As we journey through Advent this year, we find ourselves reading through the familiar Christmas story. If you are like me, I sometimes try to imagine myself in the story. I wonder what it would have been like to see an angel appear in front of you, or in your room, or in the sky above you? Angels feature heavily in the Christmas story. One appeared to Mary to give her the news about the Messiah to be born to her. Another appeared to Joseph letting him know it was a good idea to go ahead and marry Mary even though she was pregnant with the Son of God. The shepherds were privileged to see a whole host of angels in the sky singing praises and glory to our God and the new baby born in Bethlehem! I wish I could have been there!!
Do angels still appear today? I heard a story recently about a group of 3 men who were on the Hajj pilgrimage and while there they were robbed and all their belongings, passports and money stolen. They tried to get help to get a new passport, but they needed money. They tried appealing to this place and that place, but with no money or documents, it was hard. They sat down on the street, despondent, wondering what on earth they were going to do! Suddenly they were approached by some men who asked what their problem was. Once they shared what had occurred the new men told them to wait right there. They soon returned with a suitcase of money, enough to help them get new passports, and return to their homeland. The men giving the money said that Jesus had told them to come to that street that day. Upon arriving home, the pilgrims immediately sought out someone who could tell them all about Jesus. They wondered if these men who had come to help them were actually angels.
In North Africa, there are many stories of people who have had dreams and visions. A man dressed in white feature in these dreams and visions all the time. But instead of angels, it is usually Jesus himself who now appears to people!!
Praise God that we love and serve a Living God who loves people so much, He himself appears to them in visions while they are awake, and dreams while they are asleep. He so much wants to be revealed and to be known by North Africans. It is Jesus’ desire that North Africans know the Truth about who He is and come to know salvation and eternal life through Himself. Pray and ask for even more dreams and visions in all the nations of North Africa.