Article by Myra Guca - Link HERE
I love the idea of angels! Yet, I used to resist the concept of angels
just a little bit -- wanting to make sure I wasn’t worshipping something
separate from God….rather, a clear expression of God. I love
the image that angels are a protecting presence enfolding us, and the
fact that when I think about angels my thoughts sort of lift up.
Now
some people say. “Aren’t angels just good people who have died?” I
don’t know! I think perhaps, they are divine ideas put in human form.
It’s not too unusual that we would behold the presence of angels this
way. We tend to see what we understand, and I think it is sort of
natural for us to put good ideas with skin on them …so that we can feel a
kind of connection, even humanness to it. It seems more
benevolent, somehow to imagine God’s grace in flowing robes and lovely
smiles, than to think of it just as a blinding light --though that, too,
can be interpreted as an angel by some people.
In the Bible
stories, angels keep cropping up, bringing messages that upset people
and challenge people and change people and comfort people – sometimes
all at once! But the one message they always share is, “Don’t be
afraid.” Then, when we read the description, Heavenly hosts -- we’re
given to understand this isn’t just a bunch of guys in white robes with
harps. This was a massive display of soldiers in full and shining gear
with armor and weapons ….all that would be required to fight some divine
battle! Remember when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane? He said,
my Father can summon 12 legions of angels. Now, if He was going to
summon legions of angels they must be pretty tough. They weren’t exactly
the lovely diaphanous creatures that we like to think of. Instead, they
are a little like say, the great NFL linebacker, Lawrence Taylor. If
you want an angel to go before you, don’t you want somebody like that?!
I
think it’s sad, in this post-modern culture where we’re so attuned to
getting all the facts, that some people just dismiss what they can’t
see, or touch or hear. Maybe children see angels better than we do,
because they expect them. In the middle of play they might suddenly look off, just to the side where there was seemingly nothing…
and smile. Did you ever see a baby do that? Of course, there’s that old
saying, "They’re smiling at angels." I’m not so sure it’s just a
saying.
Do you see the angels? They re all around us!
Angels are spirits created by God. And you are right in saying that they are very powerful as fighters on behalf of God's Kingdom. Many people believe that God has appointed a Guardian Angel for each of us to protect us and guide us in this life.
ReplyDeleteYou raise an interesting point, Myra: Are Angels good people who have died?
I believe good people who have died are in Heaven as spirits (souls). So yes, if God wanted to, He could appoint some of them as Angels and send them back to earth as our Guardians against Satan and his demons.
God bless.
This is such a thoughtful reflection, Myra, and I truly enjoyed your take on angels. Yes, I believe in angels; they are here to guide and protect us. And I love envisioning them as God's mighty warriors. Wow! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI believe in Angels and the bible gives reference to "angels unaware" in Hebrews 13:2. Actually, the bible mentions Angels over 300 times...(something I learned from listening to David Jeremiah) I love that Angels guard us and I have seen this over and over again...I have two grandsons who have been in serious car accidents. Neither of them should have lived through them. The older grandson totaled his truck and it was completely torn to pieces...EXCEPT for the Drivers seat! An angel protected him. Our youngest grandson..A truck landed on top of him BUT...again, an Angel was watching over him. This is a story in itself where miracle after miracle happened that evening. Thank you Myra for this topic.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Victor!
ReplyDeleteI do hope there are guardian angels all around us, I pray for them to be there. It's a dangerous world and we need the protection in ways we can't even imagine.
ReplyDeleteThe world sure could use some guardian angels. Great writing!
ReplyDeleteI may very well have had an angel encounter when I got lost in an unfamiliar area, perhaps twelve years ago. Trees surrounded me, and no side roads presented themselves until--in the middle of nowhere--a 4-way stop appeared. To the left I could see a sign half-hiI'd been heading in the wrong direction) and even pumped gas for me. I've often wondered if I went back to that isolated road if that gas station (and its angel-attendant) would be still be there. Or perhaps God planted them there right when I needed help!
ReplyDelete