He set the table for three and urged his 90-year-old bride to rush about preparing a virtual feast for unexpected guests. At the time, this elderly couple had no idea who it was that had come for dinner!
He said everyone in heaven had wings. Everyone, that is, except Jesus. Such is the recollection of a small, western-Nebraska boy from what has been reported to be his journey to heaven and back. Some wings, like his grandfather’s, he said, are very large. Other wings, like his own, are much smaller. But only Jesus doesn’t have wings. Hmmm…
For sure, the Seraphim of Isaiah’s vision into the Throne Room of the Living God had wings…six of them apiece, actually. That is not typically how we see them portrayed. Mostly we picture them with just two. The angels at the gate of no return to the spoiled paradise of Eden’s garden are not described as having such appendages, but rather as holding “flaming swords”. I think the flaming sword thing would definitely catch my attention even if they DID have wings! In Exodus 25, as God instructs Moses concerning the construction of the Ark of the Covenant and the placing of the Mercy Seat, he is told to have cherubim made with wings stretched upward to cover the Seat.
So…do angels have wings? Obviously some do. Or at least sometimes angels do. But then, on the other hand, I wouldn’t expect a drop-in visit by a winged angel anytime soon! However, you MIGHT actually see an angel at some point. Chances are, however, that if you do, you will simply see what appears to be a man or a woman…a person, no wings. And there are many stories of such “visitations” that we could share together. Without getting mystical or mysterious, our own family could relate stories of “angel visitations” at moments in our shared history. On the other hand, the Bible seems to indicate that when and if you ARE visited by an angel, you probably won’t even be aware of it at the time! “Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it!” Hebrews 13:1-2
We have, on occasion, invited friends to our home and encouraged them to also bring along their children. We had heard that they were “little angels” and it seemed a reasonable thing to invite them to share the evening with our family. But not long after our guests’ arrival, we were suddenly aware that what they brought with them were NOT angels (wings or no wings), but little demons poorly disguised. You know the routine!
Angels are real. Angels are messengers from God. Angels are sent to protect and strengthen those whom the Father loves. In His hour of greatest need, Jesus Himself could have summoned TEN THOUSAND angels to come to His care! And when life deals us a painful blow, His angel messengers come to bring us His personal comfort. But dropping in for dinner? How could THAT happen? The writer of the letter to the Hebrews says it can happen when we selflessly open our homes for acts of hospitality in meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters with hearts of pure love. “For some have even entertained angels without knowing it.”
If God has graced your hour of need with a special visitation from His side, don’t apologize for the unusual experience. Don’t stress out trying to reason it away or interpret it as some mystical revelation. Don’t call your favorite publisher and rush to get your story into print. But rather, simply humbly thank Him for His caring and sustaining grace.
He set the table for three and urged his 90-year-old bride to rush about preparing a virtual banquet feast for unexpected guests. At the time, this elderly couple had no idea who it was that had come for dinner!
See you Sunday, Church, as we stop by the home of Abraham and Sarah and watch as they are visited by three angels, and host the Lord of Glory…totally unaware!
Pastor Tom
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