Angels

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

I see angels everywhere. I see them in pictures hanging in people’s homes.  We have one on the shelf in our living room. Bethany keeps a precious moment’s angel statue in her room she was given as a gift from my grandmother.  I see them clipped to the sun visors in cars with a pretty prayer attached, asking for protection as they drive about town. I see angels on t-shirts and even as stuffed animals children sleep with at night.  I never paid much attention to the value our society places on angels until this past Sunday during church. One of our elders was teaching about heresy and part of the lesson was about how some people might have a misguided notation of what our relationship with angels is supposed to be.

Did you know angels were created before us? They lived in Heaven with God and saw Him create Earth and man.  What an amazing thing to experience! Imagine the connection you would feel watching something created by the Master. I wonder did they watch as He gently sculpted Adam’s torso and then breathed life into his body. Were they sitting in stunned silences watching as Eve follow Satan into sin? Or was there uproar as they watched someone they once knew as a leader among the angels, an angel once named Lucifer, now called Satan, lead this woman down a path of despair?  I wonder these things as I consider the angels who were created by God to be His helpers. Yes, their purpose is to serve God. They can serve in many ways, but two ways are by worshiping Him and by being His messenger.  The Bible says they are not God. They are not omnipresent nor do they know the future, so they could not anticipate what would happen in Heaven before the fall of Lucifer or the exile in the Garden of Eden. They are not mortal, but they also are not God.  I wonder why someone would chose to worship a creation, rather than the Creator?  Why worship that which is flawed, when you can worship that which is perfect and Holy?

When Lucifer (Satan) rebelled against God, he wanted to be God and he planned to become God. (Isaiah 14:12-15) Lucifer was full of pride. Pride is a sin and it is destructive.  He desired to be in control, so he and some of the other angels tried to fight against God.  The Bible tells us God threw them out of Heaven.  God never intended for man for worship angels.   His intention was for man to worship Him alone.  The 2 Commandment states “You shall have no other gods before Me, You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord you God, am a jealous God,” Exodus 20:3-5a While angels are beautiful creatures, that God has created, they are not perfect or made for us to worship or emulate.

I yearn for the day when I am standing in Heaven and can worship God with the angels.  I have never had much of a singing voice, so I am a little envious (okay, maybe more than a little bit!) of how the chorus of angels must sound as they worship God.  I can’t wait until I am in His presence and can belt out Blessed Assurance at top of my lungs and not worry about “blending” in with those around me. 😉  Oh, how I love that hymn.   I know when that day arrives and I leave this earthly dwelling, I will be welcomed in Heaven by my Heavenly Father.  I will not become an angel, but I will be welcomed as I am.  I am His precious creation.  He created us just as we are and He made us the way He wanted us to be.   Jesus promises those who believe in Him will be in Heaven with Him, so I pray you will be there too! (1 Thess. 4:13-18)  It is going to be one big party, I have no doubt!

In the meantime, I will continue on and walk this road set before me.  I look forward to seeing what God has planned for tomorrow.  Each day is a new blessing and new adventure!  Remember, to be kind to others and show goodness and grace to those around you.  By your hospitality, you may be entertaining angels without knowing it! (Heb. 13:2)

Loving God with all the passion today can hold!
Stacey

Ref:

http://christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-t005.html

http://www.gotquestions.org/