What are all the angels? They are spirits sent to serve those who are going to receive salvation. – Hebrews 1:14
Listen to “Angels Among Us” by Alabama
280 times the Bible speaks of angels and yet they could be the most misunderstood beings in all of creation. I believe they remain a mystery to most of us.
Space does not allow a thorough examination here so I’m going to leave it up to your curiosity and diligence to pursue the subject for now. However, this beautiful true story from Billy Graham’s book, Angels may just whet your appetite to learn more.
On a dark night about a hundred years ago a Scottish missionary couple found themselves surrounded by cannibals intent on taking their lives. On that terror-filled night the couple fell to their knees and prayed that God would protect them. It was a horrible time. Intermittent with their prayers, the missionaries heard the cries of the savages and imagined them coming through the door to take their lives.
As the sun began to rise, to their astonishment they found that the natives were retreating into the forest. The missionaries were absolutely amazed and filled with joy. Their hearts soared to God. It was a day of rejoicing! The couple bravely continued their work.
A year later the chieftain of that tribe was saved. As the missionary spoke with him, he remembered the horror of that night and asked the chieftain why he and his men had not killed them. The chieftain replied in surprise, “Who were all those men who were with you?” The missionary answered, “There were no men with us. It was just my wife and myself.”
The chieftain began to argue with him, saying, “There were hundreds of tall men in shining garments with drawn swords circling about your house, so we could not attack you.”
That story is considered one of the greatest stories in missionary history and was provided by the almost legendary missionary, John G. Paton of the New Hebrides. What a glorious story for today’s church, a story not often repeated or experienced, yet one that does have contemporary parallels.* Maranatha!
*Quoted in R. Kent Hughes, John,That You May Believe
