A long time ago when the world was new, God made all the birds on the fifth day. When doing so, He colored their feathers like an exquisite bouquet of flowers. He then gave many of them a distinctive song to sing. At this point, God instructed these wonderful creatures to greet each new day with a chorus of songs. And their voices announce the morning to this very day.
Each of the birds is special, but to me the eagle is extraordinary. It possesses great beauty as well as tremendous strength and skill. The eagle is also highly respected by man. For Americans, this bird is the symbol of our country. Its image is engraved on our national seal. Additionally, when we lay our eyes upon this creature we can’t help but be amazed. Its flight is nothing short of dramatic. Each of these great birds seems to just glide on the air with movements that are more elegant than a waltz.
But is there something we can learn from this majestic creature? Are there lessons that God wants us to understand? Consider how the eagle is made.
An eagle’s eye
Did you know that eagles are capable of seeing fish swimming from several hundred feet above the water? Since most fish are counter-shaded, meaning they are darker on top and thus harder to see from above, this is quite an extraordinary feat. Ask any fisherman how difficult it is to see a fish swim just below the surface from a boat deck, let alone from several hundred feet.
Eagles, like all birds, have color vision. Their eyes are almost as large as a human’s, but their sharpness is at least four times that of a person with perfect vision. The eagle can identify a rabbit moving almost a mile away. That means that an eagle flying at an altitude of 1,000 feet over open country could spot prey over an area of almost 3 square miles from a fixed position. Incredible is the vision of an eagle!
Eagles in a storm
Did you know that an eagle can detect when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? It will actually fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm.
Isn’t that remarkable? While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above. It does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. What an extraordinary way to deal with adversity!
There is a wonderful lesson for God’s children to learn from the way an eagle approaches a storm. When the storms of life come upon us, we, too, can rise above them. We can lift ourselves above adversity by setting our minds and our hearts toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us any more than they overcome the eagle. We can allow God’s power to lift us above them.
Furthermore, the storms (or trials) of life can actually help us in our walk of faith. This is because they build something in us that will be a part of our lives forever. Notice what Paul wrote to the congregation at Corinth. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17 2 Corinthians 4:17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
American King James Version×).
Here is something to think about. When the eagle flies above the storm, he is in a sense overcoming it. But he does so in a most interesting way. He uses the strength of the storm to rise above it.
That is one of the things God wants us to do. We can use adversity for gain. We need to learn from trials—to grow from the experience and be made better (James 1:2-3 James 1:2-3 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience.
American King James Version×). Sometimes we should “escape” trials (1 Corinthians 10:13 1 Corinthians 10:13There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.
American King James Version×). Sometimes we should “flee” (Matthew 10:23 Matthew 10:23But when they persecute you in this city, flee you into another: for truly I say to you, You shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
American King James Version×). And at other times, trials are to be confronted and endured (2 Thessalonians 1:4 2 Thessalonians 1:4So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure:
American King James Version×; 2 Timothy 4:5 2 Timothy 4:5But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry.
American King James Version×; Hebrews 12:7 Hebrews 12:7If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?
American King James Version×). We must face the things that challenge us and grow in virtue because of the challenge.
God is looking for overcomers. And He has a wonderful promise for them. “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21 Revelation 3:21To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
American King James Version×).
An eagle’s story
Faith in the Night Seasons by Chuck and Nancy Missler begins with a story about a wounded eaglet that was rescued by a kind farmer. He found the bird in one of his fields and so took him home, tended to his wounds and then placed him outside in the barnyard to recover.
Strangely enough, the young eaglet soon adapted to the habits of all the barnyard chickens. He learned to walk and cluck like them. He learned to drink from a trough and peck the dirt for food, and for many years he peacefully resigned himself to this new life on the ground.
But then one day, one of the farmer’s friends spotted the eagle and asked, “Why in the world is that bird acting like a chicken?” The farmer explained what had happened. Even so, the man could hardly accept the situation.
“It’s just not right,” said the friend. “The Creator made that bird to soar in the heavens, not scavenge in the barnyard!” So he picked up the unsuspecting eagle, climbed onto a nearby fence post, and tossed him into the air. But the confused bird just fell back to earth and searched for his feathered friends.
Undaunted, the man then grabbed the eagle and climbed to the top of the barn. As he heaved him off the roof, the bird made a few halfhearted squawks and flaps before falling into a bale of hay. After shaking his head a few times, the eagle then made himself comfortable and began mindlessly pecking at pieces of straw.
The friend went home that night dejected and could barely sleep as he remembered the sight of those powerful talons caked with barnyard mud. He couldn’t bear the thought, so the very next day, he headed back to the farm for another try. This time he carried the eagle to the top of a nearby mountain where the sky unfolded in a limitless horizon.
He looked into the eagle’s eyes and cried out, “Don’t you understand? You weren’t made to live like a chicken! Why would you want to stay down here when you were born for the sky?” As the man held the confused bird, he made sure the eagle was facing into the brilliant light of the setting sun. Then he powerfully heaved the bird into the sky, and this time the eagle opened his wings, looked at the sun, caught the updraft rising from the valley and disappeared into the clouds of heaven.
God’s children were born to fly. They were created by a loving God to soar. He has called them to live in the heights, yet too many have huddled together in the barnyard and become content and comfortable with crumbs.
Helen Keller once said, “One can never consent to creep when he feels an impulse to soar.” God’s people need to cultivate and exercise that impulse. If we do, we will one day soar like eagles (Isaiah 40:31 Isaiah 40:31But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
American King James Version×).
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