Angels of Humility: A Novel (38 page)

Jesus took Paul by the hand and pulled him to his feet. With total abandon, Paul flung himself into the waiting arms of his loving Savior and they embraced.

“Now Paul, Heaven is not a barren, sterile place. Everything is alive here; everything is moving and growing. And your spirit will continue to grow. No one stops growing in Heaven; your gifts and destinies are without repentance. Even though you missed out on many of the heavenly rewards I wanted to give you, you’re still a part of the great cloud of witnesses cheering on those who still dwell on earth. I have assignments for you regarding the people left behind. They still have unlimited opportunities to follow My Word.

“Even though you’re not on earth to nurture and bless your wife, you can still support her. Prayers don’t stop when a person dies. Your first assignment is to pray for Kathy and Jordan. Your death didn’t thwart My plan for her destiny. You can pray for her healing and for the new husband that I’ll eventually bring into her life.”

“Oh Lord, You’re so good to bring someone else for her so she won’t be a single mother long. Thank You, thank You.”

“Your second assignment is to pray for the Holy Spirit to empower the new chaplain I’ll put in place. Pray for all the prisoners and their families. Pray for the families of their victims who are grieving.

“Pray for Sarah; she’ll be joining us soon, but she can still accomplish so much in the short time that she has left. Pray that she will be wholehearted and not give in to Discouragement and Depression at the Manor.”

“You’re going to learn and grow and see so much more of My glory. There are many chambers in My heart and many rooms to explore in Heaven. You’ll be My intercessor before the throne, crying out day and night. There’s a great war for souls that never stops; your real life’s work is just beginning. Look back at the earth now. It is merely the womb of life, but choices made there cement eternal futures.”

Suddenly Paul could see the earth and the second Heaven that overlaid it. He saw the angels warring against demons and the principalities and powers over cities.

“I’ll take you into My war room and show you My strategies for the end of the age. Your prayers will help fill the golden bowls before My throne.
¹⁶
You can help plunder My enemy’s kingdom and usher in My victorious return.”

“Oh Jesus, there is no one like You. You are full of love and mercy. You redeemed me when I was your enemy. I only deserve Hell, but even though my sins were great, You have forgiven them all and given me Your righteousness as a gift. I exalt Your name above every name. You are truly King of all kings and Lord of all lords. There is no one like You. Your love and mercy are unfathomable!” This time Saldu’s tears were tears of joy.

“Enter into the paradise prepared for those I love,” Jesus said with a big smile and His eyes aflame with compassion. Flanked by Jesus and Saldu, Paul turned toward the massive, celestial gate still praising his loving Savior.

“This is why eternity is not too long to bow before His throne and praise Him,” said Saldu with a smile, as, arm in arm, they ushered Paul into his eternal home, God’s heavenly city of Paradise.

Sarah woke in the middle of the night hurting all over. Pain was nothing new since she had broken her hip.

Self-Pity was crouching on the bed waiting, “Sarah, poor, poor Sarah. You’re stuck in this smelly nursing home. What’d you do to deserve this? It must have been bad, really bad. You know that the only way anyone ever leaves this place is horizontal!”

“Your life is over, and what do you have to show for it?” asked Depression. “You failed at having kids. You’ll die alone; they’ll sell your house
and get rid of your possessions at a yard sale. The only thing that will mark your life is a square of granite with your name carved on it. Who will even remember you were here?”

My life is almost over. What difference have I made by being here?

“Sarah, don’t buy that lie,” whispered Malta, as he pulled out his harp and began to play a sweet melody. “Your efforts make an eternal difference. This life is mostly about preparing you for the age to come. Every day you are rushing closer to eternity, which is your real life. Invest in the right kingdom—no heavenly pavement down here. Give the last of everything you have to glorify Jesus. He is so worthy of all your efforts. In this nursing home you are His mouth and you are His hands; don’t waste His precious time here.”

That’s right, this nursing home is my mission field, at least for a little longer
.

“His love for you is so extravagant; just receive it and then give it out to everybody you meet. He wants you to lavish the same love and compassion on others as He does on you,” added Joel. “Look at the people around you. In six months, half of them will be living eternally in Heaven or in Hell. You can help them make the right decision. Think how grateful you are that the Lord saved you toward the end of your life.”

“If He really loved you, He’d have saved you when you were 12, not when you were old,” whispered the slimy voice of Discouragement.

“When you feel discouraged, it’s the enemy shooting his fiery darts at you,” said Malta. “He hates you, but you can defeat him by quoting or singing the Scripture.”

Malta played the harp and sang over Sarah, inserting her name in the Scripture. “Sarah is hard-pressed on every side, yet she is not crushed; Sarah is perplexed, but she is not in despair; Sarah is persecuted, but she is not forsaken; Sarah is struck down, but she is not destroyed.”
³

With her spirit empowered by God’s Word, she made up her mind once and for all that Self-Pity and Pride would no longer have a part in her life.

“When the enemy lies to you and when you’re feeling low,” said Malta, “Go find someone else who is discouraged and do something to help them.”

Sarah decided that if she was going to live out the last of her life at the Manor then she would do it with a good attitude. With God’s help she would wreak as much havoc on the enemy’s kingdom as she could, through praise, prayer, witnessing, and any other way the Lord would show her.

Dear Jesus, help me to live a life that makes sense for eternity. Help me to make an impact in Your Kingdom today. Help me to share with the staff and patients, and especially help me to pray, pray, pray all day long
.

She memorized a new Scripture and vowed to quote it frequently. First Thessalonians 5:16-18:
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
She determined that through God’s grace she would have a good attitude so that the staff and patients would see God’s love through her.

With Sarah refusing to entertain the negative attitudes that the tormenting spirits fed on, they left for the day. She had resisted and they had fled. This opened the door for more supernatural activity and intimacy with the Holy Spirit.

Nancy was her aide that morning and she entered the room without knocking.

“Good morning,” chirped Sarah. “Isn’t it a wonderful day?”

“What ever you say, ma’am; that ain’t the way I see it.”

Well come over here, Nancy, and tell me what’s concerning you and then, while you’re getting me dressed, I’ll pray for you the whole time.”

Sarah felt like she had received a picture in her mind from the Lord and decided that this time it would be OK to share it. “Nancy, the Lord just showed me some rosebuds, really tight and unopened. They’re in a vase in the dark. As long as the temperature is cool, they’re not going to open, but then I saw the sunshine on them and the warmth caused them to open right up. They were the most beautiful apricot colored roses—really large. I think the Lord is telling you that you’re like those tight buds and you need
to start exposing yourself to the warmth of the Son and then your life will really blossom.”

Sarah received more revelation. She felt that Nancy’s son was estranged from her, but she was too scared to say it.

“Go on,” encouraged Malta, “Tell her. It will help heal her heart.”

But what if I’m wrong?
thought Sarah.
Roses are easy. This is serious
.

“You’re not wrong, but remember you’ve committed to give it all you’ve got while you’re still here?”

Sarah took a deep breath, but spoke so quietly that Nancy had to ask her to repeat her statement.

“I wanted to know if you have a son.” When Sarah saw the tears start to well in Nancy’s eyes, she didn’t wait for the reply. “Are you estranged?” Nancy nodded as the tears rolled down her cheeks. Sarah grabbed Nancy’s hand. “It’ll be OK. The Lord wants you to know that He’s working on your son’s heart and that within a few months he’ll come back home. But you need to forgive him and not keep bringing up the past. That will only drive him away again.”

Nancy ran into Sarah’s bathroom to compose herself. When she left, she felt genuinely cared for and thrilled about her son.
Maybe prayer does work
, was the thought flowing through her mind.

Barbara visited almost every day and was a constant encouragement to Sarah. “Tell me where to put the push pins on the world map. What countries did you pray for last night?”

“I prayed for Belize, and I prayed for the Cook Islands. I guess I was in a tropical prayer mood last night,” laughed Sarah.

“The Cook Islands? Your prayers are sure stretching my poor geography skills. Where, pray tell, are the Cook Islands?”

“They’re about halfway between Australia and South America. Or, just look for Hawaii and go south. You can find that, right?”

“I’ll have you know I’m not
that
bad,” she replied, rolling her eyes. “Well I’ll be, here are the Cook Islands.”

“Did you make it to the jail this week?” asked Sarah.

“Yes, and I have a special surprise.” She pulled something out from behind the chair. “I took pictures of all the inmates and put them on this bulletin board, all the inmates except Will, that is. He wouldn’t pose without making an obscene gesture,” she said shaking her head.

Sarah laughed, “That sounds like the Will I knew.”

“I’ll hang it here so you can see their faces. They all say “hi,” as always, but Skinner wanted me to tell you that he’s getting out in eight weeks. He’s still so excited that he doesn’t have nightmares any more. He can’t wait to come by and visit you.”

He better hurry
, thought Sarah.

Sarah’s deeper revelation of the Lord’s love for her consumed her every thought; she even dreamed about it at night. It motivated her to endure daily humiliations and embarrassment with grace. Her attitude continued to improve. She studied the Scriptures about the apostle Paul not considering his present sufferings to be worthy to be compared with the glory to come.
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Sarah remembered some of the things that Paul went through for the Gospel: beatings, imprisonment, being stoned with rocks, being shipwrecked and floating in the sea, persecutions, false accusations, sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, being cold and naked.
⁵

Sarah meditated on that and tried to imagine how she’d hold up under all those tribulations. I
can’t believe what Paul went through. I have a warm room and enough food, and not only is my freedom of speech protected, but I have a captive audience
.