 THE LIFE OF AN ANGEL
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Psalms
91:11; Hebrews 1:14
To multitudes, the story of Christ’s birth is a fairytale, and Christmas
has no place in a “civilized” world. And one of the leading reasons it is renounced as a fable is because the
appearance of angels is included in the story.
Here is my story. When I was six years old, my two older brothers got their first BB gun. I followed them outside to
watch them shoot. After shooting a few leaves and twigs they noticed a little sparrow, singing on a branch. My oldest brother
took aim and shot it. It fell and lay dead on the ground. One moment it was happy and singing. Now it lay lifeless. This was
the first life threatening cruelty I had ever seen. My brothers, fully aware of what they had done, became fearful that our
parents would find out. So they decided to bury the evidence. After getting the shovel they suddenly became vindictive towards
me, believing I would tell on them. So out of spite they took the shovel, cut off the bird’s head and threw it at me
and laughed as I fled in fear. But when I stopped and turned, I heard a voice speak directly into my ear. It was a man’s
voice. He spoke with a lamenting, compassionate tone. He spoke these words: “This is not your world.” How could
a 6 year-old boy even consider such a lofty thought? 27 years later (when I gave permission for Jesus Christ to become a part
of my life) I discovered those words in the Bible: “Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest.” Micah 2:10.
The first seed of salvation sown into my life was the seed of the Word of GOD. And that voice I now know was the voice of
my guardian angel (Matt.18:10).
Years
later, in my adult life, I heard that voice again. At which time came the call of GOD on my heart: “Seek ye out of the
book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail.” Isa.34:16. An urging tug on my heart began, inspiring me to
read the Bible. I was being drawn to follow a path that I didn’t know where it would lead, but the voice in my heart
saying, “read the Bible,” had such a quality of gentle decency that I had to follow that voice to see where it
would lead. It was permeated with such tenderness and love. I didn’t own a Bible but among my small library of books
I did have an old book of my grandmother’s called, The Story of the Bible, by Charles E. Foster. It was given to her,
in 1903 by her mother. This book was a compilation of all the famous passages of Scripture. So I read the great stories of
Moses and the prophets, and then of Jesus Christ. My heart welled up with exuberant joy thinking, “There is a GOD who
loves me. I have a King who lives to serve; and His name is Jesus Christ.”
The lesson I’ve drawn from my own experience is a simple principle: When everyone faithful to GOD and Christ
meets face to face with their guardian angel for the first time and hear him speak, all will say, “I know that voice.”
And the angel’s response will be, “I’ve been speaking to you your whole life, working to mold your heart
into the similitude of Christ.” Hallelujah!
In the mind of the agnostic and atheist, the argument is often presented, "Angels don't exist. We cannot see
them; therefore, it is impossible to prove their existence." Let's examine this. We exist with the awareness of three
dimensions. Scholars who study the laws of physics theorize the existence of eleven dimensions, while another school of thought
declares there are twenty-two. The point is: Our five senses are very narrow when compared to the full range that exists for
each of them, whether of light, sound, smell, taste or touch.
We can hear musical tones from 16-16,000 vibrations per second. Common animals hear well beyond that range, even sensing
levels of volume imperceptible to us, as evidenced by the elephants in Sri Lanka who knew the tsunami was approaching and
they immediately headed for high ground. Our sense of smell is also very limited when compared to that of the animals. Even
sharks can smell a drop of blood a mile away and be drawn to it. Our sensitivity to light is likewise inferior to the cat
and many other creatures. And then there's our sense of direction. Both birds and fish have a sense of magnetic north,
and use that sense in their yearly migration patterns. This is common knowledge. Therefore, it is highly conceivable that
angels exist without our notice of their presence. It becomes rather arrogant of men to declare that because they cannot perceive
anything beyond their limited senses it must not exist. This is presumption, and presumption has no place in building knowledge
or character.
The Bible teaches that
there are holy and unholy angels working to gain the allegiance of every mind. They represent the two forms of government
competing for the supremacy of this world. One class of angels tempts the mind to believe lies and carry out deeds that cause
the soul to sin and perish in their sins. While the other class woos the heart to consider the dignity of conscience concerning
right and wrong and thus lead the life to righteous living, and thus, receive the seal of GOD for eternal life.
The Bible clearly teaches that GOD has assigned
a guardian angel to everyone, from birth ’til death: to protect, lead and restore each person to a saving knowledge
of the Creator, and the Laws of His government: Laws in which we are safe in one another's care. Said Jesus Christ of
all the little children, "their angels always behold the face of My Father who is in heaven." Christ's words,
"their angels" is in the personal possessive tense. And when circumstances allow, holy angels are commanded to intervene
and spare many lives every day.
Little
do men realize the warfare between Christ and Satan taking place in our very presence among the angelic hosts. If human eyes
were open to the spiritual battlefield taking place all around us, how different we would perceive life on Earth.
So, why is it that angels remain hidden. Three
reasons: 1. Satan would be exposed as the liar and murderer he is
when we would see the depths of evil: how his angels cause every war and abuse of life in its broad array of torment, suffering
and death.
2. Our limited
capacity of comprehension coupled with our frail emotions and vulnerable character cannot withstand the reality of the controversy
between righteousness and wickedness. We have a hard enough time dealing with what is within our view let alone deal with
what is hidden from view.
3. GOD determines that we must voluntarily believe what
His Word has declared all along: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having
not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving
the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” I Pet.1:7-9.
Then why is it that many die needlessly including multitudes of innocent
people? The Bible’s principle is simple: What is within the power of man to accomplish GOD cannot be held responsible
for. And concerning natural disasters, these fall under the jurisdiction of Satan. It is his authority that has led to every
atrocity against life, while in mockery acknowledging GOD’S sovereign power. Concerning the life of Job, Satan demanded
of GOD, “But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD
said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.” Job:1:11,12.
The
evil of this world can only be explained by the presence of evil angels prodding men to do things their good conscience would
have never allowed had not the evil been present. This is why Christ must be allowed into our lives and become the Victor
on our behalf, by His living out His righteousness in and through us. One day, all will fully understand the prophecy, “He
alone shall be exalted in that day.” Isa.2:11.
“Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That
the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found
unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see
him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation
of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should
come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified
beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves,
but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with
the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient
children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy,
so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” I Pet.1:3-16.
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained
angels unawares.” Heb.13:2.
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