1st August 2022
Even angels long to look into these things
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
1 Peter 1:12 (NIV)
We know the angels were created before the physical universe because they shouted for joy at that moment: “when the morning stars sang in chorus, and all the sons of God shouted for joy…” (Job 38:7 NET).
It may seem fanciful, but what if we could have heard the angels, ‘who long to look into these things’, discussing these events before that joyful moment when the earth and humanity were revealed. Can you imagine the angels gathered together asking, ‘Have you heard the latest – God is going to create a physical universe.’ ‘Physical – what is that?’ ‘I don’t know but He’s going to build it using something called molecules.’ ‘Molecules, what are they?’ ‘I don’t know, but I’ve also heard He’s going to use them to create beings, only physical, and He’s planning something called ‘the incarnation’, when the eternal Son of God is going to take on human form Himself in order to redeem mankind from sin.’ ‘What if they don’t sin?’ – ‘Well, I’ve heard it’s a matter of when, not if.’
Revelation 12:3-4 appears to some to suggest that one-third of the angels rebelled at the time of Lucifer’s fall. Could it be that they were rebelling against the very idea of inferior, physical beings (Psalm 8:4-5) eventually being in a position closer to God than they were? The Apostle Paul tells Christians in Corinth that they will one day judge angels. (1 Corinthians 6:3).
When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God did not hold His hands up and say, ‘What have they done now?’ God knew that Adam and Eve would fall from grace and need redemption: ‘He was chosen before the creation of the world…for your sake.’ (1Peter 1:20 NIV). We might wonder why God is working out the redemption of humanity in this way and why he allowed Adam and Eve to sin in the first place.
God always works through man’s infirmities and frailties. When we look at the betrayal of Christ by Judas, from a human perspective we might want Judas to suffer for evermore. But from God’s point of view Judas was an integral part of the plan. Christ not only had to suffer one of the most horrifying and painful deaths ever invented by mankind He was also betrayed in order to be the perfect sacrifice. Christ knew what He was doing when He chose Judas as His disciple.
God in his wisdom works through human frailty in order to redeem us, but his ways and his purposes remain a mystery unless God reveals them to us, even angels long to look into these things. Now, by God’s grace, the gospel is revealed to his people: ‘…the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory’ (Colossians 1: 26-27).
Prayer
Father, we know our understanding is limited at the moment because we are looking through a glass darkly. We cannot comprehend man’s inhumanity to his fellow man but we know that you work through our frailties to fulfil your purposes and you will redeem us fully once Christ returns to this earth. Amen.
Study by Richard White
About the writer:
Richard White attends the Nottingham congregation of Grace Communion International
Local congregation:
Nottingham Grace Communion
Lucy & Vincent Brown Hall
Attenborough Lane
Beeston
Nottingham
NG9 5HZ
Meeting time:
Saturday 2pm
Congregational contact:
Richard White
Email: nottingham@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church