Wings Like Eagles

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)

I am reminded daily of my mortality through various aches and pains that were not there when I was a “youth”. And I am reminded in the Scripture that one day I must go “the way of all the earth”.  As King David's time to die drew near, he said to his son…

"I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man….” (1 Kings 2:2)

Good advice for our sons and grandsons.  And in the book of Hebrews the writer reminds each of us of our salvation at the return of Christ…

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once…so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin.” (Hebrews 9:27)

There is a new beginning for us all. One where sin is no longer doing its work of death in our mortal bodies. It is a promise of immortality. You and I will indeed “mount up with wings like eagles”, we will “run and not get tired” and “walk and not become weary”.  We can and should draw comfort from the promises of God which keeps us informed and peacefully resting in the hope of the resurrection…

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

“…and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things…” (Ephesians 3:9)

The “mystery” was NOT hidden in the Scriptures, but was hidden “in GOD”. This mystery could not have been discovered by studying the Old Testament.

“I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has NOW been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit…” (Ephesians 3:1-5)

And what was the Mystery?

“This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (Ephesians 3:6)

The job of preaching to EVERYONE this HIDDEN mystery of God’s Grace for all mankind was given to Paul...

“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for EVERYONE what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:7-11)

The mystery of the Salvation of both Israel and Gentiles (together referred to as the church) would make known to the “rulers and authorities in heavenly places” the wisdom of God. So what exactly would happen that would make known to the angels and other spirit beings in “heavenly places” this wisdom of God?

Well the context clearly indicates it is the “promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” which is the good news promise that Christ would return to resurrect the dead.

“Behold, I tell you a mystery… in the twinkling of an eye…the dead will be raised imperishable…I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope…For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Corinthians 15: 51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)