OUR ANGELS

Angels are, for the most part, a mystery to man. Very little is written concerning angels in the Old Testament, where the word "angels" appears only thirteen times. There are numerous instances where the words "angel," "cherubim," seraphim," etc. are mentioned, but all refer to specific angels in specific situations, and do not really address angels as a category of created beings. The closest the Old Testament comes to describing the multitude of angels is by calling them "His hosts" (Ps. 148:2). We also know that they are invisible to man unless God wants us to see them (2 Kgs. 6:13-17). And, the manna which fed the Jews in the wilderness was actually angel's food (Ps. 78:25).

The New Testament has much more to say about angels, where the word appears seventy-nine times. Angels are spirit beings (Heb. 1:7). Angels rejoice when a person accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior (Lk. 15:10). Angels carry the soul of one who dies to God's appointed destination (Lk. 16:22). Angels announced the birth and the resurrection of Jesus (Lk. 2:8-15; 24:23). When Jesus returns, all of the holy angels will accompany Him (Matt. 25:31). Angels travel from heaven to earth and back (Jn. 1:51; cp. Gen. 28:12). Angels have their own language (1 Cor. 3:19). The word "angels" appears twenty-two times in Revelation alone, where angels fly (8:13), oversee the churches (1:20), praise God (5:11-12), announce coming judgments (8:2); battle Satan's fallen angels (12:7), deliver the wrath of God (15:7), and guard the gates of the New Jerusalem (21:12).

According to God's Word, it appears that every person has at least one angel assigned to him. Matthew 18:10 says, "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven, their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven." We often refer to them as guardian angels, although they are never called that in Scripture. The contemporary view among Christians is that our angel is watching over us, but that is not true. Our angel is not looking at us, but upon the face of God; it is God Who watches over us, and our angel stands by awaiting His instructions.

It is true that angels do watch what happens on earth (1 Cor. 4:9; 11:10; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:12), but that does not mean our so-called "guardian angels" are watching. God has far more angels than just the ones who await His instructions to respond to our need. We have the ability to count human beings, but only God knows how many angels there are (Heb.12:22).

My question is, what do the angels see when they watch you? I am ashamed to say that my life must certainly make them sad. While I make every effort to live a righteous life by walking in the Spirit, I fail miserably. The one thing that I know for sure though, is that at least once in my lifetime, the angels rejoiced! When I gave my life to Jesus, not only "my angel" rejoiced, but they all rejoiced! Praise God.