Angels of Humility: A Novel Read online

  © Copyright 2011—Jackie Macgirvin

  All rights reserved. This book is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America. This book may not be copied or reprinted for commercial gain or profit. The use of short quotations or occasional page copying for personal or group study is permitted and encouraged. Permission will be granted upon request. Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Please note that Destiny Image’s publishing style capitalizes certain pronouns in Scripture that refer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and may differ from some publishers’ styles.

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  ISBN 13 TP: 978-0-7684-3625-9

  ISBN 13 HC: 978-0-7684-3626-6

  ISBN 13 LP: 978-0-7684-3627-3

  ISBN 13 Ebook: 978-0-7684-9045-9

  For Worldwide Distribution, Printed in the U.S.A.

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 / 14 13 12 11

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Thanks to Ronda Ranalli and the awesome team at Destiny Image. Thanks to my two friends and grammar consultants, Lori Garcia and Myrna Holmquist. I guess my strategy of using a comma after every twelfth word didn’t work. To my writing buddy Jacalyn Mcleod. If I’d met you six months ago, this book would have been even better. To my wonderful friend Kathy Burris, to satisfy her desire to see her name in a book.

  ENDORSEMENTS

  You are going to love this book because you can apply these biblical, life-changing principles in your everyday life. Using real-life illustrations in a story form, Jackie Macgirvin brings to life a viable, easily understood example on the importance of intercession, humility, and living for the eternal realm. You cannot walk victoriously without observing these foundational truths.

  Bobby Connor

  Eagles View Ministries

  Jackie Macgirvin’s book Angels of Humility surpasses excellence. It is a glimpse beyond the veil into the realities of the spiritual realm. This excellent fiction makes your heart thrill and your hair stand on end as it explores the hardships of having faith while living in this world and the ecstasy waiting in the world beyond for those who have trusted Christ. Each page reverberates with the witness of the Spirit. Angels of Humility is for people of all ages who can read or be read to and who hope, believe, or dread that there is Someone or something more out there! Run, do not walk, to get yours and one for the people you care about.

  Bonnie Chavda

  Author, Hidden Power of a Woman

  “And Satan trembles when he sees,

  The weakest saint upon his knees.” —William Cowper1

  FOREWORD

  If you’re an intercessor or have a desire to be one, this book is for you. There are many excellent teaching books on intercession, humility, fervency, and eternal rewards; however, I am not aware of any fictional book that embraces these issues.

  Through following the lives of two very different Christians, Angels of Humility gives an understanding of what one person, even a weak and unlikely one, can achieve for God. You’ll understand the importance of your prayers and actions, now and in eternity.

  The author’s main goal is not to only entertain readers, but to impact their lifestyle in the following three areas:

  1. The only way to be exalted is through the low door called humility. Anyone can be great in God’s Kingdom—do small acts of kindness on a daily basis as unto Him. Unfortunately, dedicated Christians in the western Church are striving for prominence and position, the total opposite of Jesus’ example and commands.

  2. You really can pray without ceasing, even if you aren’t called to be a full-time intercessor. Your prayers make a bigger impact than you can even imagine.

  3. The only thing that matters about your life is the evaluation you receive from the Lord when you die. There are two kingdoms; the visible and the invisible—don’t invest in the wrong one. You don’t want to experience regret when your life is evaluated.

  We know these things, but we are too easily distracted. As you read it will become clear that you do not want to suffer loss on that day! This book will strengthen your resolve to live a life wholly abandoned to Him.

  This book is full of ideas for praying as you go, applicable for any person in any walk of life. With the nudging of her angels, Sarah, who is newly converted at age 71, discovers prayer walking, prayer driving, and praying for people who are pictured on billboards, magazine covers, or television. She prays for whoever is on the receiving end of any siren she hears. When she is waiting for a train, she prays for each of the drifters who painted the graffiti on the railway cars. She discovers that if she’s not eating or talking, she can be praying in tongues and makes it her goal to do that constantly. She also prays everyday for the people who are going to die in the next 24 hours. Whew! If you implement half the intercessory ideas from this book, your prayer life will be radically impacted.

  I recommend Angels of Humility to those who are hungry to grow in urgency, who want to be more disciplined in prayer, who want to increase in their understanding of how their daily choices make an eternal difference, and who want to begin or continue the life-long quest to be like our beautiful Savior who humbled Himself to take the form of a man, came to earth, and died on a cross.

  Mike Bickle

  Director, International House of Prayer

  Kansas City, MO

  INTRODUCTION

  Angels of Humility is a call to radical commitment now. There will be a first time when our eyes will meet Jesus’ as we stand before Him. I do not want my immediate response to be glancing at the ground in shame over the way I’ve lived. I do not want to waste the gifts and talents He has given me.

  This story vividly portrays how the Lord values humility and prayer and how diligence can result in standing before His judgment throne and hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Surprisingly, this is within reach of every believer.

  To be great in the sight of the world, one needs wealth, beauty, talent, a family name, and so forth. This excludes 99 percent of us. But God’s Kingdom is the only kingdom where everyone can be great; one need only to be the servant of all, which is attainable by all.

  I used to work in a medical complex where the office numbering system was quite confusing. Each morning as I went to get the mail, I would check for people who looked confused. Then I would help them find their way. I did this as a way of serving the Lord. According to Scripture, the Lord will reward me for each of these simple actions. I jokingly tell people that I think the Lord will give me a hot tub connected to my heavenly mansion for these miniscule actions and if I hadn’t bragged about it here, He probably would have filled it with water, too!

  People spend more time planning their earthly retirement than they do their spiritual eternity. Please don’t let this happen to you. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from that which would keep us out of Heaven, but it does not eliminate our life’s evaluation.

  Whatever we build on that foundation will be tested by fire on the day of judgment. Then everyone will find out if we have used go
ld, silver, and precious stones, or wood, hay, and straw. We will be rewarded if our building is left standing. But if it is destroyed by the fire, we will lose everything. Yet we ourselves will be saved, like someone escaping from flames (1 Corinthians 3:12–15 CEV).

  By examining the lives of Sarah and Pastor Paul, we see what can cause us to suffer loss or what can bring us incredible joy on that day. Please learn from them how to live well while you still have time. These 75 years are just the womb of life, but they affect how we spend eternity. Eternity is an incalculable concept for a finite brain, but it’s a long, long time.

  To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (Revelation 3:21).

  So we make it our goal to please Him… (2 Corinthians 5:9).

  The servant…said, “Sir, you gave me five thousand coins, and I have earned five thousand more.” “Wonderful!” his master replied. “You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness” (Matthew 25:20–21 CEV).

  Suppose someone gives even a cup of cold water to a little one…. What I’m about to tell you is true. That one will certainly be rewarded (Matthew 10:42 NIRV).

  I find this absolutely amazing that the God of the universe would give us a reward that will last for eternity for doing something so simple! This is within everyone’s reach.

  My prayer for you is that you will live in such a way that eternity will become a priority over this visible, temporal realm and that when you stand before the Lord you will truly share in His joy over your life.

  Jackie Macgirvin

  CHAPTER 1

  “We are not human beings having a temporary

  spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having

  a temporary human experience.”

  Pierre Teilhard De Chardin1

  A death was in progress in Room 120 of Bradbury Manor, the town’s nursing home. It is a wonderful, joyous death—a spiritual celebration in full swing. Two towering, ancient angels, clothed in dazzling garments of light, were singing, marching, and dancing around the figure of a frail, elderly lady, fetal and unconscious under a pink chenille bedspread. Sarah was unaware of the celestial celebration and the heavenly orders that would transition her into God’s paradise—the eternal dwelling place for which she was created.

  The angels paused from their celebration. “A stroke,” whispered Malta, the worshiping angel smiling tenderly, as he gazed at Sarah’s face. “The Lord is eagerly waiting, and I can hardly stand it myself.”

  “At sunrise this frail little intercessor, who was so dynamic a witness on earth, is finally going to rest in the Lord’s arms,” said Joel, the warrior angel, his two-edged sword by his side, his eyes ever vigilant.

  It was a little before 5 a.m., and the angels glowed with anticipation of the swallowing up of her temporal, earthly life into an eternity of love and peace.

  “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints,”2 shouted Joel. They resumed their marching, dancing, and praising around the bed. Sarah was wholly protected even in her vulnerable state.

  Huddled together in the corner of the room, growling, were several yellow-eyed spirits. The largest one, Death, was busy formulating a final plan of attack with the low-ranking imps under his command. He despised them all. The feeling was mutual.

  Just as they were ready to strike, Malta blew his shofar and the heavens opened. The atmosphere was energized with even more glory. Breathtaking sounds of celestial music wafted into the room, along with heavenly colors and fragrances. Angels carrying instruments surrounded Sarah’s bed. This heavenly choir followed Malta’s worship, and their joyful praise not only filled the room, but flowed back to the throne of grace like a tidal wave of pure joy.

  “Great, more angels—that’s just what we need,” whined Discouragement.

  “Make them stop singing,” wailed Depression. “I can’t take any more worship. I think I’m going to be sick!”

  “Enough complaining!” barked Death. “We’ve got to attack now. When I give the word, charge. Maybe one of you can get to her pathetic, wrinkled body. She’s barely holding to life by a thread.”

  “We couldn’t even get to her when there were just two of them—I’m not going anywhere near that bed!” yelped Infirmity, ducking quickly to avoid a blow from Death.

  Fear of Man emphatically agreed. “Do you see those angels walking back and forth with the swords? Do you see the impenetrable wall of protection and glory around her? You can charge if you want, but I’m staying right here!”

  “We’ve tried unsuccessfully to kill her for 16 months. Let’s face it. We can’t even steal one second from the life span appointed to her,” said Intimidation.

  Knowing it would indeed be impossible to penetrate the angelic worship, Death turned on these minion imps in anger.

  “We had Sarah her whole life. How did you manage to lose her in the last year and a half?” he screamed. “Do you realize what she set in motion? This one wretched little old lady has started an avalanche of sal-sal-salvations around the world. You’re all a bunch of incompetent idiots, and we’ll be tortured for failing this mission!” The imps retaliated by hissing, cursing, scratching, and blaming each other for their failure.

  Joel gazed intently at them with eyes like blazing fire. He unsheathed his flaming two-edged sword, and on his next pass by that side of the room, he slashed through the gnarled demonic mass. They vaporized into a harmless puff of yellow sulfurous smoke. Joel grinned as he resheathed his sword, “I love my job.”

  With the sun slightly below the horizon, the angels gathered around the bed in hushed excitement. Joel and Malta, always on the alert, bent over Sarah.

  “Soooo—close,” whispered Malta, stroking Sarah’s forehead and smiling at Joel. They’d been her guardians for 16 months. Unbelievably, they felt even more love for Sarah welling inside them than before. “Get ready,” said Joel, gazing into the opened Heaven, awaiting the final word. Malta lay his hand on Sarah’s chest to feel her breathing, a little shallower each time.

  “NOW!” shouted Joel, having received orders from the fiery throne. As her last breath escaped her frail, fleshly shell, the sun’s first rays peeked over the horizon. Surges of light permeated the room as the heavenly corridor of glory touched earth. Sarah’s spirit emerged into Malta’s waiting arms. Glancing back at the bed, she caught a glimpse of her aged face, ashen-colored and wrinkled. She was whisked through the portal toward an unseen realm of eternity by a jubilant Malta, with Joel flying ahead. Escorted by her two triumphant angels, she was moving faster than the speed of light.

  Liquid warmth enveloped Sarah. For the first time ever, she felt the complete absence of pain and the presence of total peace. She was leaving behind all sin and its damning results, with which she had lived since birth. Shielded by her two ecstatic angels, she moved rapidly toward a brilliant light in the remote distance.

  CHAPTER 2

  “Christ doesn’t become precious to us until we are humble. When we preoccupy ourselves with our own wants and needs we can’t see the matchless worth of Christ. Also, until we comprehend how lost we are we can’t understand Christ’s wondrous and redeeming love. Until we see our poverty we can’t see His riches. No man enters the kingdom without understanding his own sinfulness and realizing his need to repent.”

  John MacArthur1

  Sixteen months earlier:

  Bradbury was a small, rural Missouri community of 8,000. Some still farmed their family’s ground. Others commuted to Mt. Pielor 15 miles away, to work in the factories or stores that had sprung up there. These stores provided much needed jobs and less expensive goods and services, but also drew business away from Bradbury’s town square.

  Sarah was a widow who had lived her whole life in Bradbury. It had only been six months since cancer had stolen her beloved George away from her. The ache was no les
s intense; it still consumed her every waking minute and intruded on her dreams as well. Over the last two years of his declining health, she had gone from introvert to recluse, sitting by his bed, caring for him each day.

  In the beginning stages of the disease, he was still talkative, but as he deteriorated, she spent hours just sitting beside him in silence. To pass the time she read books on raising orchids and taught herself to crochet. Now, six multicolored afghans were folded in Sarah’s hall closet waiting to be donated to a good cause—the Elk’s Club Raffle or maybe the High School’s yearly fundraiser.

  Sarah was shy and had many insecurities. Unable to have children, she had spent her life as a wife, doting on George. Her only contact with the outside world toward the end was the visiting nurses and Dr. Newbury. After George’s death Sarah was totally alone, except for the demonic spirits who had flooded in to convince her that her life no longer had purpose. Agoraphobia kept her housebound except for necessary trips to the grocery store. At night, before she fell asleep, was the worst time of her whole dreadful day. The spirits clamored around, tormenting her, planting thoughts in her mind with their sticky voices:

  “George is dead. You’ll never see him again,” shrieked Discouragement. “He’s gone forever.”

  “No one else loves you,” whispered Lying.

  “You’ve got nothing to live for, no kids—no grandkids,” growled Death.