This time of year is filled with lights of all kinds – festive events – beautiful choral music – gifts – anticipation – excitement – stories – and angels. The Bible talks about angels being present from the beginning of time. These servants of God had all sorts of jobs to do. They weren’t just delegated to a cloud where they would sing all day long. I guess that’s what it must be like in heaven. I’ll find out when I get there, but I imagine that God has a purpose for each one of us in heaven, just as He has outlined our lives here on earth.

Getting back to angels – there was one who made a name for himself when he appeared to the virgin, Mary. He was to deliver a message that would change her life forever. Not only her life, but those of every human being to inhabit the world. A young woman, who was already pledged to Joseph, would become pregnant with the Son of God. Imagine all the thoughts that ran through her mind after getting this news. She had a lot of explaining to do. First to her family – then to her future husband – and finally to the community she lived in. Being pregnant before marriage was frowned upon. For her to say that she became pregnant without intercourse, was also questionable. Tongues would wag as this girl would be called upon to explain her condition. Her “good news” from Gabriel would put her in a very awkward position.

Gabriel had been bringing messages for some time. In fact, Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, who was deemed barren, would be told by him that she would conceive and bear a child in her advanced age. Her husband didn’t believe her. Elizabeth even laughed it off. Gabriel knew better. The news of her pregnancy came before Mary’s, but it was all part of the salvation plan God had prepared for the world. When Elizabeth and Zechariah welcomed their son, John into the world, they knew that this was God’s doing. John would become the forerunner of his relative, Jesus and prepared the way for Him.

Do angels exist? I believe they do. The Bible has a lot to say about them. Satan was once an angel, but he didn’t like taking a back seat to God. I’ve witnessed many angels in my lifetime as “people” who have been placed there by God. Especially in times of suffering, anxiety or great need, God always provides them to watch over us.

At the time when Gabriel made these important visits, the world was in much the same situation as it is today. It was darkened by the shadow of sin. It was polluted by immorality. The nation of Israel was under Roman rule. The political climate was fierce. It was on a road to hell and destruction. All of this prompted God to make such a time as this, the perfect time to send a Savior to the world. Jesus, His own Son, carried by a virgin who trusted God completely, even though her reputation had been put on the line. She confidently prayed to her Heavenly Father these words.

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.  He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” Luke 1:46-55