The Angels and FOMO
December 25, 2025 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
Do you ever experience FOMO? The fear of missing out? “They” say (whoever “they” are) that part of social media addiction is the fear of missing out on something. It is just common that no one wants to be “left out in the cold.” Even introverts want to be included.
Do you know who got left out of the biggest event of history? The angels. Sure, they were there and are mentioned in the story. But Peter says they longed to look into these things (1 Pet. 1:12). The angels were left on the outside looking in.
To what? Redemption. The angels are not recipients of redemption. The writer of Hebrews emphasizes this when he writes, “For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham” (2:16). Jesus was born in human flesh, not angel flesh, and died as a ransom for humans, to free us from our bondage to sin and death. Angels who have not fallen into sin have no need for redemption. Angels who have fallen have no hope of redemption.
But the angels were there. And they rejoiced in the birth of Christ. An angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds near Bethlehem and announced, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:10-11). Then the angel is joined with a multitude of angels, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased” (2:14). The angels surely gave this announcement with the appropriate level of emotion. They did not begrudge the announcement; that would be sinful. The Bible says they praised God! Why would those who are not recipients of the good news of great joy celebrate it?
The secret to the angels’ joy is God. The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The angels have the same chief end. And without sin, the angels are able to glorify God and enjoy him without hinderance. They get to be witnesses and messengers of God’s glorious plan of redemption. They delight in God’s ways and purposes. They celebrate when God fulfills his promises and reigns supreme over his creation. Their joy is maximized when God is glorified.
Therefore, the angels longing to look into these things is not from the emptiness of FOMO. Their longing is from their fullness in delighting in God. The answer to FOMO is God. When we are fully satisfied in God, there is nothing to fear missing out on. With God we miss out on nothing.
That is what Christ came in human flesh to do. “We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Rom. 5:10). Jesus brings us to God. Oh! what good news of great joy! In Christ, we have confidence and assurance that God loves us and receives us as his precious children. Because of Christ, we have God as our heavenly Father. And we are like the angels. The emptiness of FOMO is filled with the joy-filled satisfaction of God himself. Now that is something to celebrate and sing praises about.
Merry Christmas!
