You Go, Eagles!!! (Part 1)

Although the 2024 Olympics are still being held, I want to swiftly switch your attention to the NFL football season. Well, sort of. The Philadelphia Eagles recently held their first “open” practice. However, this has nothing to do with them. This is about all of you who name the Name of Jesus Christ.

I just wanted to encourage you to continue soaring. You are all eagles!

What I have done is compile a list of characteristics of eagles and how they correlate with Christians. I’m sure the list isn’t exhaustive, and I hope it inspires some of you to research and discover even more similarities between them and us!

Proverbs 6:6 says that the sluggard is supposed to “go to the ant” and “consider its ways and be wise!” The Passion Translation reads, “…come and learn a lesson from this tale of the tiny ant.” What this means to me is that we can take a look at nature and learn lessons from it.

We’re taught in Romans 1:20, “…Through everything God made…God’s invisible qualities – His divine nature” and “eternal power” can be clearly seen and understood by us “from what has been made.”

That being stated, let’s get started in learning about the nature and character of God, and us, His children, by considering one of His most majestic creatures – the eagle.

“There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky…” Proverbs 30:18-19a

VISION:
An eagle has keen eyesight. They see what others don’t see. An eagle can see an object the size of a dime in six inches of grass from 600 feet high. It can also see a 3-inch fish jumping in a lake 5 miles away! Its vision is binocular, which means it is capable of altering focus from two feet to two miles.

The eagle’s skull has a feature called supra-orbital ridges, which are bony extensions that overhang the eyes and help protect them from injury when the eagle is catching and handling prey. They also shield the eyes, like sun visors, reducing glare. One more unique feature of the eagle eye is that the eagle has a second, transparent eyelid. This membrane protects the eagle’s eyes from accidents when feeding young or catching prey. Likewise, we Christians can fight with our spiritual eyes open. We are told to watch as well as pray (Matthew 26:41, Luke 21:36, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2).

The expression “eagle eye” describes quite accurately one of the unique physical adaptations of the bald eagle. The bald eagle’s eyesight is three to four times stronger than that of humans.

As Christians, we are to rely on something greater than eyesight. We have vision. We are to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen, and is necessary if we are going to please God (see Hebrews 11:1, 6). That’s why we are told not to look at the things that are seen, but to focus on the things that are unseen, because those are the things that are eternal (see 2 Corinthians 4:17).

DISCERNING / SENSITIVE:
An eagle knows how to feel the wind’s current and use it to its advantage to soar and maneuver. It’s wise enough to use the wind currents to carry it to where it wants to go. Because of their vision, they can see an approaching storm from far away. Instead of evading the storm by going in another direction or descending to a lower level, the eagle continues forward, watching and waiting for the current produced by the storm to lift it above the storm! They then soar with ease above the storm in the warmth of the sun.

Likewise, we as Christians and as Intercessors, must not be afraid of confrontations. We are to be led by the Spirit. He will show us the opportunity for growth and promotion in the opposition. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and a calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).

It is said that the eagle uses the earth’s geomagnetic system to navigate when migrating. We also have a way to navigate and reach our destination. “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near.” (Ephesians 2:10, 13).

As we walk those paths, we may come to an intersection where we become indecisive. This is not the time to lose hope or lean to our own understanding (see Proverbs 3:5-6). This is the time to listen. “And your ears will hear a word behind you saying, This the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left hand.” (Isaiah 30:21).

So, there you have it: two characteristics of the eagle, and how they correlate with us Christians. Next time, I’ll share two more, which may surprise you, and hopefully inspire you to soar even higher!

To borrow a phrase of Philadelphia Eagles fans, “Fly, Eagles. Fly!”