What the Angels Know

There is but a thin veil between what we can see and what we cannot. What we see is not real, for what we can see is here today and gone tomorrow. What is real is what endures. What is real is what remains when everything else slips from our earthly view. What is real is what stays on our records when earthly recognitions fade, and human memories grope, and reputations dim, and achievements and accolades diminish.

What is real are facts - those actualities that are known only to us... and to our God... and to His ministering spirits, the angels... those incredible beings who are Divinely commissioned to serve and observe the saints while we live and labor here below. Paul goes so far as to state that we are "a spectacle to angels," and our Lord said of His humble servants that "their angels do always behold the face of the Father," and Peter records the fact that "the angels desire to look into" this saving, cleansing and keeping grace.

So, as the Holy Spirit might help us, we ask Him to briefly open our minds as we slip behind the veil of our present, visible lives and reflect upon what the angels know, realizing that what they know is free of distortion and error.

The world we cannot visibly see is the realm of angelic beings commissioned to minister to us, and help us, and enable us as we fight the good fight of faith. They are silent witnesses to our unseen world in which we momentarily pray and ponder and reason and choose.

Though materially unseen, it is nonetheless our world of reality where there is no pretense or supposition or manipulations or coverup or rationalizing. It is an environment of such pure truth that even embellishments and nuances are absent. "Advantages" and "edges" and "inside tracks" are as foreign to the angelic realm as lying - their better known parent.

The serious Christian pulls down such heavenly integrity into his earthly, everyday living with the realization that it is not the standards and values of men that measure us at all. It is not this world's standards that judge us at all, for the saints live by a higher law - the law of grace. Serious Christians spend much of their time and thought endeavoring to reconcile the two, that is, what is important to God compared to human behavior - ours and that of others around us. Serious Christians always place God's Word as the final authority in their minds and souls.

It is here suggested that what the angels know about us should clamor for our attention. While we do not pray to angels, it helps us to know that they are rooting for us, fighting for us, and that eyes that behold the face of God are also watching you and me. Since they are constantly and actively involved in all who we are and do, our conduct in their presence should seek investigation. What do they know about you and me? Among the dozen or so issues that quickly come to mind, we take time for just one - our talking - to other, earthly persons and to our heavenly Father.

Are we known in the unseen realm as a frequent visitor? Is our voice regularly heard among the angels? Is our name commonly confessed there? Are we well known in heaven's throne room? Are we known as someone who stubbornly sits at His feet and keeps knocking at His door? Is our personal presence at the Father's throne of grace so consistent that the angels have heavy duty as we - in company with, and led by, the faithful Holy Spirit - confront the "spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms"? Have the angels come to count on our intercessions? Can they "set their watches" by the time we are on our knees? Years ago I heard the daughter of a godly man say of her father, "Daddy's wick is always lit." I hope that our children and grandchildren and close friends can say that about you and me.

The angels know. They know whether we have been, and are remaining, true to "the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." They know if we have kept the faith, and if we are still keeping it. They know whether we are clinging to the unchanging truth as it is left to us in God's Word. They angels know if we have accepted responsibility personally, or if we have left it for someone else to protect and maintain.

Down through the changing, challenging eras of church history, we have the ageless, comforting words of our brother, Paul, "Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Scripture references: Hebrews 1:14, I Peter 1:10-12, I Corinthians 4:9, Matthew 18:10, Ephesians 6:12, Jude 3, I Corinthians 15:58

Will You Quit?

"The boss criticized my work once too often today, so I just told him to write out my time! I was looking for a job when I found this one!"

"I've listened to his last complaint of burnt dinners, undone laundry and unpaid bills! I am suing for a divorce!"

"So the church board does not like my idea! Maybe they can get along without my tithe and membership too!"

Yes, quitting is just that easy and is usually accomplished with about as much reason or possible result. The savored satisfaction of separation from responsibility is just about as momentary and disappointing as the independence of estrangement is solitary and imaginary. The ardent, persistent and dedicated construction of years and tears can be toppled to a ruinous heap in a single sweep of a hasty decision.

The most dangerous desertion is that from Christian faith, for it may occur within and not be outwardly noticeable. A believer can continue to "perform" church functions and have a heart that is cold and dead spiritually.

There are definite reasons why personal faith in God is so severely tested. Primarily it is because of its priceless value, for faith is the single connection and transmission line to God. Faith is the vehicle to eternal life.

A further reason, perhaps more of an enlargement of the primary one, is that there is such great gain or loss involved. Satan will do his worst to destroy, and the Holy Spirit will do His best, to encourage, our faith.

When in the traitored embrace of temptation to quit, be assured if there were nothing to lose, yours and mine would be the pathway of ease. The grueling tests of faith certify the existence of properties that are certain, and far above our greatest imaginations.

We must remember that the fires of testing are meant to refine and not destroy. In His infinte wisdom, God matches the test with the degree of resistence. He knows how much we can bear, and this is so encouraging in the great tests.

On a River Bank

He stood there alone - a desolate portrait of solitude and sorrow. The mocking wind smote his swarthy features with demonic vengeance. Doubts abetted by merciless sun rays probed and lacerated the core of his being like phantom lancets, while the grimy, black mud in his sandals punctuated the gloom and grief of his soul.

A speck of foam elegantly mounted upon the breast of the racing current testified to the vanity and brevity of life while becoming a sacrifice to an unyielding stone.

The combination of death's sullen separation, coupled with the sudden responsibility of the heavy load of leadership, was cause for the noticeable sagging shoulders. The giant of faith who could open and close the heavens - the warrior of Carmel who could call fire from above - was gone.

On a promontory some rods away grouped the skeptics, pessimists and crepe-hangers. "What shall we do now? The days of miracles, powerful praying and holy living are gone! And what great days they were!"

But they did not watch alone. Demons cringed while mighty angels posititioned themselves for immediate departure as the deathless Deity of the ages interestedly observed that lonely, tested soul.

Moving perceptively toward the waters, Elisha placed his right foot on the immovable bastion of God's eternal existence, and his left foot on the continual faithfulness of God, and smote Jordon's waters with His powerful promises. "Where is the God of Elijah?" he cried. The hiss and rip of parting waters answered, "Right here by your side."

Today as in Elisha's day, the mantles of mature and seasoned saints are falling all around us, and we, their successors, are tempted to wonder what will happen to God's work without them? What we have to remember is that it is not the person at all, but the faithfulness of the Lord. The same God of Elijah...and of Elisha...is your God and mine!

The Spider Had a Heart Attack

At least I think he must have! A woman's piercing scream can trepidate the bravest heart!

Over a forty year period of pastoring the Wesleyan Church in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and residing in the fine, but very old, parsonage the good parishoners graciously provided for our family, I was privileged to nearly completely remodel and enlarge it. The project at the time was completely stripping and remodeling the upstairs. Since this was the bedrooms of our three children - as well as that of a dear niece who was living with us while attending our local college - the four of them had been relocated to hastily fixed up bedrooms in the basement.

At that time, the basement was unfinished - bare concrete walls, a very uneven concrete floor and no ceiling on the floor joists. This resulted in the mutual residence of various kinds of critters from time to time.

Our family became rather accustomed to "sharing space with them".

On this occasion I was upstairs mentally and physically completely absorbed in some carpentry procedure when the atmosphere of all three floors of the parsonage was jarringly pierced by not just one scream, but a series of them! I instantly flew down both sets of stairs and witnessed a once in a lifetime scenario of our niece vigorously jumping up and down, all the while screaming, "There's a spider! There's a spider!" The spider was rather uncerimoniously dispatched, and I sternly said to her, "Norma, (not her real name) in this house the only time we scream like this is if there is something wrong".

The point in this story - that is, other than raising the hair on my head and significantly elevating my adrenelin - is that her jumping up and down and screaming accomplished nothing. It was a futile waste of time.

A time waster is a life waster. All of us do this, but when we realize it, wise and thoughtful persons stop it, for we realize just how precious time is. Probably the most significant aspect of the passing of time is that it cannot be recovered once it is spent.

A cheering aspect of time is that God has graciously endowed each individual with equal portions, and places its precious value in each person's control. Every segment of time is like the treasure of a sunset - each one is different, each one can be personally enjoyed and used, and each one is quickly gone forever, never to be visited again.

What's Your CQ?

Measurements are at the same time interesting and frightful. Few of us can pass up any opportunity to see how we rate in skills. We are motivated and fascinated to know whether we are below average, merely average, or (as we generally anticipate) above average.

I think that it is possible to determine character quotient (CQ). We can discovered what kind of stuff we are made of inside--the kind of a person we really are--by answering a few important questions. Here are some of those questions:

1. When you receive undeserving credit, do you usually:
a. accept it and say nothing, NO POINTS
b. correct the false impression, 1 POINT
c. correct it and give the proper credit where it belongs, 3 POINTS

2. Where there is a particularly distasteful or difficult task to be done, do you usually:
a. try to get out of it, NO POINTS
b. do it reluctantly if asked, 1 POINT
c. take "the heavy end of the load," 3 POINTS

3. When something untruthful is being spoken about an absent person, do you usually
a. let it pass, NO POINTS
b. say nothing, but refuse to gossip, 1 POINT
c. correct the falsity and stand up for the absent person, 3 POINTS

4. When you can rightfully retaliate against one who has wronged you, do you generally:
a. think, "It's about time he/she got it" and let fly, NO POINTS
b. don't retaliate, but let your bigness be known, 1 POINT
c. let it pass quietly, 3 POINTS

5. When you are away from home and any aquaintances, do you usually:
a. behave differently and inappropriately, NO POINTS
b. maintain the same moral and ethical standards, 3 POINTS

6. When you can make a buck unfairly and undetected, do you usually:
a. do it, NO POINTS
b. do it, but feel guilty, 1 POINT
c. won't make money unfairly, seen or not, 3 POINTS

7. Treatment of spouse. Do you usually:
a. treat him/her worse than persons outside the home (talking, behaving, conversing with them with much more courtesy and sensitivity than a spouse), NO POINTS
b. care much, but neglect to show it, 1 POINT
c. make constant effort to let him/her know of your concern, love and respect, 3 POINTS

8. Treatment of subordinates. Are you usually:
a. bossy and demanding, distanced and demeaning? NO POINTS
b. friendly, respectful and appreciative of their efforts, 2 POINTS
c. the preceding plus a personal interest in their well-being and development, 4 POINTS

9. Treatment of the disadvantaged (poor, handicapped, sick, illiterate, aged, "abnormals" of any kind). Do you usually:
a. give little thought or attention to them, NO POINTS
b. feel sorry for them but get on with your life, 1 POINT
c. consider them personally equal and make an effort to relate to them, 5 POINTS

10. When do you forgive?
a. not at all or rarely, NO POINTS
b. when you are asked for it, 1 POINT
c. whether it is requested or not, 3 POINTS

0 to 6 POINTS: Poor Character.
7 to 14 POINTS: Average Character.
15 to 33 POINTS: Above Average Character.

The Biggest Goal in My Life

Herein lies an imponderable--just what is one's best? In prospect we always do our best. In retrospect, seldom if ever. What seems best at the time seems begging in review. Much of the answer lies in the probing of our purposes and in the establishing of a pattern.

In this we need a pattern, a measuring method to ascertain ones' best. The most common method is usually a mistake, that is, comparing our progress with the other fellow's. Peer pressure can lead us into endeavors and pursuits that are often considerably or totally incompatible with our gifts or God's will. The sooner we learn to "wear our own armor" and do it with grace, the more fulfilled and effective will be our service.

If the matter of the moment is receiving our best in devotion, attention and endeavor, any retrospection enlisted should only serve to note how better it may be done the next time around. Any failures noted, inadequacies revealed, or weaknesses uncovered should not be allowed to stand in judgment of a past performance. We who operate automobiles with accustomed ease today can recall painful experiences of jumping the clutch, killing the engine, spinning the tires, grinding the gears, and taking corners too fast. The second driving lesson didn't correct all of the initial blunders and some of us still have our problems.

The body of Christ is not all hands, all feet, or all hearts, and much precious time is futilely wasted by body members attempting to locate themselves within the body. The fact is that no man can determine who is what. The "selfsame Spirit" that worketh in all of us is the placement Personality in the body, and the placements are seldom recognizable by the various members of the body. The priority concern should be to function to capacity wherever one is or whatever one does.

Doing one's best is not an impossible dream, an illusive idealism, or an unrealistic and unattainable goal. If we honestly purpose and try to do our best, it is indeed our best, and God sees it so.

The biggest goal in my life may sound unappealing to some, oversimplified to others, and evasive to still others, but it my constant prayer and deepest desire. "Lord, fulfill Thy purposes within and through me. Help me to do this moment and this day what You want done. Help me to be in the fullest measure what You want. I sanctify to Thee even my infirmities, failures, and inabilities. Use all there is of me to perform Thy will. In Jesus name. Amen."

Different Stars

The Bible declares that there are no two stars alike, and since nobody has ever physically and personally made an "on site" inspection to either disprove or corroborate this, Bible believing Christians accept it as fact. Here is how the Amplified Bible writes 1 Corinthians 15:41:

"...the stars are glorious in their own distinctive way; for one star differs from and surpasses another in its beauty and brilliance".

Roughly a thousand years before this inspired comment by the Apostle Paul, the psalmist wrote in Psalms147:4 that, "(God) counts the number of the stars, and calls them each one by name".

Without arguing with the scientific community that has long insisted that our sun is merely "another star", the Bible seems in both this scripture and in Genesis 1:16 to state that our sun differs from the stars: "God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also".

And here in 1 Corinthians 15:41 the Bible says: "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars...". The strong inference in both the Old and New Testaments is that the sun was specifically and uniquely created by God to provide light and warmth to the earth, and that it and the moon are the only heavenly bodies like them.

The idea here is how unique and individual each star is - and accordingly, how individualistic and unprecedented each human soul is.

Though there are probably milti-billions of stars, each one is specifically and individually Divinely created and named, so that when our human eyes see a falling star burn out, an observing angel might say, "There goes Spica", or "Look at Alcor go!", or "How beautiful is Procyon as he blazes!".

He is a God abundant in grace Who comes to each human soul and offers an eternal relationship to him or her...a union and a friendship shared with no other human being.

He gives us a lifespan to make up our minds, for every person who loves, follows and serves Him is a volunteer. Every friend of God chooses to be.