“I’ve mentioned him before,” Stan said one morning, “but you may not remember about my neighbor who has been blessed to be able to travel and see much of the world.”
“I do remember,” I replied. “And he likes to tell stories about his travels, right?”
“That’s right,” Stan said. “I was talking with him last night and he told me a story about someone who may have been an angel he met at an airport near London.”
“An airport angel!” I responded. “What was that all about?”
“It seems that my neighbor and his wife were in England. After spending a few days in London, they made their way to the airport to pick up a rental car so they could drive around various parts of the country.”
“Was he used to driving on the left-hand side of the road?” I asked.
“No,” Stan replied, “and that’s part of the story.”
Continuing, he added, “As he was picking up the rental car and getting all of the instructions on driving, he asked for directions on how to get to Salisbury.”
“They wanted to visit the cathedral?”
“That’s right,” Stan replied, and continued, “as he was getting directions from the rental car person about going through several round-about traffic circles to get away from the airport and onto the road to Salisbury, he was getting a quite concerned about whether he was going to be able to manage.”
“I can imagine,” I said. “Driving on the left, going through round-about traffic circles, and heading somewhere he had never been. Could be kind of unnerving!”
“But then the ‘angel’ appeared,” Stan responded with a smile.
“What happened?”
“While my neighbor was trying to write down what the person was telling him, a British gentlemen spoke up, saying he had overhead the conversation, and that he was heading in that direction. If they wanted to do so, they could follow him.”
“Wow!” I said, “what a blessing. Did they take him up on his offer?”
“They certainly did,” Stan replied, “and my neighbor said that not only did the ‘angel’ help them in getting to Salisbury, something the man said as they headed out was a real reminder for his faith walk.”
“What’s that?”
“As the man got in his car,” Stan replied, “he said to my neighbor something like, ‘Follow me, and be sure to stay real close’.”
“Follow me and stay real close,” I repeated. “That has a wealth of spiritual application! Jesus talked a lot about following Him. I don’t remember that Jesus said we are to stay real close, but that’s probably a given. Maybe this British fellow really was an angel!”
“I can’t say for certain,” Stan replied, “but I do know that God sends people into our lives for His purposes. We just have to keep our eyes and ears open to what they may have to say!”
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Bible verses to consider:
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23.
This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him! Luke 9:35.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for sending your only begotten Son as the way to your eternal presence when it’s time, along with the ability to follow Him while you keep me on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I do not follow Him at all, and too often I do not follow Him as closely as you intend. Please forgive the foolishness of that. And please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead as closely as possible so your will is done in and through me. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of the One I am to follow. Amen.
Think on this: Have you made the decision to follow Jesus as the only way to the Father so you know you will spend eternity in God’s presence when it’s time? If no, why? If you do have the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with following Jesus on this side of eternity? Are you following Him at all? Are you following Him as closely as God intends? If you sense the need for changes in how you follow Jesus, how are those changes going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 