The Church’s Unseen Audience: A Surprising Revelation (Ephesians 3:10-12)

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, ¹¹ according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

The topic of UFOs and aliens has always been popular, but especially recently, with rumors swirling that the US government has secret evidence of their existence. While the Bible is silent on whether God created other physical beings elsewhere in the universe, it is clear that we are not alone. Angels and demons surround us everywhere, even though we can’t see them (which is probably a good thing). In these verses, we find out they are spectators of how God is building his church on Earth.

Paul is aware that the angels are intently observing his work to spread the Gospel among the Gentiles. Thanks to the church, these spiritual beings can see in a tangible way how God’s love, mercy, grace, righteousness, justice—every possible facet of God’s wisdom—is played out in the world. The angels witness how God has implemented his plan to restore to humanity direct access to him through faith in Jesus Christ.

In his first letter, even Peter mentions how the angels long to dig deeper into everything connected to salvation. ⁽¹⁾ And Jesus declares that angels rejoice over everyone who is reconciled to God. ⁽²⁾ We see that the heavenly beings are incredibly interested and involved in what takes place on our planet.

Tragically, throughout history, the church has not always behaved in a manner that would honor God, so how can it demonstrate to the angels all the ways God’s wisdom is applied on Earth? We must remember that the biblical word for “church” never refers to institutions, buildings, or denominations—like we tend to use the term. Instead, it describes an assembly of people summoned together for a specific purpose.

Despite the failures of institutions and individuals, God is nonetheless in the business of changing hearts and lives, one person at a time. And as this process has grown and multiplied exponentially over an increasingly larger territory, the world has never been the same. A few examples of the impact of Christianity are greater human dignity and human rights, the establishment of hospitals and universities, the improved treatment of children, and the rise of science. The angels observed everything in awe and wonder.

How does all this apply to us? Let’s remember that our lives are not just about ourselves. We have heavenly spectators who long to see how God’s wisdom will be displayed through us. Let’s not disappoint them.

⁽¹⁾ 1 Peter 1:12

⁽²⁾ Luke 15:10