Popular culture influences our beliefs in so many ways. You probably remember Bill Keane’s Family Circus cartoons featuring grandma or grandpa who went to heaven and now appear as angels watching over their grandchildren. Or you recall movies like It’s A Wonderful Life, where a ‘guardian’ angel is entrusted to watch over some specific person on earth (usually in order to ‘earn’ their wings). Often, we don’t give much thought to the biblical accuracy of such misconceptions and sometimes may use them to ‘comfort’ others instead of sharing the truth in a manner they can understand. But what does the bible have to say about such things?
Matthew 22:30 says we will be ‘like’ angels in some ways but the bible NEVER talks about humans dying and becoming angels. Both humans and angels are created beings. Both have spirits and free will. The bible says some of God’s created angels chose to rebel against Him, and that we also have the same free will to choose to follow God, or not.
God says His faithful angels are real and are sent to protect, guide, and minister to us. We read numerous accounts of angels bringing a specific message or help to individuals and groups of people. But does each person or at least each young child, have an assigned ‘guardian’ angel?
There is a singular passage in Matthew 18:10-11 where Jesus says, “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” Does this single passage give evidence to guardian angels?
Earlier Jesus had called a child to Himself and urged His followers to humble themselves like this child. So it’s possible that “these little ones” referenced in verse 11 refer to children. Or it could refer to all of us who He calls to become as “these little ones.” In any case, the reference is not to an angel but to “their angels.” Plural, not singular.
And what are these angels doing? Are they watching our every move to keep us from stumbling or wandering astray? Let’s check out what the bible says: “their angels in heaven always see the face of My father in heaven.” This doesn’t support popular notions of a specific angel constantly watching over us. Instead, we see a picture of angels who are always focused on God, waiting for His command to attend to our needs. Doesn’t this make sense? After all, who knows everything or can be every where at once? Not angels; only God. So it’s easy to understand why angels would be ever attentive to God who knows your every need, perceives your every thought, and sees your every move. And because they are always focused on God’s face, watching for His command, He is able to send them to minister to our needs.
What does this reveal to us about our loving and all powerful God? That He cares for His followers and sends His angels, who are always attentive to His commands, to attend to our needs.
But it says something about us too. If we want to know and carry out God’s plan for us, we need to also “always see the face” of God, to keep our eyes and hearts fixed on Him. He alone knows how to best use our time, our treasures, our talents, and energies to fulfill His plan for us and His plan for His kingdom.
If there are guardian angels, it’s not specifically revealed in scripture. So rather than letting popular culture influence what we believe about God, let’s keep our eyes fixed on Him. We do this is by reading His Word and by staying in communication with Him throughout the day, seeking His counsel on what we think about and do.
Keep your eyes firmly fixed on God and watch how much more clearly you see your life.