With Wings Like Eagles

There are many figures of speech used in Scripture to help the people of God to understand themselves.

1.    Sheep – John 10:1-5   Sheep are dumb; they cannot lead anyone, so they have to have a Shepherd to lead them where they need to go.

2.    Salt – Matthew 5:13 Without salt some food just doesn’t taste as good as it does when salt is added.

There is, of course, good salt for food, and there is salt that is not so good on food. For instance – table salt – good on food; rock salt – not so much.

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.

3.    Light – Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”    Light dispels darkness.

4.    Branches – John 15:5 – “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” All fruit comes from the branches

5.    Soldiers – Ephesians 6:11 – Soldiers defend and fight for their King. They put on the full armor of God.

In the text, (Isaiah 40:28-31) the man of God is compared to the greatest of the birds of the air --- the Eagle.

There are at least four (4) reasons why that is true.

I.                The eagle is known for its great strength.

Christians should be “strong in the Lord” 1 Corinthians 15:58:

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

Also, hear Joshua 1:5-7

No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.

Christians should never be weary in well-doing. Galatians 6:9: “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

II.     The eagle is known for its far-sightedness.

The Christian who is on his or her knees sees more than the philosopher on his tiptoes.

Think about Stephen’s “eagle eye” vision of the son of God.

I am reminded of Stephen as he was being stoned by those who accused him of blaspheming against Moses and against God.

Stephen’s eagle eye vision of the Son of God is displayed in Acts 7:56, where we hear Stephen’ defense: “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

That is some powerful vision right there.

Look also at Daniel. Daniel’s window opened toward Jerusalem where the glory of the Lord was. Daniel 6:10 –

“Now when Daniel knew that that document was signed, he entered his house – in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem; and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.”

We know that this world is covered by gases, smoke, dust and the clouds. We breathe all that into our lungs on a daily basis.

III.     The eagle rises above all those elements that are in the skies above the earth.

In the same way, we, as Christians, must rise above the world, and all the pollutants mankind has created to dirty up the world.

As Christians, we must rise above the sordid things of the world. Paul speaks of this in Colossians 3:1-4.

“Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

You have likely heard someone say about someone else --- “His, or Her head is always in the clouds.” That usually is said of someone whose mind isn’t focused on what might be important in their life.

But, as the Christian walks on the earth, his or her head is far above the clouds.

Look at 1 Thessalonians 4:17 --- “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”

Did you ever look up to the clouds, and realize that, according to what Paul tells the church in Thessalonica, in the clouds is where we will meet our Lord?

As we live our lives as Christians we should always be longing for freedom from sin. Paul speaks of this in Romans 7:15-20. 

For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

What he is saying there is that he desires to do what is good but cannot always carry it out.

And, you know, I believe that sometimes that is the stumbling block that many Christians face – especially newer Christians. They are trying to do what is right, but Satan keeps nudging to do otherwise.

That, of course, is when that new Christians must seek out a Christian brother or sister, who has endured the same difficult time, for strength and guidance.

IV.  Eagle is known for its longevity. Eagles typically experience a rather long life.

The Christian, too, is known for the promise of living eternally – forever.

David said, “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” --- Psalm 23:6

How strong are you in the Lord?

How far-sighted are you?

How high have you risen above the world?

Your answer to these questions determines what kind of Christian you are.

That is, the right answers determine that.