The Birth of Eagles

The eagles of Norfolk Botanical Garden (see previous post) have not yet mated, so there are no little eaglets. Eagle watchers want the male eagle to choose a mate so she can move into the nest and get a family started. The Garden has an “eagle cam”; there are similar webcams in other locations in the country – nature lovers want to see the birth and development of eagles. As I thought about this yesterday I considered the miracle of new birth in Christ – what a wonder it is when a man or a woman or a child takes those first breaths of Divine life; it is not always as observable as the birth of an eagle, at least not by humans – but I understand that angels throw quite a party when a newborn comes into the Kingdom of God.

Last night, after considering the above, I read the following by Archibald Alexander in his book, Thoughts on Religious Affections, (Archibald’s father William was a brother to my grandfather of a few generations ago, Robert Alexander):

“There is no more important event which occurs in our world than the new birth of an immortal soul. Heirs to title and estates, to kingdoms and empires, are frequently born, and such events are blazoned with imposing pomp, and celebrated by poets and orators; but what are all these honours and possessions but the gewgaws of children, when compared with the inheritance and glory to which every child of God is born an heir! But this being a birth from above, and all the blessings and privileges of the young heir, of a hidden and spiritual nature, the world around cannot be expected to take a lively interest in the event…The night on which He [Jesus] was born, there was a great crowd of the descendants of David, collected from every part of the Holy Land, where they were scattered abroad; but none of all these knew that a Saviour was born that night. Yet the angels celebrated the event in a truly celestial hymn, and announced the glad tidings to a company of simple shepherds…”

The sons and daughters of God are eagles, for they have been called to soar in the heavens in Christ. So sad that they are often taught to think as earth dwellers, taught that they do not really have wings, taught to walk on the earth, discouraged from experiencing the glorious liberty of the children of God. It is as if when God’s eagles are born that their wings are clipped by religious tradition, by legalistic mentalities, by the idea that holiness is optional. The identity of an eagle is exchanged for the identity of a chicken that cannot fly, cannot soar. Chickens have their cages, their prisons, and ultimately a trip in a semi-truck to a slaughter house – God’s children are not chickens, they are eagles – most of them do not know this.

“…where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit,” 2 Corinthians 3:17b – 18.