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ALONE
WITH GOD
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Spiritual Answers and Reasons
for Faith |
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Learning to
Fly
"As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over
her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them,
beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him,
and there was no strange god with him." Deut. 32:11,
12. The beautiful illustration here cited is taken from
the habits of the eagle and the manner in which she
teaches her young to fly. The eagle often builds her nest
on the rocky edge of some precipice or canyon. When her
eaglets are of sufficient age to exercise their wings, she
does not leave them to the ignoble ease that they would
perhaps prefer. No; she would teach them self reliance, so
she "stirreth up her nest." She stirs it until
an eaglet falls out and goes tumbling, dashing, flopping
down toward the depths below. She does not leave him,
however, to the fate that he might think would shortly be
his, to dash his life out against the rocks below; for,
though the young one does not perceive it, the old bird
"fluttereth over her young," and before the
little one has done himself any harm, she glides beneath
him, and she "taketh him and beareth him on her
wings." She bears him to a greater height than the
nest from which he was stirred. When he feels himself
quite at ease and at rest on his mother's wings, by a
sudden turn he is again thrown on his own resources. This
exercise is repeated until his muscles have been
strengthened and he has learned to bear himself on his own
wings. How beautifully this illustrates the experience of
a Christian! How very many would sit in the easy nest of
superficial joy and emotion, fearing to launch out on the
wings of faith over the great chasm of trials and
responsibilities, if the Lord did not occasionally stir
his nest! When you feel yourself sinking, sinking, down
through the chasm of trials, responsibilities, and new
experiences, remember that God hovers over His young and
that before your tender life has been dashed out against
the rocks below, which now engage your fearful sight. He
will bear you on His wings. Do your best to fly, exercise
the wings (faith) you have, and thereby you will become
strong. How encouraging it would be could you always
realize that just above you were the strong paternal wings
of your Father's protecting care! How much better would it
be in the midst of your feeble efforts, to look above you
than to look at the dizzy depths below. Remember
"there hath no temptation taken you but such as is
common to man: but God is faithful who will not suffer you
to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the
temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able
to bear it." 1 Cor. 10 :13. When your trial has
accomplished God's design and your good, He will bear you
on His wings. Thus, by proper exercise under the direction
and the care of your loving heavenly Father, your faith
will grow exceedingly.
It is said of the eagle that she is
able to rise entirely above a storm and that while the
storm is raging below, she soars in the sunlight above. So
you, dear reader, if you will patiently endure the trials
of learning to fly, may renew your strength and mount up
with wings as eagles. Isa. 40:31. While the storm beneath
you is raging, you may, on wings of faith and in the
strength of Jehovah soar in the sunlight of grace far
above the storm and enjoy the atmosphere of heaven.
PROMISES TO THOSE WHO OVERCOME TRIALS
"Behold, happy is the man whom
God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening
of the Almighty: for he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he
woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee
in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch
thee. In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in
war from the power of the sword. Thou shalt be hid from
the scourge of the tongue, neither shalt thou be afraid of
destruction when it cometh. At destruction and famine thou
shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of
the earth. For thou shalt be in league with the stones of
the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace
with thee. And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall
be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and
shalt not sin. Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be
great, and shine offspring as the grass of the earth. Thou
shalt come to thy grave in a full age like as a shock of
corn cometh in in his season. Lo this, we have searched it
so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good."
Job 5 :17-27.
"But he knoweth the way that I
take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as
gold." Job 23:10.
"My son, despise not the
chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his
correction: for whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even
as a father the son in whom he delighteth." Prov.
3:11, 12.
"Him that overcometh will I
make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no
more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God,
and the name of the city of my God, which is New
Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God:
and I will write upon him my new name." Rev. 3:12.
"Blessed is the man that
endureth temptations: for when he is tried, he shall
receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to
them that love him." Jas. 1:12.
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