11/26/2022
God is with us always, but is He alone as He watches over us? No, Angels stand watch over us and yet so many Christians deny their existence today, and believe that we walk through life alone with God and that only He fills the world that surrounds us.
“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”
Psalm 91:11-12 ESV
We encounter angels in many forms, some we see, and some are invisible to us. Just as Elisha saw the army of God as it stood in defense of Jerusalem when Syria was about to invade. The young man with Elisha did not immediately see them, and we too are blind to the heavenly beings that are deployed about us. We have faith in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, even though we can’t see them, but some of us deny Angels… why is this so? You might say that Elisha’s account is a dream, and yet when God comes to us in a dream we believe… so why is this?
“Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
2 Kings 6:17 ESV
And how many angels are there? If Abraham’s descendants were as numerous as the stars then how many angels are at the beck and call of God? Listen to what was revealed to John in Revelation…
“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!””
Revelation 5:11-12 ESV
And are angels limited to heaven alone? Listen to what Jacob saw concerning this…
“And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.”
Genesis 28:12-13 ESV
Now let me tell you a true story about a poor farming family and a little girl that is told over and over again throughout the generations of my family, and it is not a dream so those who discount dreams will believe.
My mother was raised as one of eight children in a small one room log cabin in the mountains of North Carolina. This story takes place during the time of the Great Depression when antibiotics were not available. Of the eight kids three of them died young, and two of those died very young of illnesses we would consider treatable today.
My story is about Louise who was four years old and had pneumonia. She laid in bed and continued to get worse until one evening, with the family gathered around her, she pointed up to the place where the log wall met the roof joists and said “Look Mama, here come the angels.”… and she died. The family saw nothing, but little Louise’s eyes were opened during her final breath that night. This is a true story of my Aunt’s passing, and as a reminder of God’s mercy, I have the tiny wooden rocking chair in my house today that Louise cherished. Angels are real to my family, and little Louise made certain with her final words that they will always remain real.
““See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 18:10 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for occasionally allowing us to see your angels as they move amongst us, and climb up and down Jacobs ladder. Thank you for your Son Jesus who received strength in the Garden of Gethsemane from one of your angels as he prayed. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who watches over us, and stands angels by our children to reassure them of your love. Praised be your name for every angel we have entertained in unawares, and for all those who are busy picking up stones from our way do that we will not stumble. Merciful are you in the way Father, and great is your grace that runs over us. Wash us in the blood of Jesus, and send Him, and all the angels, as He takes His seat on the throne. We will look in awe at this spectacle… Jesus, His angels, and His glorious throne, and be judged.
““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.”
Matthew 25:31 ESV
Rich Forbes