2004-10-28 - What Angels Wish

Encore 1998-12-17

1 Pet 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-- things into which angels long to look. (NAS)

Well, Christmas is coming very fast. It seems to sneak up on me every year. My wife is still asking me for a list of things I might want. We have lists from the boys and ideas for family and friends. Some of the gifts are purchased, some are mailed, others are still "in progress". The idea is to get something the recipient can use, or needs, or would like but would never buy for themselves. Some folks like to go extravagant. We like to make the gift memorable without going overboard.

In one of the songs of the season, a child is telling Santa Claus what all his friends have on their lists. "Johnny wants a pair of skates, Suzie wants a sled..." the roll call goes. In this country very few of us have real needs. The ones that do, with the exception of some medical needs, are probably better off than most in many parts of the world. It's not that there are not hungry, hurting people in America. They are surely there. But, for the most part, our lists contain items that we would like to have, not basic needs.

What would an angel want? They live in Heaven with God the Father, the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They worship and serve God day and night. Their purpose is clearly defined from Gabriel to Michael to the least of the angelic host. They live without need, other than to serve. They sang at Jesus' arrival. They ministered to the Lord as He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane. They watched as Jesus bled and died on the cross, waiting for the command from the Father to go and rescue their King. The command never came. An angel rolled away the stone, to let us in to see that the tomb in the garden was empty. The angels will hold the vials, bowls and trumpets - the censer from the golden Altar of God from the Revelation.

We may look at angels and wonder what they could want for in all the universe. There is a difference between angels and humanity. Angels can not be redeemed. When the angels that rebelled and sided with the enemy lost the original battle for Heaven, they were cast out with their leader. There is no record of any angel being forgiven and restored to fellowship with God anywhere in the Bible. The salvation afforded to humanity is something so alien to them, they long to look into the matter. They stand in wonder, as we rightly should, that men and women, boys and girls can have their spirits made live again by the blood of Jesus Christ. We can be restored to fellowship with God. Keep that in mind as you sit in church. There may be angels in the rafters, or sitting where they may to listen to the Gospel and wonder.

Heb 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. (NAS)

I said that we here in America have few real needs. The needs I was speaking of were material, temporal needs. I heard a tape where a missionary asked an orphanage worker in the Ukraine, how the people back in America could pray for them. The worker responded that they would gladly accept prayers, but they worried and prayed for Americans. We have so many things to distract us from what is really important like prayer and spiritual matters. Things that distract us like the things on those lists.

In a week's time, we will celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. The time of year might be wrong according to some, and the holiday may be mingled with some pagan traditions. But the angels will be nearby as the carols are sung... Silent Night... God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Focus on the important things, the wonder and the glory, and the Savior that came to fill our greatest need with the greatest gift.

Peace,
Mike

jmhoskins@gmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org/