FEELING THE BREATH OF AN ANGEL (Part 2)

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it.” —Hebrews 13:2

In the previous blog (Part One), I shared an experience of hearing my grandmother's words: “Don’t be sad, we are here with you.” While I didn’t understand how this was possible, I trusted God that all would be revealed in His time. That time unfolded at Lake Garda.

As my husband and I were driving north through a narrow mountain tunnel, we saw a car traveling toward us at a high rate of speed. Directly behind us, the loud roar of a motorcycle reverberated through the long, darkened tunnel. As the cyclist advanced into the oncoming lane, my husband shouted for me to take hold.

It's important to note that the majority of tunnels in the lake region are quite narrow, with no space for a motorcycle to pass between two cars traveling in opposite directions. When it seemed as if disaster was imminent, a powerful whoosh of air separated all three vehicles. The impossible had happened. Instantly, I knew the force we felt was from the protection of an angel.

The next day we were driving through another tunnel. As we approached a sharp curve, we heard repeated horn blasts from a tour bus speeding in our direction. We were familiar with this stretch of road and knew that neither the bus nor our car could stop in time to let the other pass safely. Again, a whoosh of air separated us, and, like the day before, we thanked God for sending His angel to protect us.

The following day we visited a local outdoor market in Maderno. At a bookstall, I rummaged through a box of old books and reached down to the bottom. My hand took hold of a small book, and I pulled it out. When I looked at it, the title shouted out at me: Fausto e Anna[1]: the names of my grandparents.

As I opened the book, I found that the spine had never been cracked and, undoubtedly, never read. This book, published in 1975 and found in a cardboard box in a small town over 4,700 miles away from my home, was waiting for me. I gingerly fingered my way through the first few pages, and there, on the dedication page, were the simple words Alla memoria della mia Rosa (In memory of my Rose).

What do you think the odds would be of finding an unread book, published in another country, with my grandparents’ names as the title and my mother’s name on the dedication page? Slim to none!

What began as an understanding in knowing that my loved ones would always be in my heart, confirmed the fact that they could not visit me from their heavenly home. Though I do believe that being protected from two car accidents and finding a book with a message inside was allowed through His heavenly messenger, an angel.

Although it’s not what we might expect, the Bible confirms that our thoughts and ways are not God’s thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8). Though we may not fully understand why God chooses certain ways to communicate with us, we must understand that His divine ways are always right and just.

When I put my faith in God, He reassured me, through His Word, not to lean on my own understanding, but to trust in Him with all my heart (Proverbs 3:5). I studied and heard His voice through His Word. He revealed all truths and also reaffirmed that I was to beware and be aware that there are hosts of ungodly messengers (demonic angels and evil doers) roaming the earth, waiting to snare those who are grieving the passing of loved ones by providing information that is not from God and certainly not from those in heaven.

The Enemy is a subtle deceiver who comes as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14) to seduce and trick those who do not know God’s Word. It’s Satan’s job, and he does it extremely well. He’s successful because there are many Christians who do not study and meditate upon the Word and do not understand that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work,” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Scripture is clear: God’s children are not to seek—through mediums, clairvoyants (psychics, telepathists), fortune-tellers, or witchcraft—those who have died. God forbids the practice of communicating with the dead (necromancy). Deuteronomy 18:11-12 says, “For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.”

Can the dead be summoned? NO! However, beware and be aware that anyone who claims to have a messages from the dead is perpetrating a hoax and taking advantage of those grieving the passing of a loved one.

It is important to understand that those who are in the presence of God can not leave His presence. Neither can the dead come up from the grave (until the trumpet is sounded, as revealed in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16) or rise up from the pit of hell. Those who died, and are in hell, are living in horrendous and indescribable torment. Moreover, while they desperately want to leave, they cannot.

In Isaiah 8:19, we read the words of the Lord to the prophet, “And when they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony![2] If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

The first thing to remember is that Satan and his evil forces know the lives of every human being. They can easily reveal all things about a person’s present or past life. Furthermore, the people who are supposedly bringing “departed ones” forward are not the people you want to be near or hear. Be on guard! Evil only begets more evil.

In 1 John 4:1, the instruction is to “...test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” How do we know who is and who is not of God? Verses 2 and 3 provide the answers: “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.”

We are instructed by God’s Word not to be spiritually ignorant. We are instructed to study the Word, to increase our knowledge and understanding. In Hosea 4:6, God said that His people (then and now) are destroyed for lack of knowledge. He was speaking about His people who do not know His law, which is holy (Romans 7:12). In Matthew 5:17 and 18, we learn that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them.

The knowledge and understanding we obtain from the Word of God sustains and continually leads to His throne of grace. Once the Word is planted in our hearts and minds, we will be able to discern the voice of the Lamb (John 10:4), who preaches love and forgiveness, from the voice of evil, which delivers messages of hate and disobedience.

To study is to learn, to learn is to understand, to understand is to know, to know is to attain, to attain is to complete, and to complete is to fulfill the law of Christ. That law, which is the same yesterday, today, and forever, is to love one another.

In order to move forward in my Christian walk, I went back to the beginning, to learn anew from His Holy Word and to strengthen my life with Him. The turning point was when I was willing and open to see what it was that God wanted: a closer, dedicated, unwavering commitment to place Him first in my life.

If you’re a believer and follower of Christ, I pray you continue to seek His Love and Truth found only in the Bible. May you run your race in the knowledge that you’re fighting the good fight, which leads to finishing the course because you’ve kept your faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, please open your heart to Him now. Your salvation responsibility is a simple, but important, threefold action: repentance, forgiveness, and acceptance. When you do this, you’ll see the beauty of the cross as the one and only loving sacrifice ever given to humanity. No one will ever love you as Jesus does. He paid the price and went willingly to take on the sins of the world so that you can have eternal life (Romans 10:13).

Please pray with me: Father God, I come to you just as I am, a sinner who desires to be saved and born again of water and spirit. Please forgive me for my sins. I acknowledge Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord and accept Him today into my life. Thank you for your forgiveness and for Your Word. I pray that through the love of Jesus Christ, I become a blessing to others. And may others become a blessing to me. In His Name, Amen.