What if angels are people too?

by Rev. Robert S. Jungé

What if when a good person died he took up a spiritual body just as it says in I Corinthians 15:12,13,42-44? When a person dies, what if they take everything with them that makes them who they are right now – all their interests and loves, all their thoughts and affections?  The Writings teach that this is in fact the case.

Think of a mother whose child has died. Picture that child growing up under the care of an angel mother who loved children dearly when she had lived in this life. She is a good woman. She lives with other angels who work together and love to help each other. The child grows up, finds a wonderful married partner and lives happily in society with other angels. Wouldn't such a belief be a comfort to that grieving mother?  The Writings tell us that this is in fact just what happens with children who die.

Think of a person who goes off to war from a love for his country. If he dies, that love will still be a strong part of his eternal character. Is it hard to imagine the love for serving one’s country becoming a love for serving the kingdom of God, that person’s new country?  Again, the Writings teach that this is what happens.

Think of a young wife suffering and dying of cancer. She loved her children dearly. When she dies, she might well become one of the angel mothers. She shared a precious marriage love with her husband. What if she is happily waiting for her husband to join her, knowing that in the wisdom of the Lord that he will have a chance for spiritual growth while he is here, until it is time for him to join her?  Is it possible that in the Providence of a loving God, temporary separation of married partners by death fulfills the old saying, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder?"

Most of us have seen the struggles of some elderly person whom we love needing terminal care. They feel useless and helpless. They want desperately to be able to do things for themselves and to be active again serving others. That longing to be able to serve and be useful seems to become almost all-consuming. In God’s eyes could this longing be a final lesson preparing them for a world where the love of being useful and serving others is the key to happiness?

Our experience tells us that we are happiest when we are actively doing the things we love to do. This is particularly so when we are working for the sake of others and they appreciate what we are doing. We feel accepted and as if we belong. If God’s kingdom is a kingdom of usefully serving others, good people would not only feel as if they belonged - they would be very happy and, once again, the Writings teach us that this is how it works.

If heaven is a kingdom of usefully serving others, if it is a kingdom where loving others is more important than looking after number one, then that tells us some important things about getting ready during our lives here. If unselfish and loving married partners have the hope and promise of living together in heaven, would they not cultivate such a loving relationship with their partners during their lives here? How would the world change if people governed their lives looking forward to a realistic picture of heaven?

Some say, "Oh, I’ll find out when I get there." But isn’t that really a cop out? Others say, "I wish I could believe that." If there is a heaven, wouldn’t a loving God tell us what it is like and how to get there? We believe that He has told us about these, and many other things, in the Writings.