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As Ryan entered the Great Hall, he looked around the room, admiring the pastel-colored scenes of heaven painted on the walls and ceilings. The room was mostly filled with dining tables and chairs. At the head table sat God Almighty and His Son, Jesus Christ, speaking quietly, each nodding His head from time to time in agreement. There were other guests seated throughout the room. Angela, Ryan’s guest, explained that they were the biblical saints, great missionaries and two archangels, Michael and myself. We waved at the holy kids, and Ryan pointed over his shoulder and mouthed the words to me, “I love these fast wings!” I laughed, nodded my head.
The dining tables were identical in size and were draped with purple cloths of linen that matched the napkins. Each item in the place settings was made of gold, and there were ornate designs around the edge of the plates and on the handles of the forks, spoons and knives. Every table had a centerpiece of three purple candles surrounded by fresh yellow flowers.
The serving tables covered the east side of the room and were loaded with heavenly food. The aroma is enough to make any mouth water, but it must have been the smell and the sight of this delightful feast that made Ryan began to hover just above the floor, ever so slightly.
“No wonder the saints are looking so pleased,” he whispered to Angela.
She reached up for his hand.
“Get a grip, Ryan,” she said while waving and returning a smile to St. John. She pulled Ryan back down to the floor and shared her smile with him.
All the saints, angels, guests and Jesus stood with God as He invited Ryan and Angela to be seated at the guest-of-honor table. As the two made their way to their seats, and sat down, God said, “Let there be feasting.”
Ryan and Angela were asked to lead the line through the buffet. The table with salads and fresh fruit was first then meats and vegetables. They piled their plates full, and headed back to their table, where bread, butter, and the most incredible desserts lay inches away from them.
His mouth stuffed full with the first, much-anticipated bite, Ryan observed the all the others, who were in line now, filling their golden plates.
Swallowing hard, he exclaimed, “This place is busier than a Sunday buffet at noon. Can we go back for seconds? This is so good!”
Angela laughed and nodded her head, replying, “Yes, you can go back for seconds and eat as much as you want. Then she scooped at least half a cup of butter onto his plate to make her point.
Ryan asked Angela a lot of questions while they ate, and never once did she say to him, “I don’t know.” She had an answer for his every wonder.
It was clear to see that Ryan was feeling very comfortable with his newfound, very wise friend who could fly like a stunt pilot.
They made plans to go flying again and to drop by the Crystal Sea to fish, but first he would need her help to find the Crown Hall, where he was scheduled to meet with Jesus, St. Andrew, and Gabriel after this feast.
Holy people came and removed the empty plates, and others served milk or the richest kind of coffee. From the nearby dessert tray, Ryan chose his favorite, chocolate pie, and the meringue stood nearly two inches high.
After everyone had finished, Jesus stood and chimed a perfect C note with His golden fork and crystal water glass. The noise level went from the sound of a Pizza Hut on Friday night to perfect silence. When Christ had everyone’s undivided attention, He began introducing Ryan to each guest, one by one. First was King David, who said to Ryan, “welcome, Ryan.”
“Thank you, King David. I know that you helped to write the book of Psalms in the Bible, and as a boy, you killed a giant with your slingshot.” King David smiled and nodded his head.
Next Jesus introduced Joseph, who greeted Ryan with a smile and a nod.
“Joseph, I know that your father gave you a coat of many colors. Then your jealous brothers sold you into slavery. But you were so obedient to God that He made you an overseer of a huge kingdom.
“What is written in the Bible about me is all true, Ryan,” Joseph said smiling.
Christ continued all the way down the line, introducing each saint, ending with James, Paul, Luke, Peter, then Michael the archangel, and I, Gabriel, although I had already met Ryan. He must have felt consumed with happiness as he heard “praise God Almighty” and “welcome home” from us. If I felt it an honor to sit here sharing space with God, the Listener to prayers, the Great Physician, the Creator of every single thing that ever was, how much more did Ryan, heaven’s fastest holy kid?
Suddenly Angela slipped her hand into Ryan’s and gently pulled him back down a couple of inches to his seat.
“Was I hovering again?” he asked, but this time he knew the answer. They giggled then hushed as Jesus spoke again.
“As you all know,” Christ continued, “Ryan was chosen to come and help us because he’s so fast. The Father and I have heard many pleading prayers for the youth on earth. Believers are preaching the Word, but fewer and fewer of the people, especially the young people, are choosing to accept and follow the gospel. Or they’re simply not hearing about the one, true God who loves them and can supply their lives with purpose, a plan, love, care, protection and eternal life.
“Most schools have banned prayer during school hours or at school functions, thus eliminating the sharing of God’s love where children spend a great part of their lives. These children who haven’t received the promise of God’s Word have grown up now, and many have become parents themselves. They cannot teach their children about My love because they do not know it.
“Now their children are growing up without the truth and with no one to trust. They have nowhere to turn in their times of need. They don’t understand the purpose or value of life. They have no love, hope, peace, direction or guidance. Without these things from the Heavenly Father, they are frustrated, confused and misdirected in life.
“They have a huge hole of emptiness within themselves, and they long for something, but they know not what. These lost children are becoming violent at an alarming rate and have turned to drugs, guns or other weapons, which give them a false sense of security and authority. They don’t realize they are trying to protect themselves from others who feel the same frightened way.”
“There were plenty of those lost kids in my hometown,” Ryan whispered to Angela. I saw them desperate to be included, desperate for someone to love them, to need them, to respect them, to validate them—desperate to be a part of something bigger and better than themselves.”
Ryan continued listening.
“But I have seen and heard every one of their cries,” Christ continued. “When no one else is around to judge or ridicule them, they cry out in their pain and misery. They cry out not for God, because they do not know Him. They are crying out in confusion.
“They want evil to go away from them forever. They want to love and be loved in peace. They wish for everything they do not have, and they have everything they would never wish for. Little do they know that all they could ever dream of having is already a part of the life God can give them. What they crave is the actual lifestyle in heaven. It could be theirs by simply receiving Me and following My ways.
“If they will turn from their sinful ways and trust God, they will have hope for the rest of their lives on earth. They could then begin to build treasures for their eternal lives in heaven, where peace and love were born.
“But, they continue to abuse and kill one another and their lost souls are not arriving here with us in heaven when they die. This is where Ryan fits into the plan. Because he is heaven’s fastest holy kid, he can cover a great deal of territory in a short amount of time.”
Looking at Ryan, Jesus said, “You will return to encourage the youth in Keyota, Kansas, your hometown.”
The applause in the room was loud, and the praises to God began filling the air in the Great Hall. Hands were lifted high to glorify God and His son.
God stood at the side of Christ Jesus and put His loving arm around His Son as Jesus again chimed the C note on His glass. The room became silent. “Ryan, is there anything you would like to say at this time?”
“Yes, Jesus, I would. Thank you for making me be able to run fast, and for and bringing me here for this mission. I am pumped, Lord, and as ready as I can be! My pulse is fast and I felt a tingle shoot all the way through my wings! The only time I felt something like this on earth was when my father and I were about to compete in a race. My dad called it adrenaline.”
“That sensation you feel in your pulse and wings are what We call a ‘quickening of the spirit’, Ryan, a gift for such a time as this.”
“Thank you Jesus,” Ryan responded. “I know that I am able to take on this mission for the lost, for You my Almighty, and for heaven. I promise to encourage the hurting, lost youth in Keyota so that God’s truth will be glorified and they could arrive in heaven when they died, no matter how they die.”
“The details of your mission will soon be revealed, Ryan. We will meet again in Crown Hall.”
The feast was dismissed, but some gathered around God thanking Him again for sending Jesus to earth to die for human sins and opening the gates of heaven. Others thanked Him for the blessing of their forever home in His perfect heaven.
“This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. God loves us all. I will never forget this moment, Angela. I can only hope that all those on earth would experience it.”
Angela had tears of joy in her eyes as the praising went on. She smiled, took Ryan’s hand, and told him that the saints had wonderful stories to tell about their lives on earth, but that their most thrilling stories were from some of their missions when they returned to earth to minister to the lost.
“Do they still make journeys to earth?” Ryan inquired.
“Oh, yes,” she said with enthusiasm. “We can all go there anytime we want and anytime we see the need. That’s why we all spend so much of our time at the balcony. But when earthly places or situations are so hardened with sin and hate, God calls us when he needs us, as he just did you, Ryan. We each were created for a special, unique reason, and when we choose to get saved on earth, we are His treasure and eternal life in heaven is our reward. Then He empowers us with His Holy Spirit, and sends us from the balcony to do the job. You will understand this better in your meeting ”
Just as Ryan took a breath to ask about the balcony, Christ spoke again, thanking everyone for coming. His question about the balcony would have to wait.
The saints and missionaries waved good-bye to Ryan and Angela as they left the Great Hall. The archangel Michael and I were walking out when Ryan said he looked forward to spending time with us later to hear our stories. We both nodded our heads then Michael flew away.
Christ walked over to the holy kids and I, and told Ryan when to arrive at the Crown Hall for his mission details.
Ryan thanked Him for the great feast and for His endless love and concern for life on earth.
Smiling, Jesus bent down to Ryan, hugged him, and said, “I am glad you chose to believe the truth written in the Holy Bible, Ryan. Your faith has set you free in heaven.”
I stepped over to Ryan and held up my right palm. Ryan immediately gave it a high-five smack, and I told him I would be watching him from my tower. I spread my wings and flew away.
As they parted ways outside the Great Hall, holy kids and tiny, iridescent-winged babies ran and flew to Jesus for hugs. He sat down on the steps with them and began listening to their stories and the exciting news that came with shouts and giggles.
“Who are those little, shiny-winged babies?” Ryan asked, mesmerized by their precious beauty.
“Oh,” Angela answered. “They are so sweet! They are the precious little ones who were growing inside their mothers on earth, about to be born. For different reasons, their lives ended before their births. Completely bypassing St. Peter and the gate, they instantly appear before God to receive their special wings from Him.” She looked at Ryan. “Because they were never born into the sinful world, they never sinned, and they never needed forgiveness. They are a pure form of life, Ryan. We all love to be with them.” Her eyes sparkled as she watched them with Jesus and the others.
“When they’re not playing in the waterfalls or listening to stories, they’re usually with Jesus’s mother, Mary. That is until most of their parents on earth arrive up here to be with them. There are lots of tears of joy in those reunions. You may even see a few of them on earth during your mission. Even though they never lived there, they have a Godly impact on anyone they help.”
“I could never have imagined that, Angela,” said Ryan. “Everywhere I go and everything I see is very different from things on earth. But I am beginning to see the proof that God’s love includes everybody and that His plan works for even the tiniest creation. If the parents of these tiny ones knew how loved, how well taken care of, and how happy they were, maybe they wouldn’t be so sad for so long. I want to be at the gate when their parents arrive and help them celebrate. I love a good party!”