You can’t take it with you, but King Tut tried. The tomb of the eighteen-year-old Egyptian Pharaoh was discovered in 1922. The burial chambers were packed with statuettes of servants for the next world, furniture, stone vessels, papyri scrolls, pottery, tools, ornaments, and many expensive treasures. Examining ancient burial grounds like Tutankhamen’s, we get a glimpse of the majesty of an Egyptian Pharaoh.
Archeologists can tell us a lot about the dead, but when it comes to a picture of the living God it is angels who teach us the most. As you read the following passage, notice what the seraphim (angels) were doing:
In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Hovering around him were mighty seraphim, each with six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with the remaining two they flew. In a great chorus they sang, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” The glorious singing shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire sanctuary was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1-4 NLT)
Like bees around pollen, these angels were buzzing around the throne of God. There are lessons in their wings.
Lesson one: Give God glory! Did you notice their wings? "With two they covered their faces!” Why would they do that? The short answer: God is brilliant, majestic, and glorious! Have you ever awakened in the night and turned on a light switch? Most likely your hand instinctively shielded your eyes from the brilliance of the light. In the same way, the angels couldn’t handle God's glory. God is royalty, the Sovereign of the universe. I should worship him as such.
Lesson two: Live humbly before God. “With two they covered their feet.” The angels were created beings. They recognized they were not on the same plane as God. How quick we are to give God “a piece of our mind.” These angels would not venture to stand in God's presence let alone talk back. The angels teach me to respect God, his creation, his people, his word and his name!
Lesson three: God deserves my best. “And with two they were flying.” The angels were busy for God. They were not on a heavenly coffee break. They were working, giving God their best. God is the Sovereign of the universe. He deserves my very best every day not just Sunday.
The angels can teach us what the archeologists cannot — lessons about God and our responsibility before him!
FOCAL POINT: Grade yourself on how well you are practicing the lessons the angels teach. What can you do today to improve the score?
Copyright © 2009 Tommy Kiedis