Angels in a Strange Land

It was a day that David would never forget. Christmas in Connecticut is a picturesque wonderland, but Connecticut is not home, and David wanted to be home for Christmas.

The first semester was finished, his bags were packed, Christmas was a week away, and David was going home to Chicago. A quick stop down the hall to pick up Joe, and they were off. Joe lived in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, a quick stop on the way.

The ride home had its usual delays. Rush hours through Sunbury, PA and Akron, OH. Certainly nothing like Chicago, but enough to slow down the weary, yet waiting travelers.

By the time they reached Akron, it started to snow. Not serious, but enough to make drivers slow. Ft. Wayne was a welcomed sight for Joe- who was finally home, but also for David, as it meant only three hours to go.

US-30 West, Ft. Wayne to Chicago, two lane highway, farms to the left, more to the right, an infrequent stoplight to mark the way. Not 10 miles out of Ft. Wayne... it hit. A massive winter storm. The winds whipped up, carrying the blinding snow across the road. Twice he felt his tires give way to the slippery snow. The second, however, spun him out of control and into a ditch. The more he tried to speed out of the snowy mess, the furtherer he sunk into the ground.

He remembered the last barn he saw a couple miles down the road, yet wondered if he'd find his way back to the road through the blinding snow… let alone a barn. The minutes crawled to an hour. The snow grew deeper. David could do nothing, but pray: "Lord, help me". But how?

Without notice, there was a pounding on his window. Startled, yet somewhat relieved, David saw a man standing there, decked out in Eskimo gear, his face tightly wrapped closed by his furry hood. He simply lifted up one finger and walked away.

David spun around to see a tow truck, lights flashing, barreling through the snow to the front of his car. All hitched and ready to go, David headed back to Joe's house, the closest place he knew.

Thankfully, by the time they pulled up to the house, it had stopped snowing. Joe opened his front door to see David get out of his car and walk to the house. A quick explanation, a search for a credit card, but when David turned around on Joe’s porch, the truck... was gone.

Strange thing, though: When David returned to his car, he noticed something that he would never forget… in the snow, in the street, there were only one set of tire tracks. His.

While in college, I was leading a youth Bible study. Our discussion- angels. The question? Do we really have guardian angels? Wanting to answer the question from the bible, I said, "You know, I'm not sure".

And with that I set out on a journey through the Bible to see where in the world we ever came up with that idea. My search led me to Hebrews. Not quite to chapter 13 yet, but at the beginning, (1:14), "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit eternal life?"

We're fascinated by angels, aren't we? You won't have to look to far in any book store before you find a book of angels about this, that, and the other thing. Where they are, who they are, what they do, how they do it. Much is speculation, even more, I believe, is simply to sell books. But what we do know is that they are, they serve a purpose. and today we discover that we, at some point, just might have seen one... or two. "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing, some people have entertained angels without knowing it".

Maybe the author had somebody in mind when he wrote this verse, maybe somebody he knew, maybe even he, himself. Most likely, the guy mentioned just a few chapters earlier in the great faith chapter. Abraham.

Abraham welcomed unexpected guests in Genesis 18, with water, some shade, food, even a side of milk. A gracious welcome to what appeared to be three weary travelers. But even more than gracious, far greater than a welcome, a simple act of faith.

There's such a nice progression to the closing chapters of Hebrews, a carefully constructed pattern which is- in its fullness- the life of a Christian. Chapter 11 brings us the faith, which is certain of those things for which we hope. Chapter 12 shows us how our faith is molded and shaped to the glory of God. Today we find in Chapter 13 how our faith is used, how our faith works.

And it is not about the exception (entertaining angels), it's about the norm (entertaining strangers).

His name was Marty and it was supposed to be his night. His long awaited bride was now under his roof. For the first time. June 13, their wedding night.

At 11:00pm, there was a knock at the door. You have got to be kidding me! Marty's bride insisted he ignore it. But he couldn’t. It was- as they say- Marty being Marty. He turned the knob, cracked the door to see his none other than his nemesis, Andy. What on God’s green earth could Andy possible want? The two never agreed on much. Shouting matches became grudge matches. They even became violent a time or two. This was his wedding night.

Well, Andy was running from an attacker, and he knew that- all the differences aside- Marty would open his door.  He was right. The door was opened, and Andy was let inside.

And much to his Katie's surprise, Martin Luther did just that, he opened the door. He entertained not only a stranger, but an enemy, Andreas Carlstadt, on the evening of his wedding, when nobody else would take him in. Was Andy an angel? Not even close. But what Martin Luther did on that night was an act of faith that welcomed not an angel, but… God Himself. After all, wasn't it Jesus who said, "Whatever you do for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."?

Motivation for doing good, for working our faith, comes in the shadow of the cross. Has to. A good work is only a good work when it is done in faith. Hospitality, visiting prisoners, being faithful in marriage, contented living no matter the circumstance. These all are anchored, founded on Calvary. Contrary to popular opinion, the focus is not upon the fact that we are entertaining angels, but the fact that we are, according to Jesus, welcoming Him.

Angels are messengers of the truth, but then again, so are we. Angels are in place to serve, but then again, so are we. If you think about it, the only description which differs between us (as servant messengers) and angels is the fact that angels 1) are holy, 2) were created at the time of creation, and, 3) well, have this uncanny ability to- you know- be invisible. But the whole of Scripture, the center of the existence of the world points to the Son of God, not to the ones attending Him. Fascinating study, yes. Wonderful real-life accounts, absolutely! But the motivation for doing good… not even close.

One set of tire tracks covering the snow. David was convinced that the furry-hooded friend was an angel sent to serve. I won't argue with him. But the true joy in this story comes not in the angel, but in God's answer to prayer.

One enemy knocking on the door at 11pm. Martin Luther is convinced that a foe in need is a friend in deed. I will applaud him. But the true joy in this story comes not in the work of a sinful man, but the faith which compelled it- as the angels in heaven rejoiced!