“But they who wait for 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
The secret of sustained service for Christ is renewed strength. In the power of a constantly revived spirit, a Christian is enabled daily to walk a path of surrender and service.
The Lord's comparison of our renewal in strength to the vigorous power and stamina of the eagle is significant. The American bald eagle, for example, is a wondrous symbol of freedom and power. With its wingspan of more than six feet it is able to soar upward into the sky with little effort. Likewise, the believer is exhorted to seek the things which are above, where Christ sits at right hand of God (Col. 3:1) as he mounts up his spiritual wings.
The eagle has remarkable vision. Its eyes operate as both wide-angled and telescopic lenses with the capability to follow the trail of a field mouse a quarter mile away or to trace the slight ripple of water indicating the presence of a muskrat.
The eagle is also able to distinguish between more shades of color than a human and to judge fine degrees of perspective. Humans have only binocular vision. The eagle has both monocular and binocular vision. To coordinate the images it sees, the eagles has two small depressions at the back of each retina, forming the point of sharpest vision. The eagle's eyes work independently of each other, so that it is able to focus objects to its left, right, and straight ahead.
According to Ephesians 5:15, the Lord has given unusual, spiritual vision to the believer. “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.” The word “circumspectly” means seeing all around on all sides at all times. With that kind of spiritual vision, the believer is able to perceive properly the world's doom and destiny, as well as understand the nature of secular philosophies.
In flight, the eagle often escapes danger by riding a protective air current or by being lifted to safety in a thermal updraft. The believer also finds refuge from the storms of life in Christ's love and protection. “From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I, for You have been my refuge a strong tower against the enemy” (Ps. 61:2-3).
As a bird of prey, the eagle has a beak strong enough to break a twenty-pound fish apart and slice it into pieces. In addition, the eagle's talons are razor sharp, enabling it to cut and rip its prey with ease. The Lord has especially equipped the child of God as well to assure him of triumph over the world, the flesh, and the devil (1John 2:15-17).
With renewed strength, like the eagle, Christians are able to continue to serve the Lord with renewed strength when running and walking. The “running things” of life are the emergencies that come upon us. The “walking things” are the routine things along our pilgrim journey that confront us on a daily basis.
“But thanks be to God. Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:57-58
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