By

 

Shelby G. Floyd

 

The topic of my lesson today is Eagle Christians. We are Christians because Paul and Barnabas called the disciples “Christians” first at Antioch (Acts 11:26).

Jesus often compared his people to different similes, allegories, parables, and allegorical figures of speech. For instance, one time he said, “I am the vine, and you are the branches.” Jesus compared us to the light of the city on a hill. And he said I am the good shepherd, and my sheep follow me. One time he likened us to the salt of the earth. Paul compared us to soldiers in the army of the Lord. He also spoke of Christian people as runners in the race for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

STUDY THE EAGLE

I got interested in eagles about four or five years ago. At the school where my son-in-law worked there were four or five tall pine trees by the school parking lot. And we noticed that some bald eagles built their nest in the very top of those pine trees. And every time I would visit Florida, I would check on how the Eagles were doing in the nests. One time we noticed that the baby eagles were grown, and they were ready to fly the nest.

Therefore, I do not think it is out of place for Christian people to model the majestic Eagle. We Christians are like eagles soaring toward heaven. Now take notice of one verse from our text where God’s people are to model the soaring Eagle,

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.                                        (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV).

Now that is certainly a picture of how I want to be as I grow older. I want to renew my strength and I want to run and not be weary and I want to walk and not faint. That is our prayer as age creeps upon us. Therefore, even physically the Eagle is our model.

But most importantly the Eagle is our spiritual model.
Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs about some things he did not understand:

There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Yes, four which I do not understand:
The way of an eagle in the air,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the midst of the sea,
And the way of a man with a virgin (Proverbs 30:18-19 NKJV).

And so, like Solomon, as we go forward in this lesson we want to understand more and more about the ways of an eagle and how we can be like them in some ways.

THE EAGLE

The Eagle is a Symbol!

Now, let us take a look at the Eagle and see if we can understand more about the ways of an eagle. An eagle is a symbol in many countries. For instance, the bald eagle is the symbol of the United States of America. It is a symbol and standard on our currency and our political system of government. Benjamin Franklin wanted the wild turkey to be the symbol of our country. But we are glad they chose the bald Eagle.

The Eagle is the King of Birds!

The Eagle is known for his swiftness of flight, he mounts up high in the sky, and they are also a symbol of great strength. On a video I have seen an eagle swoop down from the top of a mountain and pick up a mountain goat and carry him away to be food for baby eagles.

The Eagle Builds the Nest High

The Eagle builds her nest high in the sky upon the top of a mountain. An eagle has powerful vision for they can spy a fish in the water from a great distance and swoop down and snatch them out of the lake or river.

The Eagle is a Fierce Fighter

The Air Force has a fierce fighter airplane called the Eagle F-15! The eagle will fight for the family of baby eagles!

THE PATRIARCH JOB

Job Studied the Way of an Eagle. The patriarch Job is one of the oldest writers in the Bible. No doubt Job inquired about the way of an eagle. What he wrote about the Eagle declares much of what we know also today. He gave us a good description:

Does the eagle mount up at your command,
And make its nest on high?
On the rock it dwells and resides,
On the crag of the rock and the stronghold.
From there it spies out the prey;
Its eyes observe from afar.
Its young ones suck up blood;
And where the slain are, there it is” (Job. 39:27-30 NKJV).

And so, the ancient writer Job described the Eagle in many of its salient features. And his words help us to understand the ways of an eagle. Next. we will advance and study the Eagle as a family.

Copyright © 2024 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

 

Shelby G. Floyd delivered this sermon, Eagle Christians, February 25, 2024, at the Heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 46142.