“They shall mount up with wings as eagles…” Isaiah 40:31
Wrapped around an angel’s celestial form, fluttering with bright yellow swathes through the air or spread out in the predator hawk’s formation, everyone loves wings. They radiate the beauty of fluid and graceful motion. While appearing to work effortlessly, they produce powerful exertions on the air. With wings, the eagle soars, flies, mounts, rises, glides, sails, floats and climbs. With wings, he flies high enough to reach his goal and dwell in high places.
Wings are amazing movable appendages that enable flight and serve a multitude of purposes. They help some birds to dive and swim, they shield eggs or tender young from rain and hot sun during hatching and brooding and they even act as weapons. To ancient civilizations, wings symbolized strength and swiftness. They loom in Belshazzar’s dream of a fierce image, Ezekiel’s dark prophecies, and Zechariah’s visions. Long ago civilizations coveted these attributes of birds, especially of the magnificent eagle, that gave its owners god-like qualities, ascending power, and an untouchable defense against all attackers. Pagan and heathen tribes sculpted likenesses of wings upon their images of worship.
Isaiah tells us that God equips every one who serves Him with a set of wings. Why, then, do so many of us track around in the dirt of troubles and frustrations, trying to survive? Many scratch among the rocks and barren soil for food. Spiritual foes constantly send others squawking, feathers ruffled, running for cover. Could it be that we have not learned to live with our gift of wings?
God incorporated the wings of cherubims into the furniture of the tabernacle. The book of Exodus tells us of the two cherubims placed on the mercy seat. Of all the furniture and utensils available, he set the wings of the cherubs directly over the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant. He wanted the most sacred spot on earth, the very place where the blood of the sacrifice would be sprinkled to atone for sin, to be under the protection of wings. Wings also adorn the seraphims of scripture——those special fiery, always ablaze angelic creatures that exist exclusively for the production of praise and rendering of glory to God. (Isaiah 6:1-2.) Revelation 4:8 says “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”
For New Testament believers, wings mean far more than objects of beauty or historical throwbacks. They do the same for us spiritually as they do for creatures of flight. Consider the following:
Wings have aerodynamic properties that enable a bird in flight to overcome the force of gravity. Some people wait for God to change their circumstances in life altogether. But God’s plan is for us to use our wings. As the eagle, we live within the reach of sin’s gravity, yet we may be resistant to the will of gravity.
Wings permit the eagle to thrust up and forward in flight; gliding and riding thermal currents; hovering and landing. Likewise, God equips his people to survive in every situation, to defeat any enemy, and to live for Him regardless of the pressures against them.
Wings change the range of a bird’s environment to three dimensions. God gives us wings to provide us with a broad perspective on the world. Believers who use their wings always see life from a manageable perspective.
Wings enable us to “mount up” as eagles. When we mount up, we rise above the sin and evil, the frustrations and aggravations, the sniping and griping, the hatred and attacks prevalent in this world.
Wings mean that we really can live above the world. That’s right, above! Wing strength is the key to living above the world. “…and fowl that may fly above the earth…” Genesis 1:20 “The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.” Proverbs 15:24 “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2
Is it time to check your wings? Have you forgotten they exist? Are they folded and unused? Are they injured? Have your wings been clipped by misconceptions and intimidation? God did not supply you with spiritual wings for adornment or for rare excursions into exhilarating flight. They are powerful pieces of equipment that you can and must use every day. Learn to live with your wings.