The Forgotten Angels

 

For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand at the latter day

upon the Earth.

                                                                                    -- Job 19:25

 

I've been going around a lot lately like Sgt. Schultz on that old TV shoe, Hogan's Heroes. You know: the crazy old fat Nazi who'd say, "I know NOTHINGK!!!" Every day, it seems, the news gets a little stranger. The more I know, the less I understand.

 

Are current events beginning to dovetail, bigtime, with "end-time events" described in the Bible? Are we getting close to "the latter day"? I don't know. Maybe. I don't think we humans can ever predict when, or understand how. All I know is, as things happen on the chaotic world stage at a dizzying speed, it's getting harder and harder to stay on top of what it all means.

 

An earthquake in Auburn, Nebraska? (Matthew 24:7)

 

I know NOTHINGK.

 

 

Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson first promising that he would NEVER vote for health reform if it meant federal money would pay for abortions, and then in a jaw-dropping turnaround against the wishes of a huge majority of his constituents, he reversed that Saturday, a stunning betrayal of the Nebraska pro-lifers who put him in office in the first place? (Matthew 24:10)

 

I know NOTHINGK.

 

 

A gi-normous snowfall on the Eastern Seaboard snarling up a much-pressured health-reform vote that the Obama Administration wants? Plus an extremely rare White Christmas in Copenhagen, Denmark, where all the socialists are meeting to plot the attempted demise of the capitalists? Plus the discovery by some scientists in lowly Omaha that glaciers in Pakistan are actually getting BIGGER, not smaller . . . all weather events definitely out of human control that are putting major, embarrassing egg on the faces of the false prophets trying to con us out of our money because we're supposedly suffering from human-caused "global warming"?!? (Matthew 24:11b)

 

I know NOTHINGK.

 

 

Luckily, our omniscient God DOES know, and He is hard at work for us, advancing His plan. He's got our backs.

 

But it's hard to keep up. We're all supposed to watch, but not get too alarmed (Matthew 24:6) That's hard, for those of us with a political bent.

 

We're supposed to try to put these events into Biblical perspective, do what we can to prevent or mitigate the harm that's being caused, and not get our pants in a bunch too awful much trying to make sense of it all, since we know there's a happy ending for all who remain faithful (Matthew 24:13).

 

But we ARE supposed to watch, come what may.

 

But THIS is the CHRISTMAS season!

 

WAH! I don't want all this messy and nasty political hubbub, evidence of widespread corruption, Tiger Woods' mistresses, and so forth.

 

I want sleigh bells and presents and candlelight and carols!

 

Well, last week, I got them . . . in a totally unexpected, wacky way.

 

An old friend asked me to write his mother's eulogy. In the process, I heard a little story that has brought me the heavenly peace of Christmas at last:

 

See, my friend's mom had stomach cancer. Despite a brave battle, about a week ago, the medical team alerted the family that the end was near. She was a remarkable, giving and Godly woman, very hard-working and creative. Over the years, she made countless pieces of ceramic, and knitted and crocheted countless afghans and blankets, to give to people out of sheer love. The funeral was going to be hard for her elderly husband and three adult sons, so I was honored to step in to help with the eulogy.

 

The middle brother, Joe, lives in Florida. It has been very difficult for him to have his mother go through the cancer process while he lived so far away. Like most middle children, he is sensitive and extra-caring. So the fear and anguish of his beloved mother's last illness were extra hard on him.

 

Heart in his throat after receiving the phone call, he leaped into action, making plane reservations and clearing his slate at the office, so that he could return to Omaha, hopefully in time.

 

He didn't know if he would ever see his mother alive again. She was unable to talk on the phone. He wanted to say goodbye! His heart was pounding out a distress drumbeat and his eyes were swimming with tears.

 

"Mom! Oh, hold on, Mom! I want to hug you once before you go! Lord, help me! I want to kiss Mom one more time!"

 

He was standing at his armoire, throwing clothes into a suitcase, when all of a sudden, as he pulled a pair of jeans out of his bottom drawer, something flipped out onto the carpet.

 

It was a little ceramic angel . . . made by his mother many years before.

 

Tears gushed even more as he knelt to pick it up, found its mate in the drawer, and set them up on his nightstand. They are "kissing angels." When you place them next to each other, it looks like they are kissing.

 

 

Instantly, into his mind and heart came this reassuring thought:

 

"Don't worry! It's going to be OK."

 

It was as if the angels had given him a kiss of reassurance . . . of confidence and trust that he would get there on time. It was as if his mother herself was right there, with a calming hand on his shoulder, giving him the gift of life just as she'd done when he was born. He felt a supernatural peace unlike anything he'd ever felt before.

 

Joe had completely forgotten about the angels, or where he had put them. But there they were, right when he needed them. Amazing? Yeah . . . well . . . that's God.

 

And yes, he got to her bedside in Omaha in time. They had a sweet reunion before she ascended, in a brush of angels' wings, to her peaceful and joyous heavenly home.

 

For Joe, any fear and doubt he had about death were totally erased. Because unlike Sgt. Schultz, he DOES know something:

 

He knows that our Redeemer lives . . .

 

. . . and He came to us on Christmas, to live with us forever. . .

 

. . . and sends His Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen us whenever we need it. It's incredible! It's amazing! And, like every other detail of the Christmas story that we celebrate this week . . . it's true.

 

While you can never predict when, or understand how, the spirit of Christmas will come to you, if you ask for it. We can never explain it, but the blessed assurance can be yours, if you want it. The peace and joy of knowing that Jesus is real, and eternal life can really be yours simply through belief in Him, are worth cherishing, every day of your life . . . especially on Christmas.

 

This beloved hymn says it best, especially the last few lines:

 

 

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel.

 

Come, Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, King of Heaven. Thanks for reassuring Joe, and all who call out to You.

 

To all those above and still here on Earth: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! †

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas from the Williams Family!

Wishing you the closeness of the Savior and His blessings in the coming year.

The highlight of 2009 was that our eldest daughter Jordan got married.

We thank God for her and her dashing groom, Franco.

He is a delightful addition to our family of four daughters. That's Neely at left, Eden at right, and Maddy as the freckle-faced flower girl.

In a wacky takeoff of Isaiah 9:6:

 

For unto us a son-in-law is given. . . . :>)