Learning From The Eagle 2 of 4

 

Welcome once again to MemCare by Radio. We come to you each day with a word of encouragement. I am Scott Hollinger and I would like to thank you for allowing us to share with you during your busy day. Today we begin part 2 in our series ‘Learning from the eagle’.

 

Here is a special promise from the Bible, “…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”

 

We already learned in a prior lesson that eagles are special and powerful birds created for the high places. God compares Himself in His dealing with His people with the eagle and that definitely makes this study extra important.

 

Edmund Spieker is with us to tell us about some of the important characteristics of the ‘King of the Air’.  Edmund, I found it amazing to learn about the way eagles treat their young if they are resistant and don’t get out of the nest for their first flying lesson.  It must come as a shock to them after they have been fed and been taken care of so well to be thrown out of the nest.

 

No doubt Scott, the temptation to permanently stay in the secure and cozy nest is as real for the eaglet as it is for any of us. We love our comfort zones. But mother eagle not only throws her eaglets out of the nest, actually she grabs them by the neck and then, flying high in the air simply drops them. That must be a horrifying experience.  But then again it’s so assuring to know that father eagle is there. And watch this: as that confused and screaming ball of feathers comes down in a freefall, at the right moment, before it would dash on the rocks, he flies underneath and carries it on his mighty wings back to the nest.

 

I have to admit, Edmund, the thought that God might be ready to do the same with me is just a bit scary.

 

Well, probably to all of us. But let’s look to the outcome. Eagles need to learn how to fly. While they are tumbling through the air until they discover their own wings, which can take up to 16 times, the father eagle is there closely watching and rescuing them. That is what God promises to do to us.

 

I remember that number 16 from our last program. It reminds me of the word in the Bible affirming the faithfulness of God who will not allow for us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, rather He will provide a way out so that we can stand up under it (1 Cor. 10:13).

 

God’s stated purpose for His children is that they grow up and become mature in their faith and relationship with Him. Like the eagle we are created for high places. Eagles live on mountain tops. They are able to look into the sun and to use the current of the wind to soar to amazing altitudes. Eagles fly so high that they are too far for the naked human eye to spot them and out of reach of the hunter’s rifle.

 

That does sound like an example of how we as God’s children are called to live. He wants us free from the draw of the world and the fleshly, selfish behaviour.  He wants us to be living out of our new identity in Christ in intimate relationship with our Saviour.

 

Yes, the Bible affirms that our citizenship is in heaven and admonishes the newborn believers by saying, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:1-3)

 

Here is another lesson we can learn from the eagle. It has been observed that in captivity the eagle becomes a very dirty bird.  It’s as if it loses its self-worth and motivation.

 

A Christian, when captive by the world, the flesh, by sin and Satan is also somebody who loses his dignity and the reflection of Christ. Instead of being light in the world, he provides a bad example and confuses people who are seeking for a model and spiritual help. The Bible admonishes God’s people by saying, “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Rom. 2:24)  Somebody said, “A fallen lighthouse is more dangerous than a reef.” So is a Christian who doesn’t live the life of Christ.

 

Edmund, what you have shared is so very serious when you think about how confusing it is when people call themselves Christians while their behaviour seems to prove exactly the opposite.

 

Unfortunately for the majority of those who call themselves Christian, theirs is a religion, or culture, traditions and customs, but not a personal living relationship with Christ. I have been in countries where people identify Christianity with the export of violent and indecent films and other unbecoming behavior that comes from the so-called Western world. That is so contrary to the message of Christ.

 

In our day it is especially important that believers in Christ do not retreat into their own little enclaves and comfort zones, rather understand and apply that Christ called them to be light of the world and salt of the earth.  Even in the most difficult situation we can learn to declare with the prophet, “The Sovereign Lord is my strength…He enables me to go on the heights.” (Hab. 3:19)   Such a living witness will have its impact and honor God.

 

Now, where do we get the supernatural strength from to hope in the midst of trials, to keep looking up when everything is falling down, to believe when there is nothing to base our trust on?  The condition of our nature, our flesh, has a tight grip on our feelings and thinking. To live above our own circumstances is beyond our own capacity and strength!

 

Here is something else we can learn from the eagle and will help answer this question.

The eagle, because of its size and the weight of its wings, would die of exhaustion if it had to flap its wings as other birds do in order to move forward. Instead, the eagle soars. The Creator put this into its instincts. The eagle learns to read the wind and to take advantage of the currents of the air and then takes off in almost effortless surf.

 

As I listen to you share this, Edmund, I am sure our friend listening is thinking, Isn’t that what the lead verse for this series Learning from the Eagle is all about? “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint!” The key is our trust in the Lord. We are His children through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and can fully rely on His promises.

 

The Bible says that proof of the fact that we are children of God is that we are lead by His Spirit. When our mind is no longer controlled by our sinful nature, rather by His Spirit of life and peace, we will experience that difficult circumstances and trials are opportunities to prove His loving care.

 

As we step out in faith, get out of the nest, are willing to risk falling…we will experience that we can never fall deeper than into His loving hands.

 

Eagles know the exact moment when to take off from their preferred rock on high. Spreading their enormous and well-equipped wings they surf the air.  We too can learn to read the movements of the Spirit of God.

 

The Lord Jesus told Nicodemus, the great theologian who came by night to talk religion with Him, “You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (Jn. 3:7b,8)  

 

I, for one, continually need to learn how to better read the wind of the Spirit. It’s too easy for me to get stuck in my projects and plans and work myself to death. Part of it is my personality type. It is too easy to get comfortable in routine and become afraid to step out in faith. But, if I do that I can easily get bogged down and miss out on the greater joys that God has for me.

 

Take courage, Scott, as we all do that. It makes my heart rejoice when I read the promise that, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6)  There is hope for all of us as long as we are willing to let God work on us.