Sunday Class @ 9am; Worship @ 10am & 5pm
Articles
Soar Like an Eagle
"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isa 40:30-31).
In context, God addresses the remnant who had been languishing in Babylonian captivity for 70 restless years. Isaiah predicted about 150 years in advance that news would finally come that they could go home to restore and rebuild the Jewish nation. They would soar on the heights of joy in anticipation of the long awaited trek homeward.
However, before they could finally arrive home, there would be the long, arduous and perilous journey of over 600 miles. It would be a hard journey that could break the unaided efforts of the strongest “young men” or defeat the most vigorous “youths.” Yet God promised them that they could, by patiently trusting in Him alone, rise above the journey's obstacles and soar on the wings of faith. "For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope" (Jer 29:11; cf. 29:10-14).
The believer in God is likened to an eagle. It is a strong, confident, and majestic bird. I’ve read that it relies on thermal currents in the air to glide gracefully through the air, spreading its God-given wings to soar high above the perilous storms. It’s God-given instinct uses the updrafts produced by rough terrain to fly with efficient effort. When the eagle rests, it nests in the high, rocky clefts, trusting them for protection.
God made us to soar to great heights in our heavenward journey. However, the long and wearisome journey of life can tire our faith and dim our hope. If we trust mainly in our finite, puny selves, we will grow weary and fail. Our faith must instinctively look up to God and His Word always. "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Heb 11:6). He dwells above the clouds where the sun is always shining, in the calm light of eternity.
Our God can lift us up above the shadows sorrow of this life into the light of His joyous presence. Our faith and study of His faith-building Word is a renewable resource for the journey home (Rom 10:17). "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen" (Jude 24-25).
