Do you have any experience of angels? What are they? Are they here to protect us? Teach us? Should we worship them? Search for them?

 

I don’t know what you picture when you hear the word ‘angel’ but  I sometimes imagine a fairy type figure, all happy and floating around, but what are they really like? How are they related to God, and us?

 

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers them. (Psalm 34:7)

 

In the bible there are several instances when angels revealed themselves to man.  Although these instances occur mostly in the Old Testament, perhaps the most famous occurs in the New, when Mary was visited by an angel who told her that she was to bear the Son of God.

 

Angels were created by God. They’re spiritual beings who report to Him. Angels are beings who help us against evil forces and perform certain duties. They are often described as ‘angels of the Lord’ and seem to look ordinary enough. Not so much of the winged fairy creatures I imagine!

 

Because angels are not of this world, people are sometimes tempted to seek after them and value them more highly than knowing God. In Revelation 19:10 John says ‘At this I fell at his feet to worship him (an angel). But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!”

 

Though we do not pray to angels they are just one more example of how god cares for and keeps us against the forces of evil, which are constantly trying to defeat us. Billy Graham describes them as God’s Secret Agents. We only have earthly bodies now but one day we will worship alongside the angels as fellow citizens of heaven.