By Max Lucado
Gabriel.
Just the sound of my King's voice stirred my heart. I left my post at
the entryway and stepped into the throne room. To my left was the desk on which
sat the Book of Life. Ahead of me was the throne of Almighty God. I entered the
circle of unceasing Light, folded my wings before me to cover my face, and
knelt before Him. "Yes, my Lord?"
"You have served the kingdom well. You are a noble messenger. Never
have you flinched in duty. Never have you flagged in zeal."
I bowed my head, basking in the words. "Whatever You ask, I'll do a
thousand times over, my King," I promised.
"Of that I have no doubt, dear messenger." His voice assumed a
solemnity I'd never heard Him use. "But your greatest work lies ahead of
you. Your next assignment is to carry a gift to Earth. Behold."
I lifted my eyes to see a necklace a clear vial on a golden chain
dangling from His extended hand.
My Father spoke earnestly, "Though empty, this vial will soon
contain My greatest gift. Place it around your neck."
I was about to take it when a raspy voice interrupted me. "And what
treasure will You send to Earth this time?"
My back stiffened at the irreverent tone, and my stomach turned at the sudden
stench. Such foul odor could come from only one being.
I DREW MY
SWORD AND TURNED TO DO BATTLE WITH
LUCIFER.
The Father's hand on my shoulder stopped me.
"Worry not, Gabriel. He will do no harm."
I stepped back and stared at God's enemy. He was completely covered. A
black cassock hung over his skeletal frame, hiding his body and arms and
hooding his face. The feet, protruding beneath the robe, were thrice toed
and clawed. The skin on his hands was that of a snake. Talons extended from his
fingers. He pulled his cape farther over his face as a shield against the
Light, but the brightness still pained him. Seeking relief, he turned toward
me. I caught a glimpse of a skullish face within the cowl.
"What are you staring at, Gabriel? " he sneered.
“Are you that glad to see me?"
I had no words for this fallen angel. Both what I saw and what I
remembered left me speechless. I remembered him before the Rebellion: poised
proudly at the vanguard of our force, wings wide, holding forth a radiant
sword, he had inspired us to do the same. Who could refuse him? The sight of
his velvet hair and coal black eyes had far outstripped the beauty of any
celestial being.
Any being, of course, except our Creator. No one compared Lucifer to God
... except Lucifer. How he came to think he was worthy of the same worship as
God, only God knows. All I knew was that I had not seen Satan since the
Rebellion. And what I now saw repulsed me.
I searched for just a hint of his former splendor but saw none.
"Your news must be urgent," spat Satan to God, still unable to
bear the Light.
My Father's response was a pronouncement. "The time has come for
the second gift." The frame beneath the cape bounced stiffly as Lucifer
chuckled. "The second gift, eh? I hope it works better than the
first."
"You're disappointed with the first?" asked the Father.
"Oh, quite the contrary; I've delighted in it." Lifting a bony
finger, he spelled a word in the air:
C-H-O-I-C-E.
"You gave Adam his choice," Satan scoffed.
"And what a choice he made! He chose me. Ever since the fruit was plucked
from the tree in the Garden, I've held Your children captive. They fell. Fast.
Hard. They are mine. You have failed. Heh heh heh.
“ You speak so confidently,” replied the Father, astounding me with His
patience.
Lucifer stepped forward, his cloak dragging behind him. "Of course!
I thwart everything You do! You soften hearts, I harden them. You teach truth,
I shadow it. You offer joy, I steal it."
He pivoted and paraded around the room, boasting of his deeds. "The
betrayal of Joseph by his brothers - I did that. Moses banished to the desert
after killing the Egyptian I did that. David watching Bathsheba bathe
that was me. You must admit, my work has been crafty."
"Crafty? Perhaps. But effective? No. I know what you will do even
before you do it. I used the betrayal of Joseph to deliver My people from
famine. Your banishment of Moses became his wilderness training. And yes, David
did commit adultery with Bathsheba but he repented of his sin! And
thousands have been inspired by his example and found what he found
unending grace. Your deceptions have only served as platforms for My mercy. You
are still My servant, Satan. When will you learn? Your feeble
attempts to disturb My work only enable My work.
EVERY ACT YOU HAVE INTENDED FOR
EVIL,
I HAVE USED FOR GOOD.”
Satan began to growl a throaty, guttural, angry
growl. Softly at first, then louder, until the room was tilled with a roar that
must have quaked the foundations of hell.
But the King was not bothered. "Feeling ill?"
Lucifer lurked around the room, breathing loudly, searching for words to
say and a shadow from which to say them. He finally found the words but never
the shadow. "Show me, 0 King of Light, show me one person on the Earth who
always does right and obeys Your will."
"Dare you ask? You know there need be only one perfect one, only
one sinless one to die for all the others."
I know Your plans and You have failed! No Messiah will come from
Your people. There is none who is sinless. Not one." He turned his back to
the desk and began naming the children. "Not Moses. Not Abraham. Not Lot.
Not Rebekah. Not Elijah. . . ."
The Father stood up from His throne, releasing a wave of holy Light so
intense that Lucifer staggered backward and fell.
“THOSE
ARE MY CHILDREN
YOU MOCK.”
God's voice boomed. "You think you know much,
fallen angel, but you know so little. Your mind dwells in the valley of self.
Your eyes see no further than your own needs."
The King walked over and reached for the book. He turned it toward
Lucifer and commanded, "Come, Deceiver, read the name of the One who will
call your bluff. Read the name of the One who will storm your gates.
Satan rose slowly off his haunches. Like a wary wolf, he walked a wide
circle toward the desk until he stood before the volume and read the word:
IMMANUEL
“Immanual?” he muttered to
himself, then spoke in atone of disbelief. “God with us” For the first time the
hooded head turned squarely toward the face of the Father. “No. Not even You
would do that. Not even You would go so far.” “You've never believed Me,
Satan.” “But Immanuel? The plan is bizarre! You don't know what
it is like on Earth! You don't know how dark I've made it. It's putrid. It's
evil. It's ...
“IT IS MINE,” PROCLAIMED THE
KING.
“AND I WILL RECLAIM WHAT IS
MINE.
I WILL BECOME FLESH. I WILL FEEL
WHAT
MY CREATURES FEEL. I WILL SEE
WHAT THEY SEE.”
“But what of their sin?”
“I will bring mercy.”
“What of their death?”
“I will give life.”
Satan stood speechless.
God spoke, "I love My children. Love does not take away the
beloved's freedom. But love takes away fear. And Immanuel will leave behind a
tribe of fearless children. They will not fear you or your hell.”
Satan stepped back at the thought. His retort was childish.
“Th th they will too!”
“I will take away all sin. I will take away death. Without sin and
without death, you have no power.”
Around and around in a circle Satan paced, clenching and unclenching his
wiry fingers. When he finally stopped, he asked a question that even I was
thinking. "Why? Why would You do this?"
The Father's voice was deep and soft. "Because I love them."
The two stood facing each other. Neither spoke. The extremes of the
universe were before me. God robed in Light, each thread glowing. Satan
canopied in evil, the very fabric of his robe seeming to crawl. Peace
contrasting panic. Wisdom confronting foolishness. One able to rescue, the
other anxious to condemn.
I have reflected much on what happened next. Though I have relived the
moment countless times, I'm as stunned as I was at the first. Never in my
wildest thoughts did I think my King would do what He did. Had He demanded
Satan's departure, who would have questioned? Had He taken Satan's life, who
would have grieved? Had He called me to attack, I would have been willing. But
God did none of these.
From the circle of Light came His extended hand. From His throne came an
honest invitation. "Will you surrender? Will you return to Me?"
I do not know the thoughts of Satan. But I believe that for a fleeting
second the evil heart softened. The head cocked slightly, as if amazed that
such an offer would be made. But then it yanked itself erect.
"Where will we battle?" he challenged.
The Father sighed at the dark angel's resistance. "On a hill called
Calvary.”
“If You make it that far.” Satan smirked, spinning and marching out the
entryway. I watched as his spiny wings extended, and he soared into the
heavenlies.
The Father stood motionless for a moment, then turned back to the book.
Opening to the final chapter, He slowly read words I had never heard. No
sentences. Just words. Saying each, then pausing:
JESUS,
NAIL,
CROSS,
BLOOD,
TOMB,
LIFE.
He motioned toward me, and I responded,
kneeling again before Him. Handing me the necklace, He explained, "This
vial will contain the essence of Myself; a Seed to be placed in the womb of a
young girl. Her name is Mary. She lives among My chosen people. The fruit of
the Seed is the Son of God. Take it to her."
"But how will I know her?" I asked.
"Don't worry. You will." I could not comprehend God's plan,
but my understanding was not essential. My obedience was. I lowered my head,
and He draped the chain around my neck. Amazingly, the vial was no longer
empty. It glowed with Light.
"Jesus. Tell her to call My Son Jesus."
For the rest of the story read the book by Max Lucado, An Angle's Story
Scary reality
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