Things into which angels long to look
“It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven- things into which angels long to look.” 1 Peter 1:12
“Things into which angels long to look”. What an interesting verse to think through. In the context of this passage, the ‘them’ are “the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come” (1 Peter 1:10) in the person of Christ, and the ‘things’ are the sufferings and glory of Christ. Ellicott’s commentary says about the things into which angels long to look, “It seems to mean a strained attention to something which has caught your eye somewhat out of your usual line of sight. Here then, the intention is to show that we are in a better position to understand the mysteries of redemption, not only than prophets, but also than angels; and they covet to stoop from their own point of view to ours. And why so? Not because of the inherent mysteriousness of the union of the two natures in Christ, for of that they are as intelligent as we, or more so; but because they are incapable of fully understanding human nature, flesh and blood, with its temptations and pains, its need of a Savior.” Death to life, chaos to order, lacking to abundance, unrest to rest, stormy seas to still waters, purposelessness to purposefulness, etc. All this is the lived human experience brought forth by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, at which angels long to look. The Greek word for ‘look’ is ‘epithumeo’, which means ‘to long for, desire, covet, set the heart upon, and even ‘to lust after’. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:7). What a treasure indeed; steward it appropriately.
As Peter goes on to say, “THEREFORE, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:14).
PREPARE your mind… read my last post and consider the importance
KEEP sober in spirit
FIX your hope
A life of faith is an awe-inspiring lived experience that is worthy of all. Any form of apathy and half-heartedness is unconsciousable when you really take time to think this through. It seems to me that angels would probably agree with CS Lewis when he says, “It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
“Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel” Philippians 1:27.
