Protectors of the Faith - From Angels I Have Seen by J. L. Moore

Teenagers are known for rebellion and standing too close to the edge of life’s cliff; I was no different. In comparison to some of my contemporaries, I was well behaved and docile, too afraid of the retribution my parents would dole out if I disobeyed. So pushing the outside of the envelope was not something done too often.

Our home life was extremely structured, which I came to appreciate later in life. Meals were served at the same time each day, the television was never turned on until after dinner dishes were washed, and certain chores were expected to be completed without constant reminder.

Mother was the rule maker and disciplinarian; whatever she said was law and no one questioned her— EVER.

Back then, families gathered around the kitchen table to play board games, mine being no exception. Our favorite was a marble game called Sorry. Mother and Father would invite their friends over to play. When they came, their children might bring a favorite game for us kids to play too. We were always playing a game of some sort. The only game Mother would not allow in the house was Ouija.

“It’s not a game, and you don’t need to be messing with anything like that,” she would say.

I never questioned her about it, and never had a desire to find out anything more about the Ouija game.

Four of us girls in the neighborhood grew up doing everything and going everywhere together. Even taking turns spending the night at one another’s houses, and of course, we played all kinds of games. One night, one of the girls brought out her newest acquisition, a Ouija board. I was decidedly hesitant and vocal about it, but the other three girls brushed off my protests and proceeded to play.

As I watched, it seemed harmless enough, and before long, was playing along asking questions and pretending to let the spirits guide the pointer. We laughed and cut-up with each other and lost interest in the whole thing before long.

I had all but forgotten the incident when I had a most vivid and horrifying dream. Sleeping in my bed one night, I thought I smelled smoke. I awoke startled and anxious thinking there was a fire in the house, and everyone needed to get to safety. My room was engulfed in flames. Fire ran up every wall, and flames licked under the bedroom door. I considered jumping from my bed through a window, but even the windows were overtaken by flames. Then, a sinister laugh filled the room. Looking at the foot of my bed, I saw a figure clothed in black. I couldn’t make out any details, just the outline of a form and two red glowing eyes.

A voice spoke above the crackle of the flames, “You tapped into the spirit world, and now I have you”.

I felt a stiff coldness crawl up my spine and instantly knew this form was talking about the Ouija Board. All at once I heard a loud pop, my eyes shot open, and I sat straight up. When I did, I saw a flash of bright light at the foot of the bed.

I sank back down, my heart pounding in my chest; I could barely catch my breath. I knew the flash of light was my angel sent to protect me, but I also knew my mother was right, the Ouija board was not a game. To this day I have never had one in my house nor have I ever touched another one.

In my sophomore year of high school, I began dating a young man that attended a local charismatic church. I attended youth group meetings with him on occasion and thoroughly enjoyed the worship and singing. I began to learn a great deal about the Bible, and understood that it was more than just a story book. Each time I attended I felt a little closer to God, and full of a joy I had never experienced before.

One night after just such a service, I was in bed, and felt the presence of God so strongly in my room that I was in tears.

Overcome with emotion, I whispered, “God, I always want to be this close to you.”

At that moment, I could see through my bedroom ceiling and into the sky. Beautiful stars danced across the expanse of the galaxy, and an angel appeared. The angel began pushing on a massive door made of pure white marble until suddenly, a brilliant white light burst through just a small crack between the door and its frame.

I was bathed in that light and felt such overwhelming love and peace that all I wanted, at that moment, was to make my way through the crack in that door and get into the light. But the angel pushed the door closed, and the light was gone.

Once again I heard the angelic voice that I had heard as a child say to me, “It is not time for you yet; always remember the light and never fall away. One day it will be your turn to enter in and stay.”

That one moment in time was burned into my mind, heart, and soul for all of eternity.

Have I fallen in my Christian walk? Yes, I have. There have been bad choices and mistakes I’ve made, but I always come back to that moment. And when I do, I ask for God’s forgiveness, crawl back to my feet, and start walking toward Him once again.

I have gone through some tough and trying times in my life, some that could easily have given me reason to lose faith in God; but I always come back to that instant, and realize that I don’t ever want to miss the day when I will enter that light and stay forever, bathed in the love and peace of God for all eternity.