An Encouraging Word: Angels watching over me
The world is fascinated by angels. We fanaticize about who they are, where they come from, and what they do. On Valentine’s Day, some people see them as nothing more than cute little Cupids. Others envision them as beautiful women with long flowing hair. Are they warriors? Do they have to earn their wings? Are they off beat and edgy? Do they have names? Should we worship them? Do our loved ones become angels when they die?
There are more movies about angels than one can count. Here are two movie script excerpts of conversations with angels. Can you guess the title of each movie?
Excerpt number one: Dudley: “I’m an angel.” Henry: “I beg your pardon?” Dudley: “An angel! You know, like in the Bible.” Henry (sarcastically): “Of course you are. The angel Dudley? That must have been the part of the Bible that got lost.”
Excerpt number two: Zuzu (after a bell on the Christmas tree rings): “Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.” George: “That's right, that's right. (Looking up) Attaboy, Clarence!”
The first is from “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996), which was a remake of “The Bishop’s Wife (1947). The second is from “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946). Both movies featured angels who were once human but needed to come back to earth to earn their wings. As sweet as those storylines might be, they cloud the reality of what the Bible does say about angels.
Without a clear understanding of the Biblical account of angels, we will get it all wrong. Angels are among us. They have been part of our history since the beginning of time. And the Bible is chock-full of information about them.
Let us understand that angels are indeed real. Their job, much like any sincere officer of the law, is to serve and protect. Angels do not exist just to make our lives better. They are not to be worshipped. They are not to be prayed to. And unlike Dudley and Clarence, they never were human. We will not turn into angels; we are much more important than that! After all, Jesus did not become human to save angels, but to save us.
We live in a physical and spiritual world. One can be seen; the other is invisible. But the Word of God shows us enough of the unseen world to let us know that a battle rages; that God and His angels are fighting for our good. Ultimately, the soul agenda of angels points us to Jesus Christ.
As we begin this short month of February, let us understand that angels are among us. They are much more than cute little Cupids playing harps and shooting love arrows. Their primary ministry, like ours, is worship (Hebrews 1:6). Their primary task, like ours, is that of sharing God’s message (Hebrews 1:7). And their primary goal, like ours, is to serve God. But angels also serve those who belong to God (Hebrews 1:13-14).
Pastor John Holt wrote, “Let Jesus, and not angels, be the focus of your interest and adoration! Angels watching over me ... that's nice. But if I don't have a Savior, all the angels in heaven cannot save me or change my life. I'm thankful for the ministry of angels. I would not depreciate or demean God's provision. However, I still need a Savior; and so do you.”
Tom Cash is the senior minister at First Church of Christ in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He also serves as Chaplain for Hospice of the Eastern Upper Peninsula. On Facebook he is known as Yooper Pastor and Yooper Pasty.
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: An Encouraging Word: Angels watching over me
