You’ve heard the remark, right? Or even said it yourself? Sorry about the hard time you’re going through … I’m sending you an angel!
It’s a nice sentiment, but there’s just one problem. Okay, several problems. Let’s take a quick look at what the Bible has to say on the subject.
Hebrews 1:14 says, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”
“They” refers to angels, which that whole chapter talks about.
Angels are spirits created by God, whose job is to serve people — specifically, those who have placed their faith in Christ.
Angels are real spirits, not cherubic, winged figments of our imaginations. In fact, pretty much anytime the Bible describes a human encountering an angel, the angel has to tell the human, “Fear not.”
I take it they are a little intimidating!
So angels are real — but people don’t have the ability or authority to send them anywhere.
Another myth about angels: When our loved ones die, they become angels. Nope, they stay human.
Matthew 22:30 says, “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.”
Note the word “like,” meaning, like angels, we will not get married or be given in marriage in heaven. This verse does not say we will become angels.
Now for some fascinating factoids about angels:
1. Did you know it’s possible to run across an angel during the course of your life? I’m not aware if I’ve ever had one over for dinner, but I could be wrong.
Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
2. We shouldn’t make too big a deal of them, though. Hebrews chapter one makes it clear they are not equal to Jesus in any way, and we should not worship them. Spiritual experience for its own sake has a way of getting us sideways.
“ Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions.” — Colossians 2:18
3. One day, Christians will have the responsibility of judging angels. That’s a wild truth! (By the way, judging is not inherently evil, despite what our culture says — just saying.)
“ Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels?” — 1 Corinthians 6:2-3
4. Angels don’t necessarily know as much as we do about the gospel message and our salvation. They just help out in the process.
I Peter 1:12 talks about how the prophets predicted our salvation through Christ, and how these are “things into which angels long to look.”
All this to say, we live during a wonderful time in history.
We know stuff angels don’t even know. We may receive their help at times, or even be in their presence without knowing it. One day we will help in the process of judging them.
(Will we get to hand out angel trophies and awards? Will we hold up score cards for the angelic Olympics? I’m not sure.)
God describes these amazing messengers of his as “winds” and “a flame of fire” (back to Hebrews 1).
I’m thankful he uses these powerful, invisible servants to help us walk out our salvation.
So while I can’t send you an angel, I will pray to the Lord Jesus for you. He’ll send you an angel if you need one.
Either way, he’s got you covered.
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