One can no longer avoid them. Angels are everywhere. You find them on posters, art reproductions, calendars, and even on such disparate places like school binders, trays and candles. Books on angels sell well as do CD's and tapes featuring Gregorian chants with angels on their covers. If retailers had their way, angel figurines (often under the likeness of mischievous looking cherubs) would also be looking at you in the bathroom and other parts of the house. Clearly modern man is suddenly very interested in angels. Angels have become a hot consumer item. How does one explain this phenomenon? What does it tell us?

It has been said, and rightly so, that as church attendance in our country continues its steady decline, our secular fellow citizens still remain hungry for spiritual certainties and sustenance. The present surge of interest in the angel world can be interpreted as a longing for more than the offerings materialism can provide. As such the enchantment with and the drooling over angel images and collecting angel memorabilia betrays a rather pathetic desire for a panacea which can do little to help satisfy the need of the spiritual hunger that is undoubtedly out there.

This rather piteous state of affairs does however have two pluses that we should note. The first is that if people are seeking spiritual certainty, then the gospel provides that. There is an answer to spiritual hunger. If the liberal "churches" had not been pandering to every fad, but had preached the full gospel then the large scale desertion from these assemblies would probably not have taken place. It is a great privilege of divine grace to believe in the unchanging and trustworthy Word of God! It is also a great responsibility. As believers we have the only message that will satisfy the restlessness and hunger of those who seek spiritual solace and comfort. Also in this time, the light of the gospel must shine. Individually and collectively we have obligations here.

There is another aspect of the sudden popularity of angels that is of advantage. It reminds us that there is indeed a created reality that is unseen, and that there really are angels. Furthermore, in spite of the fact that they are creatures, they indeed can be almost everywhere! The reality of real angels is however not so sweet and sugary as many of the pictures and figurines would suggest.

To begin with, there are the evil angels who rebelled against God (cf. 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6) and who wage war against the children of God. Indeed, our arch enemy Satan is a fallen angel and he is busy seeking to devour whomever he can (1 Peter 5:8). He has the help of a mighty host of angels (cf. Matthew 25:41; Ephesians. 2:2) so that our struggle to serve God and be holy to Him is not just a struggle on the human level against flesh and blood,

but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.Ephesians 6:12

It is in this context good for us to reflect on the fact that the Lord our God has a vast army of angels at His disposal. They wage war against Satan's hosts. Because of the work of the Christ, the evil angels are doomed. Satan and his angels were thrown out of heaven and down to earth (Revelation 12:7-9). Yes, the evil hosts have been consigned to hell. Although they can still work on earth, they are, as Calvin notes, dragging their chains with them wherever they go (cf. 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). Our enemy Satan, along with his angels, is extremely dangerous, but he has been defeated!

All this is most heartening for the children of God. Even more so when one considers that angels who serve God also have a specific task over against us. Scripture says of these beings:

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?Hebrews 1:14

God sends His angels out for the sake of His people. According to His promise, God will give His angels charge of those who make the Lord their refuge. They will not be hurt but be victorious over the enemy (Psalm 91:9-13). Especially the little ones have the attention of our God as He sends His angels to watch over them. They do so and regularly appear before God for their welfare (cf. Matthew 18:10).

The angels' involvement is also evident from the fact that they notice God's joy when a sinner returns from his sin and they share in the Father's joy in heaven (Luke 15:7, 10). The angels are interested in the salvation of God's people (cf. 1 Peter 1:12) and they will serve in the second coming of our Lord (cf. Matthew 16:27; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). As we have in view the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, we also come "to innumerable angels in festal gathering" (Hebrews 12:22).

Angels, unseen now, but they are wherever the Lord wants them to work and minister. Angels, creatures of God to remember and in one sense at least to emulate, namely that we too may carry out the duties of our office and calling "as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven" (Heidelberg Catechism, Q.A. 124).

Angels - their ministry reveals God's goodness and gives us reason to rejoice! Angels, let us not forget them! They are for real. But, their remembrance must never simply serve as a sentimental cure-all to soothe the troubled souls of disenchanted materialistic man. Rather, remembering them must move us to praise and giving glory to their Creator. He rules, and He comes, - with His angels.