't offer an answer as to why one son would live and the other son would die. 
     Missionaries have lost their lives for years in various parts of the world. Why would God spare this couple and not others who were working diligently to spread the gospel? Of the original twelve apostles, Judas took his own life after betraying Jesus, but John was the only one to die of old age. The rest of the Apostles of Christ Jesus died from scourging, crucifixions, and the like. Why did John escape a violent death and the others did not? 
     This life leaves us with a lot of questions. Often we wonder about fairness and justice. But, the angels are God's heavenly beings and He can choose to utilize them as He pleases. We too are His created beings so the same is true for us. We don't get to decide what is just and unjust. We don't get to come up with the ultimate plan for the people and animals and even angels that walk this earth. To be at peace and live in union with God, we must strive to be of one accord with the decisions God makes and pray to obey His will, regardless of whether we think something else would be best. Because in this case, the Father truly does know best!

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. 

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.