Platitude – “a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound.” – dictionary.com
I was honestly a little surprised at this definition – and admit to chuckling a bit on the inside as I read it. I’ve always thought a platitude was a less sophisticated, second cousin to an adage, which is “a traditional saying expressing a common experience or observation.”
But the true definition may be a decent set-up for what I’d like to share today, with my accompanying apology for any unintended offense!
I’m starting a short series where I will examine some common phrases spoken to a grieving person with the best of intentions, but which often fall short in their quest to be a comfort to us. And specifically, those statements which aren’t supported by biblical truth.
Today we’ll look at this oft-spoken phrase – “God needed another angel.”
The two incorrect messages built into this statement are:
- That God needs ANYTHING from us.
- Humans become angels when they die.
God Doesn’t Need Anything from Us
The truth is – God needs NOTHING from us. He is all-sufficient within himself. To flesh this out a bit, I went to a short lesson from John Piper on this subject. Piper points out that God is unlike gods of many other religions in that they require sacrifices from their people.
Our God – our Jesus – offered the final and complete sacrifice on our behalf through his death on the cross.
Psalm 50:8-15 looks at how God feels about our desire to offer sacrifices to him because we think he needs them. He tells us here that he doesn’t need to eat or drink of any sacrifices – and reminds us that he OWNS the cattle on a thousand hills.
So what does he “need” from us instead? A heart of thanksgiving. To call upon HIM in our time of need. To allow HIM to deliver US. And ultimately, to give HIM the glory.
Case closed. We are the receivers. God is the gracious, all-sufficient provider.
Humans Do Not Become Angels
Simply put – Humans are created in the image of God, and angels are not.
There is not one mention in the Bible of humans becoming angels after we die. If that truly was our path after death, don’t you think God would have included that?
Well, he did include enough for us to understand without a doubt that we are distinct “species.” Let’s look at what the scriptures do tell us:
- …as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Job 38:7 NLT
When God was asking Job where he was when Creation was called into existence, the angels were there, shouting for joy, long before God created man.
- Yet you have made them [humans] a little lower than angels and crowned them with glory and honor. Psalm 8:5
Clearly this shows that humans were created differently than angels, and AFTER angels.
- Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 1 Corinthians 6:3
God gave us a pretty specific responsibility here – more support showing humans and angels are different.
- Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10
Such a beautiful picture that this verse paints for us! I love to think about the rejoicing going on in heaven whenever someone turns their life over to Jesus. The angels have been the “rejoicers” – and we humans and our repentance are their reason for rejoicing.
- Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14
One of the most important jobs of the angels is to minister to us humans here on earth. But do you see that it is not the angels who “are to inherit salvation?” Once again, it’s humans.
- It was revealed to them [early prophets] that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. 1 Peter 1:12
This is a bit of a long, more complicated text that I won’t take time to completely unpack. But I want to focus on the last phrase, “things into which angels long to look.” Those “things” are/is the salvation which belongs to human beings exclusively. Angels will never experience salvation. It’s the greatest gift that God could ever give – and it was offered exclusively to those of us created in HIS image.
The Best Option
While, at first glance, it might seem like a most wonderful thing to become angels in heaven after we die, that is NOT the better option.
How much greater is OUR joy when we can spend eternity with the One who provided for our entrance into Paradise through his sacrificial death on the cross?
Living forever with a gratitude unlike anything we’ve ever experienced – and glorifying the God whose plan was put into place before the foundations of the earth were set.
That’s what I’m looking forward to. No sitting around on a cloud playing a harp for me! But that’s another “angelic misconception” that I won’t address today!