Has my baby become an Angel?

            When Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden there was an angel set on guard to make sure no one entered the garden again (Gen. 3:24). When Balaam’s donkey stopped on the road, it was because an angel blocked his way (Num. 22:24). Angels ministered to Elijah (1Kings 19:5) and Gideon (Judges 6:12); they stretched out their swords and halted entire armies (2Chron. 32:21). An angel appeared to Mary and told her the good news that she would bear Jesus (Luke 1:26). When Christ was born an entire host of them sang in the sky (Luke 2:13). In the book of Acts and angel led Peter out of prison (Acts 12:7). In Revelation angels are seen pouring out God’s wrath (Rev. 16:2) and locking Satan in the abyss (Rev 20:1).

            Certainly Angels are very powerful creatures, set apart to execute God’s will. They are focused on bringing God glory and being carriers of His message.  They are busy at work even now in an unseen world beyond our comprehension.

            We know that not all Angels are good; some fell with Satan and are now for eternity bound into his service (Rev. 12:4). They sinned, and there is no hope of redemption for them.

            Angels are creations of God, but it does not say anywhere in the bible that they were made in the image of God. Image Bearer is a title reserved for humans alone (Gen 1:26). In the same way Satan fell from heaven, Eve ate the fruit in the garden. The difference is that when Satan and his Angels desired to be like God their fate was sealed for eternity, Satan’s final resting place will be a lake of fire (Rev 20:10).  Eve on the other hand, set in motion a glorious plan of redemption, for all who might put their trust in Christ.

            In today’s culture angels are often viewed as babes sitting on clouds playing harps, or shooting arrows of love down upon unsuspecting individuals. People refer to their beloved family member who has died as their “guardian angel”.  Women often refer to themselves as “the mother of an Angel” when they lose a child. So much of these phrases are thought to be comforting, and they are at first thought-- our babies flying around keeping us out of harms way. Angels do keep us out of harms way and they do help us-- but they are not our children. The truth is no matter how short your child’s life, God created them and placed in them His image. More so than that, He paid for their soul on the cross with the blood of His son!

            “I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10 ESV). The angels look upon us and marvel. They have not forgotten when Satan and the demons fell; they know that there was not a sacrifice offered for them. When they see God’s plan laid out for us, and they watch the Holy Spirit draw a sinner to repentance-- they rejoice, they celebrate, they sing of the awesome redemption that could never be offered to them.

            You are not the mother of an angel, but the mother of a child who God knit together in your womb in His image, who He graciously redeemed on the cross, and who He brought to Glory to live eternally with Him.