Excerpts

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Books about angels. Books about heaven. Heartwarming stories of visions, miracles, spiritual experience, hope and faith in Angela Buck's books of inspiration about walking with angels on earth and in heaven. Angels Walk With Me and A Walk In Heaven.

Excerpts Library

Excerpts From "Angels Walk With Me"

"An Angel On My Bus" "I Fed An Angel"

"The Holy Ghost And A Miracle" "A Cripple Walks"

Excerpts From "A Walk In Heaven"

"A Beam Of Light" "Entertaining Angels"

"I Walk Through Mansions" "Diamonds In Heaven"

"An Angel On My Bus"

An excerpt from "Angels Walk With Me"

The darkest hour is just before the dawn. It was 4.00 A.M. All the horrible things I had experienced the last few months pounded me like a heavy hammer. How the devil tormented me, "See, I told you," he said, "you are not called to preach".

Those words pierced my whole being and never was I more sure than now, that I was not called to preach, or do anything else for God.

As the bus pulled out of the depot for home, I closed my eyes, and tried to shut out Satan's tormenting words, but couldn't. "You'll never do anything for God. You're a deluded woman". I wanted to stop my ears as he flooded my mind with such thoughts.

Believing those awful words, I literally shook with cold chills. All the things that were said about me at my home church came back to haunt me too, and I couldn't get any relief from the torment. Again, I thought how nice it would be to see an angel. Such thinking seemed foolish, but I was glad for any pleasant thoughts at this moment, no matter how ridiculous they seemed.

Suddenly the bus stopped in the middle of nowhere. It was still dark out as I looked through the window at the lonely stretch of highway."That's odd," I thought. All the times I'd ridden on a bus before, it had never stopped except at designated places. Straining to see out the window, I could see a peculiar looking man standing there.

Then a strange and exciting feeling came over me as the bus driver opened the door and He climbed the steps. As He walked down the aisle toward me, God's Presence drew very near. Then He sat down directly across the from me and one seat ahead of me. I couldn't keep from staring at Him. His clothes were drab and worn but appeared to be immaculately clean and the Presence of God was so powerfully strong!

"Could this be an angel?" I thought, "It couldn't be." At that moment I felt as if something wonderful was about to happen. But the devil's presence was strong too.

"Some angel," I heard him say, "Just a halfwit that can't drive a car."

Then he, raised his hand and shaking his finger, seemingly toward the seat in front of him, Said sharply and with authority, "Satan, the Lord rebuke thee."

Soon the bus stopped again in the middle of nowhere and he stood up as if to get off. Everyone else on the bus appeared to be either asleep or unaware of the whole thing. But, at that moment, I felt a hand at the base of my neck, forcing my head up and suddenly, I was looking into a face that shined brighter than the noon day sun. A face completely void of lines and wrinkles that so characterize the faces of men, as the result of burdens, worries and hardships of life here on earth.

It was impossible to tell His age. There was not even a sign of aging. For aging came into this world when Adam sinned and there is no sin in heaven. His face was all glory and joy, and as I fixed my eyes upon that face, that same joy seemed to penetrate into my very being like liquid fire, burning away all sadness and gloom.

Then, he smiled! Oh for just one glimpse of such a smile from heaven. Truly eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it even began to enter into our earthly hearts all that God has prepared for us in heaven.

No words can describe that smile for it came from the very throne room of glory. And the expression oh his face clearly said without any words, "Everything is going to be alright, I am going to bless you." Then he walked toward the front of the bus, and when the driver opened the door he seemed to fade away, and the bus started up again as if the whole thing never happened. But when God says He's going to bless you, dear reader, He's going to bless you, and nothing this side of Heavens glory can stop it!

"I Fed An Angel"

An excerpt from "Angels Walk With Me"

While thinking on a recent sermon that I heard concerning angels, a knock sounded at the door. I peeked out the door and there stood an unusual looking man.

"Can I help you?" I asked, as I looked him up and down. His clothes were old and tattered, but there was no trace of alcohol or tobacco. "That's odd," I thought.

"Could you fix me something to eat?" he asked with unusual kindness.

His gentleness too was above this worlds and caught my attention. As he spoke, his face lit up with an extraordinary joy, and there was not even a trace of wrinkles or age. Remembering what it was like to go hungry, I answered. "Yes, of course. Come in."

"No, I'll just wait out here on the porch," he said politely.

While I went into the kitchen and hurriedly prepared a sandwich I kept thinking on that sermon, especially recalling the scripture in Hebrews, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares".

"Is it possible?" I wondered. My hand trembled as I poured a cup of coffee to go with the sandwich. After handing him the food, I sat down on the other corner of the porch, and watched him eat. I was strangely drawn to him and felt a wonderful peace and joy, and seemed compelled to tell him of my wonderful experience only a few weeks before, how Jesus saved me and so changed my life. But strangely, as I talked, my words seemed to minister more to me than to Him. God's Presence was very strong.

And then looking straight at me, He said, "I know, I know."

At that moment, it seemed, he did know! And knew all about me too! Then he smiled, and my whole soul seemed to melt into liquid love. Men can't smile the way an angel can. There's too much dirt and debris of sin in this world that robs us of the true smile of heaven. For a moment, I sat enthralled by the deep peace and joy on His face. Truly, I was on holy ground. Then I bent down to pick up his empty plate, and suddenly looking back up, he was gone!

We can never experience all the joys of heaven down here. At best, we only get a glimpse of them now and then. In Ephesians 1:14, God tells us we can only receive the "earnest" or a tiny down payment of what awaits us in heaven. But one day, if we're faithful to His love, we shall receive all the wondrous glories of heaven. Truly the joy I beheld that day, stamped deep on my heart and remained with me a long time.

My new life wasn't all angels and mountain tops though. But dear reader I would like to stop and quote what President Roosevelt once said. "Far better it is to have done mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even checkered by failure, then to take rank with those poor spirits who neither suffer nor enjoy much because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."

And as you will see, dear reader, that I can truly say from first hand experiences, that one mountain top blessing is well worth many valleys of suffering.

"The Holy Ghost And A Miracle"

Excerpt from "Angels Walk With Me"

As I dressed for church that morning, strong forces from the devil came against me, I didn't know that he was fighting me because God was about to do something. Later though, through experience, I would become somewhat wiser to Satan's devices.

Stopping at a church in Junction City, Kansas for morning worship, the Holy Ghost urged me to get up during the song service and go pray for a certain lady. The devil said, "The pastor won't like you doing that," and tried to make me fearful by bringing to my remembrance past experiences.

But I managed to rise above what he said and quickly went over to where she was and laid my hands on her. Immediately the Holy Ghost began blessing her and she stood up and shouted repeatedly, "Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus."

Then the Holy Ghost fell throughout the sanctuary. Many wept, others spoke in tongues, while some went to the altar to seek a closer walk with God. One old saint, eyes tightly shut, danced around a violin laying on the floor. I watched as her feet came within a fraction of an inch of that delicate instrument, but never touched it! We had a glorious time in Gods Presence.

Afterwards, the pastor got up and said, "I don't know these people, but I feel we should take up an offering for them".

"Wait a minute", I thought, "We don't need it, we're on our way to a revival." And I started to stand up and say so, but just then, a firm Hand touched my shoulder, and it was as if I was glued to my seat and couldn't get up, even though I tried. Beloved, God knows what He is doing, even when we don't, and it was impossible for me to stop him from taking up an offering of fifty five dollars.

Out in the motorhome, as we were getting ready to leave, Bill looked over at me with a grin. "I didn't tell you," he said. "But without that money, we wouldn't have made it to Nebraska. We we're stone broke and the gas tank is nearly empty."

Praise God, we chalked it down as our first victory. But we soon learned that this was not the end of our trials and testings, by no means, but just the beginning of a long, and tedious journey that would be full of trials, temptations, tears and hardships. But, there would be more victories too, even greater than this one. And often we would walk with angels and with the "Fourth Man" in the fire with joys unspeakable and full of glory.

"Our rig won't go anywhere on empty," he argued, aggravated at my statement.

But, feeling as if it were a matter of life or death, I said, "I don't care if we have to push that motorhome, I've got to be in church tonight!"

Reluctantly, that evening, he drove me to a little church just two miles away. But after looking at the church, I had this awful feeling and just sat there in my seat. Bill was losing his patience with me by now, after a very trying day, and said irritably, "Well, are we going in or not?"

"No, I---I don't want to," I answered him sheepishly.

Looking at me in unbelief, he half yelled, "What do you mean, you don't want to?" Then abruptly sitting his coffee cup on the dash and gritting his teeth as if he couldn't take any more foolishness, added, "You said you just had to be in church tonight."

"But, this is not the right one," I pleaded, as I glanced out at the church, not really knowing why I felt that way myself.

By this time Bill had regained some of his usual patience, and after taking a deep breath said, "Well there's another church on down this road a few miles." Then, looking at the gas gauge and shaking his head at me as he started up the engine, added, "But, I don't think we'll make it.

We seemed forever getting there but finally hearing familiar music from the little church as we drove into the parking lot lifted my spirits and I hurriedly jumped out and headed for the church door before Bill had time to shut the engine off.

There was only a handful of people in the sanctuary, yet I felt a stirring within me from the Holy Ghost that this was right on target. Almost immediately, while everyone was singing, the Holy Ghost led me to walk over to the piano player and lay my hands on her.

Instantly, she stood up and began dancing in the Spirit. Glory to God! It was a chain reaction as the Spirit of God fell first on one person and then another until all the sanctuary was filled with His Presence. Continuing to obey the Holy Ghost, I quickly ran over to where the pastor was standing and laid my hands on him too, not knowing until later that God healed him of parkinson's disease at that very instant! It was a glorious service!

"A Cripple Walks"

An excerpt from "Angels Walk With Me"

"Bill, we've just got to do something," I said one day as we were driving to Missouri.

Not understanding how burdened and anxious I was to see God do more, he replied, "We are doing something!"

"I don't mean just going around to small churches and preaching, I mean something more," I insisted. I was really getting aggravated because he didn't know what I meant.

But finally, after more persuasion he agreed and we decided to rent the A.T.M. building in Joplin for three days, and advertise salvation and miracle services. But we can't get ahead of God, He has a time, to fulfil a promise, a ministry, a prophecy and He's not going to do it ahead of His time, no matter how hard we try to twist His hand.

The first two nights had passed and only a handful of people came out. I was so fearful on the last day that God wasn't going to do anything. As I prayed in the building, the devil said, "You gave up everything and this is all the ministry you'll ever have. How long can you exist with no income and no adequate food, etc.?"

I knew that if God didn't do something soon, we couldn't keep this up indefinitely, and thinking on the future, I literally shook with fear. Then I heard His reassuring Voice, "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

That night, though the crowd was again small, I could feel something was about to happen. A young man brought a woman in a wheelchair. I watched as she tried to worship, but she was too crippled to raise up her hands. God had given me a message on "I Am that I Am". And I began to speak on how Jesus was the same yesterday, today and forever. Suddenly in the middle of my message I said, "If you come up here, God will heal you".

"Oh Lord, why did I say that?" I thought as the woman in the wheelchair started up to the front as fast as she could. I wished right then that I could say, "I didn't really mean it!" But it wasn't me at all, it was the Holy Ghost. And praise God the Holy Ghost don't lie!

But because of my lack of faith, I directed everyone else that needed prayer to form a line beside her, so that she would end up at the far end. And I sighed with a little relief when I looked up and saw her way down at the other end. Then I started praying at the opposite end, hoping that by the time I got to her, she would have just disappeared like a bad dream. But I finally got to her and she was staring at me wide eyed, waiting to get out of her wheel chair.

Quickly I called for Bill to come and help me pray. Then I called everyone else too, hoping that I could kind of hide in the crowd. But as soon as we started praying, she began shaking and rocking back and forth.

"Bill, hold onto her," I said frantically, afraid she would fall out of her wheel chair and get hurt. But the Holy Ghost was too strong and in spite of our efforts to hold her down, she finally managed to stand up. And to everyone's astonishment, as she continued to weep and praise God, she kicked the wheelchair out of the way and kept on standing and worshipping for about half an hour.

After the service, I was still staring in shock at her legs as she walked out. And while someone folded up the wheelchair and carried it out, God seemed to say to me, "Nothing is too hard for me, so don't be afraid to wait on me. The future is in my Hands and I shall perform all that I have promised."

"A Beam Of Light"

An Excerpt From "A Walk In Heaven"

A beam of light came down toward me, moving me upward into the heavens. Suddenly the most wonderful feeling of being loved swept all through me, surrounding me in its powerful arms. All my disappointments, hurts, sorrows and trials seemed to fade away instantly like sunshine after a storm. A white veil parted revealing images whose faces beamed with extreme happiness. I could hardly look at them for their brightness; there was no stress, worry, anxiety, pain or discomfort about them whatsoever. How I wished right then that this wondrous scene might never pass from me.

Suddenly a Voice said, "Soon the joy of this moment will be yours forever."

On earth, happiness, shadowed with burdens, disappointments and apprehensions of unseen tomorrows are no more lasting than a rainbow fading before our eyes while we hurriedly gaze upon it. Its beauty was only meant for a moment in time, but beyond the imperfections of this life, lies the glories of Heaven.

Passing white clouds, we came to the pure river of life, as clear as crystal. (Revelation 22:1) An angel stood there with a bright robe in his arms. He reminded me of the angel I saw twenty years before while on a bus coming back from a revival in Arkansas.

Right then I could vividly recall the harsh trial I went through, and how I fell under its cruel whip. Hot tears of humiliation fell on my cheeks, and like a whipped puppy, I fled back to Kansas City in defeat. But the God of the discouraged and downcast, reached down His big hand to me.

The Greyhound Bus I was on stopped in the middle of nowhere and a strange man got on. Suddenly an unseen hand pulled my head upward and I was looking into a face that shined brighter than the noonday sun and a window opened into my soul letting in all the light of heaven, lifting my spirit into a glorious Presence. His Voice was soothing, like the voice of many waters, and He said to me, "Everything will be alright." And, dear reader, when God says everything will be alright, we can be sure, everything will be alright.

But, what was this robe the angel held in his arms? It was so bright I couldn’t look directly upon it? "It is your robe." the angel said with kindness in his voice.

"Mine?" I questioned, "But, I cannot wear it. It’s too glorious." Sensing that the robe’s worth had not so much to do with earthly value but with how faithful I’d been while in my trials on earth, I felt unworthy to wear such a robe.

"You cannot wear it now," the angel said,"Your trials are purifying you and when they have completed their work in you, you shall wear it. Look," he said, "It has your name on it."

The angel held up one corner of the robe and I could see letters etched in pure gold. But the letters didn’t make any sense, and I said, "That‘s not my name."

The angel smiled reassuringly, "It is your new name, you cannot understand it‘s meaning now. Wait until God is finished with you, then you will be able to understand the meaning of your new name, and you will wear it with great joy. (Revelation 2:17) And as you go from place to place in this eternal glory, others will greet you and say, "What is meaning of your new name," and you will know how to answer because you have been made wise through your sufferings and trials."

I reached out my hand and felt the robe with my fingers and wanted so much to wear it, but thinking back on all the trials I had gone through, and all that I might yet face, I drew back in fear, and wondered if I could ever wear it.

"Do you know why your robe is so bright?" he asked

Glancing at the angel and then at the robe, I shook my head no.

"One day, you shall know why," the angel said with a wide grin, and turning his face toward the clouds, he added, "Come, there is much for you to see.

The beam became brighter and raised me higher until we were surrounded in rich jewels, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires! And the gold, it was so smooth and shiny. I could only stare in utter amazement at the beauty. Seeing how I was making over it, the angel said, "This gold is of no value to God at all."

"But, it would probably be worth millions on earth," I argued.

"This gold is of no worth to God at all," he repeated.

"You’re right," I thought. "God could speak solid gold planets into existence if He wanted to."

Looking at me with piercing eyes, the angel said, "You are worth far more than all this gold and all these jewels."

"Me?" I shouted.

"Yes, you and all who love Him and have stayed true to Him through fierce trials. For the trial of your faith is much more precious to God than Gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire." (1Peter 1:7)

"Entertaining Angels"

An excerpt from "A Walk In Heaven"

As we journeyed further, I kept looking at the angel, and each time I did, he smiled. Then I realized there was something about him I couldn’t quite figure out. Twice before, I met an angel with that same penetrating smile that could lift up, even the most downcast soul.

"Should I know you?" I asked him.

"You were just twenty." he answered, with a kind look in his eyes.

Suddenly I shouted, "You were the angel that came to my house on Patterson street. At church, the night before, I heard a sermon on entertaining angels unaware, and all that morning, I thought on what it would be like to see an angel. And when I heard a knock at my door, I had this feeling like something wonderful was going to happen to me. I’ll never forget when I opened the door and saw you standing there."

Right then he looked at me with that same penetrating smile, and said "And I asked you for something to eat, remember?"

"Yes I remember," I said. "And I quickly went into the kitchen and fixed you a sandwich and a cup of coffee and sat with you on the porch while you ate it, just so I could tell you about my experience with God only a few days before. But all the while I talked, you just kept smiling as if you already knew. And when I reached down to pick up your empty plate, suddenly I looked up and you were gone and I never saw you again."

"Are you sure you never saw me again?" He said with a wide grin.

Just then I thought, "That same smile, that same look of kindness that lit up my whole being." And suddenly I shouted, "You were the angel on that bus, when I was coming back from a revival in Arkansas, too." By now, I was so excited, I was nearly out of breath.

"I remember it so well," I said. "The enemy had been attacking me for days, almost convincing me God wasn’t with me," I continued. "And I thought of giving up, when suddenly at four a.m. in the morning, the darkest time of the night, the bus stopped in the middle of no where, and you got on. I’ll never forget what happened when you turned your face toward me. It was as if I was looking through a window into heaven, and all the glory of heaven poured out from that window into my soul, flooding me with it’s peace and joy."

Suddenly, looking at the angel, I realized who he was, and I started to bow down and kiss his feet. But the angel quickly stopped me saying, "It is God that you felt on that bus, and that made you so happy."

How I wanted at that very moment not to go back to earth, where often I couldn’t feel God’s Presence, and had to walk by faith through desert places. Oh Lord, I cried in my soul, "How long must I wait until I come here to stay, and be in thy Presence forever?"

We came to a river bed full of gold nuggets the size of soccer balls. Their deep yellow, glistened in Heaven’s light, while a stream of pure water steadily washed over them. "You know," the angel said, "The memory of things here is much deeper than you can understand now.

"What do you mean," I begged.

"Remember, on earth, how you use only a portion of your brain, well here you will use it all," he said. It was impossible for me, in my present state, to grasp the depth of those words, and I was afraid to ask the angel to explain more.

"I Walk Through Mansions"

"An excerpt from "a Walk in Heaven"

The angel took my hand, and we journeyed further. Clouds parted, and I could see many mansions off in the distance. Drawing closer I had an overwhelming desire to see my mansion. "Could it be possible to see just a tiny glimpse of the one that’s for me?" I begged.

The angel seemed to ignore my pleadings, and moved on in silence. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him," he finally said. Feeling a twinge of selfishness, I said nothing more. Yet somehow, I could feel God understood me, and loved me very much, in spite of me.

We then came to a wide river in which the waters were very swift, and it seemed while crossing I was being emptied of something, causing me to feel unworthy and undeserving of what God had prepared for me. Then suddenly, on the other side of the river, stood a huge mansion made of pure gold as bright as if it were the sun itself.

Trembling, I drew near, and could see a door made of pure gold. Just then, the door partially opened, letting out a glow that penetrated through my whole being, comforting, and reassuring me. I wasn’t sure which was greater, the joy I felt or the beauty I saw. It all seemed to fill me physically, mentally and spiritually at the same time. Like the warmth of a family close together by a blazing fire on a cold winter night or a cool July morning surrounded by the smell of flowers, or coming home to the sweet aroma of food, and laughter, after a long day in the field.

We drew closer and joy poured into my soul like torrents of water from a thousand rivers. Oh how earth’s grandeurs dwindle into nothingness in the light of even one drop of heaven’s glory. Just then I dared to look inside, and it seemed almost as vast as the oceans, yet filled with warmth and fullness, as if one could never be unhappy again. The jewels, the gold, the rich beauty related more to the inner senses, the mind, heart and soul, rather than the outward senses of the body.

I started to step inside, but a strong, yet gentle hand held me back. Strange, as I stood on that threshold of immense glory, joy flooding my whole being, I experienced the same unworthiness I felt earlier while crossing the river, and right then I wanted so much to please the One who made it possible for me to be here.

Suddenly like a veil taken off my heart, I could see that much of my earthly labors for Him were mixed with bits of selfishness, envy and other self like things, and feeling hopeless I vowed to do better. Just then a comforting Voice said, "I understand your struggles, and the sincere intents of your heart and I know that you love Me."

Suddenly, glancing up, I saw a figure of a man standing inside the door almost within arm’s reach. His robe was blinding bright like snow when the sun shines on it. His face was radiant with love, unknown on earth. His eyes penetrated my heart and seemed to know everything about me, yet He did not judge me as men would judge me. His expression was full of understanding and kindness. His hands, big and secure, as if to lift the weight of the whole world off the shoulders of some wounded and bent soul, were stretched toward me.

And the wounds, still so vivid in His hands, seemed to wash away every sorrow, and deep inside me I heard the words, "A bruised and bent soul I will not break, for I desire to heal the broken hearted." Right then, I could just picture Peter in a storm, walking on the sea to Jesus, when suddenly, he saw the violent waves, and as fear gripped his heart, he began to sink. But Jesus reached out His big hand, and said to him, "Oh thou of little faith, why did you doubt me?"

Just then His hand was so close to me. "If only I could touch Him." Then, I felt the tips of His fingers touching my hand, and suddenly, like electricity, strength and joy surged all through me. I could say time stood still, but in Heaven there is no time. Then suddenly, it was all gone. I tried hard to hold on to what I saw, not fully grasping that someday, this would all be mine forever.

"Diamonds In Heaven"

An excerpt from "A Walk In Heaven

A saint was standing near by, of what age I couldn’t tell, for age has no part now. Angels were gathered around her with studied expressions.

"Are you wondering why the angels look so intently on this woman?" the angel said. "She has gone through much suffering. Her husband beat her every time she went to church. Her children grew up, and some of them turned away from God, leaving her with nights of sorrow and worry. She watched many in her church grow cold, and fall into a form of worship, and satan said to her repeatedly, "What’s the use, You might as well give up."

But with each attack, she looked toward heaven, and boldly proclaimed her faith in God, and He would whisper back to her, "Cast not away your confidence which has great recompense of reward." (Hebrews 10:35) Each passing year, she grew weaker, still, she held on to her savior, knowing the day was soon coming when she would at last see Him face to face. How many times had she thought on that scripture, "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord," and tears of joy would stream down her face as she anticipated that moment when He would actually say those words to her.

How she tried to picture it, yet it was impossible to even imagine such a wondrous scene. For our eyes have not seen, nor our ears heard, nor can we even begin to imagine what He has prepared for those who love Him. (1Corinthians 2:9) Finally, the long awaited time for her had come. She had endured until the end. What eternity of glory would be hers now, what eternal Voice she would hear, so full of love and compassion for this worn and bent soul.

She had born well His marks, now He stood by her as He always had, knowing every mark she bore for Him, not one of them escaped His eyes. He had not forgotten even a whisper from her lips, not one prayer, not one groan or tear, it was all there before Him. He had written it down in His eternal book of remembrance, He understood every intent of her heart for Him. Even when she was accused of having wrong intentions, causing her much hurt, and trying to convince her that she didn’t really love Him.

What tactics satan used! What wrenchings of the heart. She couldn’t understand it all then. It was too deep for her. But He understood, and He wrote down every detail in His eternal book. Standing before Him now, seeing the nail prints in His hands, looking into His piercing but loving eyes, which seemed to be an open book into all that she suffered for Him. And at that moment, she understood why she suffered as she did.

It all seemed to make sense now, yet none of her past sufferings mattered anymore. The pain and sorrows of years past, were now like a flicker in the night, like a brief winter day cut short by the early darkness. And now, this eternal morning washed away every tear, the painful thorns have at last changed to bright flowers, dark sunless hours have turned to eternal days of light."

We met a saint in our journey who seemed almost ashamed to be here. I started to ask him why, when suddenly I was looking downward into a blazing fire. I could see a man reaching his arms out of the flames, waving them desperately and screaming for help. Lifting my eyes and looking at this saint, he said, "That was me you saw in the fire. I grew up in church but became very disillusioned by what I saw, and vowed that I would never darken a church door again, and that’s just what the devil wanted to hear me say. Soon, I was drinking and doing just about everything.

One day, going ninety miles an hour, I lost control of my car and suddenly I started over a cliff, when the car stopped with the front wheels in mid air. I could actually see God’s big Hands holding the car up, still I wouldn’t give in to Him. Another time, while drinking at a bus stop with some buddies, we got into an argument, and someone pulled out a gun and shot me. Laying there with blood spilling out of my chest, I heard a Voice say, "How long will you go your way and not listen to me." Even though I trembled, I thought of my experience as a child, and my vow never to darken a church again, and I said to myself, "I won’t go back to church." The doctors said it was a miracle I lived but I soon forgot about it.

Later, I married and had a beautiful little girl, but my wife and I fought continually. Often, I stayed out all night. At times, God would talk to me but I wouldn’t listen. Our daughter grew up, and took up drinking too, and got hooked up with some guy who ruined her life. But sometimes when I was alone, I’d seem to hear God say to me, "Why didn’t you take her to church when she was little." Tormented over that, I drank all the more. One day, I came home and my wife was gone. After that, I took a walk across the bridge and said to myself, "Jake, you blew it, there’s nothing left for you to do."

All I remember is climbing over the edge and falling into the river below, and the weight of my clothes instantly pulled me into darkness. Suddenly, remembering as a boy in Sunday School how Jonah in the whale’s belly, prayed to God, I cried out to Him to save me. But dark waters quickly engulfed me, and I couldn’t breathe. Suddenly, I seemed to be at the edge of a great lake of fire, and the flames were pulling at me, eager to draw me into them, but I felt strongly that if I let God have His way, and mean it in my heart, I could be saved from the torment that lay right before me. Yet I still shuddered at the thought of going back to church after my childhood experiences.

Then all at once a Voice, forceful and clear spoke to me, "It is people who have failed you, not Me." Just then, I remembered reading where God said to Moses, "Tell them the great I AM has sent you. (Exodus 3:14) And suddenly I realized it! He’s always been the great I AM. It’s people that change, but He has forever remained the same, and with all my heart I vowed to trust Him, and at that instant I opened my eyes in a hospital bed."

Listening to him, and thinking of some of my own experiences with church people, I asked him, "Did you ever have any trouble with people after that?"

"Oh yes," he said. "But, God would say to me, "Jake, keep your eyes on me, not on people." And when I did that, I was alright. One day, my wife came back to me, and my daughter started coming to church too. Shortly after that I got sick, and went to the doctor and he said I only had a little time left. I went home and prayed, and God said, "You finally did what I meant for you to do on earth, so be at peace, fear not." And, five months later, I came up here and you know the best part?" he added.

"What?" I asked, anxiously.

"I’m waiting for my wife and daughter to join me!" he answered.

Traveling further, I could see gold colored mansions off in the distance with a rainbow over the top of each one. Right then a saint came to us wearing a gold crown with many gems on it. "On earth I was a cripple," he explained. "Almost my entire life I laid at the gate of a very rich man begging for crumbs from his table. My body was covered in sores and dogs came and licked them. I had nothing, my only comfort was knowing that one day I would go to Paradise. To have such hope in God was precious to me, especially since it was all I had. (Luke 16:19-31) The rich man had everything, except the one thing I had, and each time he passed by me, I desperately tried talking to him about God, but he wouldn’t even look at me. After all what did a poor beggar have that a rich man would want anyway.

One day, it seemed God said to me, "I put you at this man’s gate for a purpose. After that I tried even harder to get his attention, yet he wouldn’t listen. Then, one day God whispered to me, "Lazarus, your earthly suffering is over," and the angels came and carried me to paradise.

"You know," he then said to us, "All those years I suffered, God would often whisper to me, "I will make it up to you some day, just you wait and see. And when I came up here, He more than made it up to me." Then with a bright gleam on his face, Lazarus suddenly disappeared right before our eyes.

Oh truly the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)