Angels

See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their Angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. Matthew18:10NIV

For it is written: ‘“He will command his Angels concerning you to guard you carefully” Luke4:10NIV

It is said that we all have an Angel looking over us, and that every child has their own guardian Angel, and these verses would back that up. That being true, do you know who your guardian Angel is? Or is your Angel always in the background, their presence unseen?

The devil is real, and even he didn’t need to be convinced that there are Angels, guarding us carefully. He quoted the words of the Old Testament to tempt Jesus when He was exhausted, having been in the wilderness. In an almost sarcastic tone he uttered the words of Luke 4:10 to see if this temptation of throwing Himself from a high place would work. Thankfully it didn’t. Have you ever noticed that the words of Scripture are used by those who believe, and even those who don’t believe? We must be careful how we read and use the Word of God, because it is often used and abused by those who don’t care.

We can see that we have an Angel by our side from childhood, into adulthood and eternity where we will join in the praise around the throne. There is comfort in the sure and certain knowledge that God has not only provided His Holy Spirit to guide and convict, He has also provided an Angel, or perhaps even more than one, to guard us carefully. With these heavenly benefits, why would some people not want to have this protection in this life?

Human nature kicks in, and wants its own way, no matter how good any offer can be, so we are entitled to refuse. That is another gift from God, called free will. We are not robots, and our gracious God allows us to accept or reject His gifts. Sadly we think we know better than God, how sad is that?

I am happy to accept God’s gifts, including the Angels He provides for my benefit. Have you ever wondered what these Angels look like? I certainly have, and I believe I have the answer. Angels look just like you and me. When there is a need, or an impending danger looming, God will place someone right there at that time, and in that place to provide the need or avert the danger. I’m sure you have experienced this first hand, and often. The face of that help, I suggest, is your Angel for that time and place. Oh, and by the way, it works both ways. You may well be someone else’s Angel. Perhaps without knowing it, but in the heart and mind of the person you helped, you are, and always will be, their Angel.

So, who is the face of your Angel? I would be surprised if you couldn’t name a few!

Omniscience

But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. Job 23:10 NLT

Some very clever theologians who hold to the belief that God has given man Free Will, have a problem with God’s Omniscience. The basic thought goes something like this: If we really do have free will, and it is independent of God’s desire, how can God know what we will do, until we do it? Only then can He react and step in. You will probably have to read that a few times to let it sink in.

Psalm 139 gives us a clear insight to God’s undisputed omniscience. He will not determine our path, but God certainly knows it. In fact it is clear that God knows our every path. This may disturb you, but for my part it gives great comfort. Here are some verses from Psalm 139 which support that claim:

V2-4 “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.”

I see this as a reference to the present and the future.

V6,7 “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”

Unfortunately, I see and read of some very learned professors using their own education and reasoning to figure out God while cherry picking their own Bible thoughts. My own belief is that God does not make our decisions for us, but He does know what we will do before we act. Why? Because God is love, we enjoy God given free will, and we are not robots.

His Ways!

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. Job 23:10,11 NIV

You may have seen my recent piece where I confessed to overthinking some things, well here is one of those hoary chestnuts which I wrestle with, and have done more recently than in my early faith walk. The fact is, it was never in question, or an issue at any level in church circles until recently. The issue is the free will that God has given us to choose His way, or reject it.

The old patriarch Job had more real problems to contend with than any of us will ever face, and his faith was unwavering in spite of his friends advice, and yes even his wife who told him to ‘curse God and die’ and be done with it. The big lesson to be taken from the life of Job is his full, complete faith in a God he couldn’t see. He had no knowledge of Jesus, or God’s ultimate plan of salvation, but Job believed that his God knew the way Job would take. God didn’t decide what Job should do. The choices were Job’s to make, but it is clear that God knew the way Job would take. There is a vast difference between God knowing our path, and deciding that path for us.

An argument made by some professors and students of theology is this: Since our gift of free will is real, does this mean that God cannot know our decisions until we make them of free will, only then and not before? OR, although in free will, God does not make our decisions, but He, being God, knows what those decisions will be beforehand? The fundamental question at stake is God’s omniscience. Is He really ‘all knowing’? Do you have any thoughts on this?

I am reminded of this verse from Isaiah 55:8,9 (ESV) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”