Thank you for reading this draft of a book in The Angel Academy series! I learned a lot by writing it and look forward to preparing a new and better version for publication!
Imagine if angelic beings went to school to learn to become guardian angels. They would probably have a lot of questions about the strange things that humans do on earth. They would need to study humans closely and learn the best ways to lead them into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
Chapter 9
The Call
“Adam and Eve are here in heaven?” asked Chaz.
“Yes of course,” said Barachiel leading the way towards the door again. “They are actually in the academy garden right now waiting for us. Come, follow me.”
The angels followed their teacher out of the classroom and through the hall back through the doors to the academy. It wasn’t long before they arrived at a lush, green garden like the one they saw earlier in the Garden of Eden.
In the middle of the garden walked two human beings. Barachiel landed nearby and waved to them. They turned and walked towards the angels who were landing behind their teacher.
“Well, hello Barachiel,” said the man. “Have you brought another class of new angels to visit with us?”
“Indeed I have,” said the teacher. “Class, meet Adam and Eve.”
“But . . . how did–?” said Chaz.
“How did we get to heaven?” said Adam completing the angel’s thought.
“Yeah, what happened to you after you ate from the tree?” asked Sim.
“Well, eventually we died just like God promised would happen to us,” said Eve.
“But how did you get here?” asked another angel.
“It’s hard to say what immediately happened after we died,” said Adam. “But eventually someone came for us. He descended to us and took us by the hand. He brought us up to heaven.”
“Who?” asked Chaz.
“Jesus Christ, God’s Son, of course,” said Adam.
“We were so full of pride!” said Eve. “The serpent’s temptation was too hard to resist. Even though we were just humans, we wanted to be like God.”
“The interesting thing is that Jesus is both human and God and he came to get us,” said Adam. “He gave us access to the Tree of Life again because he sacrificed himself for us. He died so that we might rise with him.”
“Would you take it back if you could?” asked Chaz.
They nodded.
“What would you do differently?” asked Sim.
They thought for a moment. “That’s a really good question dear angel,” said Eve. “If I could go back, I would make sure I was with God at all times. I would make sure he was always by my side. Kind of like he is up here in heaven.”
“I agree,” said Adam. “Resisting that or any temptation alone is almost impossible, but nothing is impossible with God.”
“Thank you both,” said the teacher. “Now, class we must head back so you can make it to the bus.”
Barachiel led the class in flight once again. Sim flew closer to the teacher and Chaz followed closely behind.
“Sir?” said Sim. “What happened to the little girl? Will she get to heaven, too?”
“Did she experience God’s mercy like Adam and Eve?” asked Chaz.
“I’m glad you asked,” said the teacher. “Let’s check in on Guardian Natiel to see how things went after we left.”
They arrived back in their classroom and Barachiel got their attention once more. “Sim and Chaz asked a very important question. They asked about the little girl we saw earlier today. They wanted to know if she experienced mercy, too. Let’s give Natiel a call and see what happened.”
Their teacher picked up a phone on the desk in the front of the room and pressed the speaker button. He dialed a number and the angels heard ringing.
“Archangel Barachiel, how can I help you?” they heard Natiel say.
“The class and I are calling to see how things are going with that young girl you are guarding,” said the teacher.
“Did she get punished?” asked Sim.
“Did she ask for mercy?” asked another angel.
“You’re just in time. I’ll put you on speaker phone on my end and you can listen in.” There was a clicking sound and the class could hear the mother they saw earlier.
“I hope you’ve learned how important it is to listen to what I say, honey,” said the mother. “It was a very nice thing to give the rest of the cookies away to the neighbors.”
“I’m sorry mommy,” said the girl.
“Telling me was the right thing to do,” said the mother. “It took courage to confess that you disobeyed. You are forgiven. Now, let’s say our prayers. Ready?”
When the girl prayed, the eyes of every angel in the class of future guardians welled up with tears. Here are the words they heard her pray:
“Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side to light and guard and rule and guide. Amen.”
The class was speechless.
Barachiel broke the silence. “Thank you Natiel,” he said and hung up the phone.
“Class, the humans need you. They need you to help lead them to the light of the Lord. I look forward to our many new lessons together. In the meantime, great job today. Class dismissed.”
Chapter 10
The Seat
The class of new angels wiped their eyes and made their way towards the door with a renewed sense of excitement about their future roles as guardians.
Chaz was the first one to the bus. He looked back towards the gates of Angel Academy excited for the many more lessons that awaited him there. He took a seat near the front of the bus.
Sim walked in a few moments later. Chaz smiled and waved her over to share his seat. She smiled back and joined him.
“I’m glad you stayed,” she said.
“Me too,” said Chaz. “I didn’t know they loved us so much.”
“What do you mean?” asked Sim.
“I didn’t know the humans loved angels so much,” he said. “I mean, did you hear that girl’s prayer. She wants our help.”
“Yeah, but you know what I learned?” said Sim.
“What?” said Chaz.
“I learned that nothing is impossible with God. No matter what the humans do. No matter how badly we fail to guard them, God will always love them and welcome them back. It is possible for any of them to get here to heaven with us.”
“Yeah, and I can’t wait until they do. What a joy it will be to share in heaven together with them.”
The bus lurched into motion.
“What do you think we will learn about the humans and God next?” asked Sim.
Chaz smiled as he looked out the window back towards the academy. “I don’t know, but I can’t wait to find out.”
Thank you for reading the story of Sim and Chaz’s first lesson at Angel Academy. To receive more stories like this one every Friday, sign up for the Formative Fiction Friday newsletter.
