Rev. James A. McClung tells the story—his own story. It was in November 1975 when his father-in-law had his first heart attack. During his recuperation, the pastor had their five-year-old twins to take care of by himself. And that is when it happened—little Walt developed a medical condition, that, through the weeks ahead, turned out to be quite serious. It was a mass in his right side, and within a day, he was in surgery for kidney problems.
As it turned out, Walt's little sister, Tondra, had the same congenital kidney defect, and was in need of the same surgery. On Christmas Eve night, both were hospitalized with tubes going every which way, awaiting even more surgery. Both parents tried to get to sleep in chairs next to their children, but they were just too exhausted. The pastor felt he should have enough faith to spare, but in the midst of the pain, he felt lost. “Oh, God,” he prayed, “I really need to know that you are with us in this. You gave us such a special child in your Son, Jesus, and we need to feel your presence somehow! Somehow, Lord. Amen!”
About 6:00 in the morning, there was a knock on the hospital room door. Believe it or not, it was Santa Claus! No stuffed tummy or fake beard—this one looked real, all right. He called out the kid's names, and they shot straight up in their beds. Their faces were lit up with joy. He gave them their gifts, and claimed he needed to get back to the North Pole. The pastor went out into the hall to thank him, but Santa was nowhere to be found. When he asked the nurses, they said there had been no one there. Was it a dream? It couldn't have been—the whole family had seen him. The pastor stopped by the hospital chapel and breathed a prayer of gratitude—God had answered his prayer. Somehow, God had sent someone! Hebrews 13:1-2 tells us, “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Could that Santa have been an angel? Unlikely to us, but if God wanted it to be so, could it not have been? Is not God in control? Can He not do all things, as He sees fit? Of course!
As we move into the New Year of 2010, it is important to remember that angels are not just a “Christmas” thing—angels have become big business year round. Books, figurines, jewelry—you name it—many have taken the opportunity to capitalize on them, and often for the wrong reason. Books, even in “Christian” Book Stores, suggest that people find out the name of their “guardian angel” and communicate with it. The Bible, however, calls this occult, with these “angels” being “familiar spirits”, and therefore, demonic—yes, angels alright, but “fallen angels.” (Isaiah 8:19-20) The ungodly New Age movement not only uses the Biblical term “familiar spirits,” but others such as “spirit guides” and “ascended masters.” In so doing, they are listening to demonic spirits and not the one true God. Some take angels simply as good luck charms, thinking they are safe as long as they have one pinned on. Praise God if the pin or necklace reminds you of God's glory, but don't think the jewelry has any power of its own. It does not!
Others have taken the concept of angels, expanding on the theme far beyond the Scriptures. For example, the Apocryphal Books of Enoch and Tobias began to develop a hierarchal order of angels—Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Principalities, Powers, Virtues, Archangels, and just “regular” angels. This list of nine was further elaborated on in the fifth century, by Middle Eastern scholar Dionysius, as well as by Pope Gregory. At the end of the 15th Century, a stained glass window depicting all nine could be found in St. Peter's Church Hungate, in Norwich. John Milton, in his classic “Paradise Lost,” focusing on the state of things before the rebellion of Satan, mentions it as well. Sounds very authoritative, doesn't it? But it's not! While the Bible does mention each of these nine names, nowhere does it suggest that they all refer to different levels of angels. That has all been made up, and people assume it's true. Listen—we do not have to believe everything the world says about angels, or anything else for that matter. Why don't we just believe what the Word of God tells us, for that is the only reliable source. Angels were created by God as ministering spirits, and God is the only one who has the authority to speak about them.
Let me give you an example of how listening to any other voice can lead us astray. In Luke 1, the priest Zacharias has an encounter with an angel as he was performing his duties in the temple— “...there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.” (vss. 11-13) Later in the conversation, the angel identifies himself as Gabriel. While non-biblical sources say he was a archangel, the Bible does not. In fact, the only two places where the Holy Scriptures mention Archangels are in 1st Thessalonians, blowing the trumpet at the Rapture—and the angel isn't even named—and in Jude 1, where an Archangel by the name of Michael is described. Quite simply, Gabriel is never called an Archangel, and yet you hear that all the time. Maybe he was one, but we can't call him that unless the Bible says so. We do not have to believe what we hear about angels unless it comes from God and His holy Word.
Another thing we can see in this is the true purpose of angels as ministering spirits—they are not good luck charms or a magical way to get something out of God. They proclaim the purposes of God in order to prepare us in the spirit of repentance for what God has for us next. Right after Gabriel prepares the way for Zacharias, he does the same for Mary—”And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” (vss. 26-28) Do you see it? Gabriel goes on to elaborate just how great Jesus would be, just like he did concerning Zachariah's and Elisabeth's boy, who would be the one to prepare the way for the Lord. All of the way through the Christmas Story, it is the same way—preparation for hearts to perceive and receive the glory of God. Praise God—this “glory” is His splendorous weightiness—His unfailing opinion of Himself!
An angel also appeared to Joseph in a dream, preparing his heart to stay in God's plan and marry his beloved Mary. Once they arrived in Bethlehem, and the baby was born, “...there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (2:8-11) Moments later, the entire sky was filled with the angelic host, giving glory to God. This all went very far to prepare them to seek Jesus, find Him, and worship Him. But that's not all—to proclaim Him to all who would listen. Unlikely? No, it's what happens when God's splendor is seen!
Once Jesus began His ministry, we read of two other appearances by angels. After Jesus was baptized by His forerunner, John the Baptist—Zachariah's and Elisabeth's son—He was led up into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. And the purpose? To be tempted of Satan, and thereby, making plain that He would follow what God said, and not the word's of another. Matthew 4:11 says, “Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him.” The second time was at the close of His ministry, in the Garden of Gethsemane—”And there appeared an angel unto Him from Heaven, strengthening Him.” (Luke 22:43) On His way to the Cross, Jesus refused to be rescued by thousands of angels, so that God's glory would be seen and embraced. Yes, these angels are ministering spirits, and every one of them is a messenger sent from God with a very purposeful message—the life-transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ—not just at Christmas, but all through the year. Just like this past Christmas Season was a preparation for the truth of Christmas, as we enter this New Year of 2010, let us seek Jesus and become even more prepared for the fullness of His glory to live within us. Steve Merkel, the Christian song writer, wrote, “He made a way in a manger, to make a way to the Cross.” Praise God—the way has been prepared. Will you walk in it?
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Posted By Christ Our Rock Bible Church to
Christ Our Rock at 1/01/2010 01:00:00 PM
