WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FOLLOW AN ANGEL?

“Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.” (Acts 12:9 NIV)

Following an angel is a surreal experience.  Peter was in prison, chained between two guards.  The church earnestly prayed for him.  The night before his trial, an angel appeared to him.  The chains fell off his body.  The angel told Peter to follow him.  Peter, in a trance like state, followed the angel out of the prison to freedom.  The experience was surreal to Peter.  He didn’t think he was actually walking out of the prison.  Peter thought he was seeing a vision.

Following an angel is a surreal experience.

I have never had an encounter with a heavenly angel, not that I’m aware of at least.  I do believe God places angels here on earth.  People who are at the right place at the right moment.  People who say the right thing at the right time.  We don’t know when an angel is among us:

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2 NIV)

We’ve talked about loving your neighbor, this gives a new aspect to people we encounter in our lives.  Angels are amongst us.  The stranger on the street, he might be a heavenly host.  We never know.  I have had experiences that have left me wondering.  One happened thirty years ago that I’ve not forgotten.

I was working my way through college.  I worked at a hotel as a night desk clerk from 3:00 p.m. -11:00 p.m.  I had fallen in love with someone who didn’t love me.  I was in the midst of realizing this ugly truth when God sent an angel.  I was at rock bottom.  My heart broken, I had given up trying.  I can remember so vividly, standing at the front desk.  I was wearing a black and white skirt, with a black straight jacket and white blouse, my uniform.  I was filing away guests room cards, feeling sorry for myself.  A gentleman walked up and placed two ceramic angels in front of me.  They were kneeling in prayer.  He simply said, “God wants you to know, you have 2 angels watching over you.”  Then he walked away.  I never saw that man again.  I still have those angels, they are still watching over me.  Somehow, I broke the wing of one of them, it’s symbolic for me of my imperfections.

You don’t know who you are entertaining.  Any one of them might be an angel.  If they are, you won’t forget the experience.  When you encounter an angel, no matter how, it is a surreal experience.

Question of the Day:

Have you encountered an angel?

Further Reading: 1 Kings 19:1-21NIV,Acts 12:1-23 NIV, Psalm 136:1-26 NIV, Proverbs 17:14-15 NIV