Thursday, March 22, 2007

BLESSING AND CALAMITY


In a tribal village there once lived four men, each with a particular limitation. The first was blind, the second couldn't hear, the third was lame, and the fourth man was a beggar. To this village came an angel in disguise. The angel asked each man what he wanted most.


Naturally the blind man replied, "My Sight!" The deaf man wanted his hearing, while the lame man wanted the use of his legs. The beggar asked for money to feed and clothe his family. To their surprise, the stranger granted each of their wishes. The men, in return, thanked the stranger and vowed never to forget his kindness.

Years later the angel returned. When the man who had been blind saw him, he thought, "He's probably come back to ask for money just because he did me a little favor." When the angel asked him how he was doing, the man who had received his sight answered, "Not well; I have to do everything for myself now. Nobody will help me anymore." "Very well," replied the angel, "then you shall have your blindness back." And with that the man became blind again. The man who had been deaf had a similar attitude when he saw the angel. "How is it to be able to hear?" asked the angel. "Oh, it has its disadvantages," complained the man. "So many sounds get on my nerves and keep me awake at night." "Very well," replied the angel, "then you shall have your hearing taken away from you." And the man was deaf once again! The lame man, too, was suspicious of the angel. "He probably wants me to do something for him just because he helped me a long time ago. Well, I'm too busy so I won't!" When the angel asked him how he liked using his legs, the man replied, "I can't run very fast, and at night they sometimes ache." And he suddenly found himself lame once again.

The angel finally visited the man who had been a beggar. He now lived in a beautiful house and dressed in fine clothes. The angel knocked on the door and asked for a drink of water. Although the man didn't recognize the angel, he invited him in and asked him to stay for dinner. "Why are you so kind?" asked the angel. "Because years ago someone helped me when I was poor, and now I show my gratitude by helping others," the man answered. "Very well," the angel replied. "You shall keep your wealth!"

This same angel brought blessing and calamity-a principle that is abundantly supported by the Bible. God's mercy and love are extended to those who seek Him with all their hearts; but for those who turn their backs on Him, God's wrath can have devastating results! And angels are God's agents in both instances.

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