When we think of angels, we tend to think of how beautiful they are, or how powerful they are, or even how frightening they are. They’re presence often strikes biblical characters with fear and awe (Luke 24:1-5). There’s little doubt that if most of us saw one today, we’d turn to ice-cold stone. We are made lower than the angels (Psalm 8:3-5), so it is natural that we would respond in that way. But there’s something far more profound about them than those elements of their power, awe, and beauty that shake us. And it's something that should make us pause and think.
In Acts 5, Luke tells us how the apostles – because of their preaching, their miracles, and the growth of the church – had been imprisoned due to the jealousy of certain religious elites (Acts 5:17-18). On the night of their imprisonment, an angel secretly sets them free so that they can continue their work of telling everyone about the wonderful life made available to humanity by way of the gospel (Acts 5:19-21). This event raises a weighty question. Why does God need an angel to set his people free? The answer is . . . he doesn’t. He could have easily uttered his powerful words, and the locks on the doors would have dissolved, and the eyes of the guards would have been blinded. Instead, God chooses to administer his creation through the agency of other beings. Sometimes, those beings are spiritual beings, like the angels, and sometimes they’re corporeal beings, like humans. Angels are referred to throughout the bible as “sons of God” (Genesis 6:1-4, Job 1:6, Job 38:7). Interestingly, human beings who have been redeemed are called the children of God, as well as Sons and Daughters of God (1 John 3:1, John 1:12, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Galatians 3:26, Romans 8:14-17).
God prefers to rule his creation through the agency of a council of family members. In Psalm 82, God is judging evil spiritual beings who had neglected their task of promoting his values and principles while protecting humanity. In Daniel 4:16-18, we see good and holy spiritual beings of God’s family council both deciding and declaring a sentence of punishment on King Nebuchadnezzar for the purpose of proclaiming God’s position of authority over all human affairs. Amazingly, Paul tells us that even though we humans, who are lower than the angels, but also in God’s family, will judge angels and rule over them at some point in the future (1 Corinthians 6:2-3)!
Of course, we’re not all the way there yet. But those of us who belong to Christ are already involved in the administration of God’s creation. At present, we image bearers have the duty of representing his values in his creation, as well as spreading his good news to others. This is the very reason why that angelic member of God’s council set those apostles free – so that they could continue God’s work with their willful agency, and teach in the temple about the plan of the Most High so that his family could grow.
What part are you playing in God’s family council?
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