Article November 3, 1945 Issue

The Angels of God's Presence

JOSEPHINE STANLEY KANN

"He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." This assuring and comforting promise from the ninety-first Psalm becomes vitally practical to us when we know Mary Baker Eddy's definition of "angels," which begins: "God's thoughts passing to man: spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 581). These "angels" truly indicate God's presence with us. Completing her definition, she says that angels are "the inspiration of goodness, purity, and immortality, counteracting all evil, sensuality, and mortality."

Sooner or later, in our human experience, we must all arrive at the crossroad in the "valley of decision" (Joel 3:14)—that point at which we must choose either the way of our own human devising or the way of God. Here, if we are watching and listening, we shall find His angels, "spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect." pointing the way from sense to Soul, in Science and Health (pp. 323, 324) Mrs. Eddy makes it clear that "willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear,—this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony." Let us decide then, willingly, unreservedly, joyfully, to "leave the false landmarks," and to follow in the true way of God's appointing.

The Old Testament relates that at such a crossroad Jacob found himself, when, returning to his homeland, he fearfully faced what he believed would be a bitter encounter with his brother Esau. Jacob struggled alone. In his extremity, his righteous yearning for a truer sense of life, security, and peace led him into the way of God. In his struggle, an angel of His presence, the right idea of man's real spiritual being, appeared to him completely changing his nature, and giving him strength and courage. What he thought would be his hour of trial became instead a season of great joy for him. So great was Jacob's spiritual victory over material error that it enabled him to become the inspiration of a great people.

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