The Service of Angels and the Work of Christ.

ANGELS are, no doubt, wonderful beings; but how dark must his mind be who bends the knee to worship or to make prayer to one or all of them. There can be no doubt that they have come into marked prominence in the history of God’s dealings with men, and their ministry has its place still (Heb. 1:1414Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)).
An angel could stand at the gate of paradise and keep man out; but what angel could meet the fiery sword and conduct man back? (Gen. 3:2424So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24)).
An angel might drag Lot out of the fire of Sodom; but what angel could save me from the fire of hell? (Gen. 19:1616And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. (Genesis 19:16)).
An angel might stop the lion’s mouth for Daniel; but could he deliver me from the mouth of that roaring lion who “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”? (Dan. 6:2222My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. (Daniel 6:22)).
An angel could be sent to trouble the waters of Bethesda’s pool for the healing of the body; but could one of all the heavenly host go into the troubled waters of judgment and secure peace and healing for a single soul? (John 5:44For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. (John 5:4)).
An angel might have power enough (for they excel in strength) to carry a sinner like you or me to heaven; but what is he going to say about our sins when he gets us there? (Luke 16:2222And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; (Luke 16:22)).
An angel was sent to strike off Peter’s chains and open the prison gates for his free exit; but could that angel have loosed a sinner from the fetters of sin, and opened to him the gate of heavenly liberty? (Acts 12:77And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. (Acts 12:7)).
An angel could be sent to hold over guilty Jerusalem the sword of judgment, and make every man, from King David downward, to tremble as he beheld it; but who is sufficient to meet the sin which called it forth so that the “drawn sword” could be righteously put back into its sheath? (1 Chron. 21:1616And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. (1 Chronicles 21:16)).
Angels might come from heaven by “multitudes” and say, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”; but who could take up the overwhelming question of man’s guilt and ruin, and so work as to express God’s good pleasure in men-bring glory to God in the highest, and peace for men at their lowest? (Luke 2:1313And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, (Luke 2:13)).
There is only One who could accomplish all this—Jesus the Son of God. He could take a dying robber to paradise, and make righteous answer for the wherefore of such a marvelous act; for He had died for him. He is the only Deliverer from the fire of eternal judgment, and from the destroyer’s power. He has already accomplished a work for the saving of every believer’s soul, and is soon coming again to change or raise the bodies of His saints.
“He breaks the power of canceled sin;
He sets the prisoner free.
He bared His bosom to the sword of judgment; and that sword is now forever sheathed for all who, in this day of grace, fly for shelter to His wounded side. Is the reader known in heaven as one of them?