E-24 1944 © Project Winsome International, 1999

"THE PARABLE OF THE EAGLE"

Evangelist Johnnie Lavender

Acts 1:8

On many occasions when a nonbeliever, a doubter, or one of his followers approached Jesus with a question concerning his teachings, Jesus would answer with a parable.

For instance, on one occasion when he was rebuked by the Pharisees and Scribes for "eating with publicans and sinners," Jesus gave them the parable of the Lost Sheep. On another occasion when, after a short discussion concerning the way of salvation, he was asked by a young lawyer,

"Who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan.

His reason for using these parables was simple. Rather than confuse them with lofty truths and complex explanations, through parables Jesus presented in simple, everyday language -- using illustrations out of life -- answers which not only satisfied their inquiries, but challenged them to more righteous living.

A parable is a physical story which illustrates a spiritual truth. Jesus gave these people parables so they might more easily understand his answers to their questions.

We, too, are living in an age of questions, more so, perhaps than any other time in history. At every turn we are faced with doubts and fears about the stability of the future or the authenticity of some event in the past. Every day new problems present themselves concerning the experiences of the present.

As a young man, I am not given to much worrying. You see, I am not married yet! But, for those of you who are anxious -- the worry-warts here tonight -- I have a humorous little piece which should put an end to it all.

"Why worry? Either you are well or you are sick. If you are well, there's nothing to worry about. If you are sick, there are only two things to worry about. Either you get better or you get worse. If you get better, there is nothing to worry about. If you get worse, there are only two things to worry about. Either you live or you die. If you live, there is nothing to worry about. If you die, there are only two things to worry about. Either you go to heaven or you go to the other place. If you go to heaven, there is nothing to worry about. If you go to the other place, you'll be so busy talking with the other people who didn't believe in hell, you won't have time to worry!"

Yes, we're living in an age of questions. Yet, it is only natural that our finite should wonder at the infinite truths of God. It is only natural that we should raise questions concerning the universe in which we live: its origins, its purpose and its future. It is only natural that we should constantly seek to find a way out of our dilemma, into fellowship with God.

So, as in ages past, when on the dusty roads of old Jerusalem, Jesus used parables to calm the troubled minds and souls of those that came to him with questions, so, too, in twentieth century America, amid the hustle and bustle of modern life, God marvelously gives us what might be called present-day parables. They help us to understand the problems which we face and the deep spiritual truths behind them.

Tonight I want to use one of these present-day parables as a foundation for our thinking upon the text from Acts 1:8: "Be my witnesses." I believe that, out of it, we can glean some really valuable help in understanding the importance of true witnessing for Christ.

I don't preach this kind of sermon very often, but usually when I do, someone will criticize me and say I was too simple. Whenever they do, they pay me a great compliment. Too often, we preachers aim way over the heads of people and I don't think it hurts, if once in a while, we aim a little lower--at the heart.

In my young ministry, I have tried many ways of getting the gospel story into the hearts and lives of people. Tonight, as we lay the groundwork for this whole campaign, if through this simple story I can help you see the character and quality and urgent necessity of witnessing, I shall have achieved my purpose. So, pray Christians, that in the few minutes which remain, God will speak to your heart and the hearts of others so tonight we may see the beginning of victory here in your town.

It was somewhat over twenty years ago. A young man was wandering through the famous zoo in one of our eastern cities. As he walked along, going nowhere in particular, he refreshed sweet memories of his boyhood days when he had first visited the zoo with his parents.

He stopped at the monkey cage and watched the little fellows go through their antics, chatting wildly as they swung about. He moved onto the cages where the more exotic animals were kept, the lions, the tigers and bears. Across the way there were small children laughing with delight as they tossed peanuts to a big, old elephant. The man stopped to watch them for a moment and recalled with fond memory of the day when he had gingerly and timidly held out a trembling little hand in which he held a peanut and watched that long, weaving trunk slowly swoop down and "slurp" it up.

As he walked on, he came to the Aviary, that section of the zoo where the birds are kept. As he passed from cage to cage, he came upon one, which at first, appeared empty. He started to move on when his eyes caught a movement in the back of the cage and looking more closely, he saw a large, ugly, black-feathered creature crouched over in the corner.

He watched it for quite awhile trying to make out what it was. It seemed as though it was barely alive, for except an occasional half-hearted shutter, there was no movement about it. What appeared to be its wings, hung limply at its side, many of the feathers were gone, leaving great areas bare, allowing the sallow skin of the ugly creature to show through. Its head drooped low against its sunken breast. Its black eyes, which were barely visible, stared blankly into nothingness.

Still unable to identify the creature, the man stepped back and looked up at the sign which hung on the cage identifying the name of the bird. To his amazement he read: American Eagle. The man was shocked. Surely, there must be some mistake. Surely this helpless, half-dead creature could not be an American Eagle!

He stepped up to the cage once again, grasped the bars, and stared in awestruck wonder at the hideous creature before him. Finally, he turned slowly and walked away, carrying in his mind this picture of an eagle, wondering why America had chosen this bird above all other birds to symbolize her power and strength. How could the image of an eagle be mounted on the top of our flagstaffs and printed on our coins as a symbol of majesty and might, when this helpless, ugly, repulsive creature could scarcely lift its head?

Some months later, this same young man was hiking in the foothills along the eastern seaboard. It was the day Charles Lindbergh was to begin his epoch-making flight across the Atlantic in his famous airplane, "The Spirit of Saint Louis." The young man hoped he might catch a glimpse of the plane as it flew over and headed out to sea.

As he reached the summit of a hill, he looked up into the sky, searching for some sign of an approaching airplane. Suddenly, off in the distance, he saw a tiny shining speck which grew larger and larger by the second. As it flew nearer, he realized it was, "Lindy," and the throb of its great engine filled the sky with a deafening roar.

Suddenly, as it was almost overhead, the young man saw a gigantic bird sweeping down out of the sky, into the path of the plane forcing the pilot to maneuver to avoid a crash. The young man stood in dismay with the other bystanders as the tremendous bird swooped up into the sky to gain more altitude. "It's an eagle!" one of the people cried. And then, once again, that powerful king of the sky began a second dive of death upon the airplane. Its defiant screech pierced the air drowning out the roar of the plane, as if to challenge "Lindy's" right to the sky.

As the plane flew out of sight, the eagle mounted into the clouds and disappeared. That afternoon, the young man walked across the hills in silence, knowing for the first time what it really means to see an eagle.

At first hearing this homely little story -- this present-day parable -- may seem of little significance. Nevertheless, closer inspection shows that it casts a great deal of light upon this business of being a Christian. This physical picture reveals in a unique way the spiritual truths which are pertinent to the challenge of witnessing. On one hand we have a picture of a bird which is an eagle in name only. It is an eagle which has been captured and placed under man's dominion and power. It is an eagle which has succumbed to the ways and wills of man until it is no longer the bird of strength and fearlessness for which it had once been known.

Through disuse, those powerful wings which once had carried it majestically through the sky, have lost their strength. The tremendous talons which once had within their power to crush the carcass of an animal are now shriveled, weak and yellow with decay. The shining gleam which once could pierce the blackness of a midnight sky, is gone from its eyes.

The bird that was once a symbol of might and power, the bird that was once the king of the sky, is now nothing but a broken, ugly, hideous creature. The ruler has become the ruled!

What a picture of many a Christian! They are Christians in name only. Christians who have fallen prey to the ways of the world. Christians, who under the weight of social pressure and desiring to have the goodwill of the gang rather the fellowship of God, have sold their birthrights. What a portrait of so many Christians who were once victorious through Christ, but are now defeated because they have succumbed to the will and wiles of people. Christians whose testimonies were once a tower of strength and beauty in their communities and in their homes, but who have now lost their vigor and winsomeness, and all that remains are broken, defeated, discouraged Christians -- in name only. And, if the spiritually unenlisted were to base their understanding of what a Christian is and what Christianity does upon what they see in these Christians in name only, how distorted and distasteful their ideas would be.

No longer are these backsliders a true picture of Christ. No longer do they reflect the glory of light and love of Christianity. No longer are they a symbol of all that is bright and good. For now, those pre-Christians who once admired them, perhaps in silence, but nevertheless admired them for their God-like character, now look upon them in disdain. Those who were once the glory of Christ, are now his shame. They are Christians in name only.

But turning from that sordid picture, we see, on the other hand, a portrait of an eagle in all its splendor and glory. We see the monarch of the air. The king of the sky in the fullness of his majesty. So complete is his dominion, so certain is he of his power and strength, so gloriously arrogant is this ruler of the clouds, he would literally challenge an airplane's right to the sky.

As, in our imagination, we watch this gigantic bird fearlessly lunge down at the plane with terrifying dives of death, we know at last what it means to see an eagle. We know now why America, the greatest nation in the world, chose this bird above all others, to symbolize her majesty and power. We know now why, throughout the centuries, the eagle has stood for greatness in courage and strength.

And just as here we have a true picture of an eagle, so too here and there we catch an accurate picture of a real Christian. For, thank God, here and there -- scattered among us -- is one here and another there who has not fallen captive to the will of man. A victorious Christian shining forth in all of Christ's beauty and grace.

Here and there we find a Christian who has not succumbed to the ways of the world. Who has not sold out in the face of social pressure no matter how great. And, in him, we see a tower of strength and light and love in the midst of a world of war and woe and weal. And people who come into contact with that child of God are captivated by his spirit, turn away knowing, perhaps for the first time, they have seen a Christian!

I believe that, at least in this so-called Christian nation of ours, God will give to every man, woman, boy and girl an opportunity to see at least one Christian during his or her lifetime. Perhaps several, but at least one! And in seeing that one Christian, they will have to decide whether or not they, too, will become a child of God.

I wonder, as we set that fact before us, if you really catch the import of it. What if you were that one Christian? What if you were that only picture of Christ some lost soul ever saw? What if you were the only contact that soul would have with Christianity? What sort of a reflection would you make? What impression of Christ would that person receive upon seeing you?

Would it be a picture of defeat and despair? Would your testimony, and by testimony I don't mean the things that you say so much as the things you do, would your testimony be distorted by sin and self until Christ can no longer be seen? Would your life be a stumbling stone to an unbeliever?

Or, would your life reflect the radiance of joyful Christian living? Would your winsome witness compel that person to long to have what you have? Would he or she see in you a true picture in Christ in all his love and mercy? Would that lost soul be captivated by the Spirit of Christ in you to such an extent that he, too, would become a child of God?

"You're writing a gospel, a chapter every day

By the deeds that you do and the things that you say.

Men read what you write, whether faithless or true.

Say, what is the gospel according to you?"

And that brings us to our text tonight. For a challenge like this is worthless unless I give you something positive upon which to act.

What is Christ's message to all Christians today? We find it here in the opening of the book of Acts where Jesus said to his disciples, "Be ye my witnesses" (Acts 1:8b). He is making a direct and definite appeal to their representative capacity. As though to say -

You Can Be More than Yourself.

Hardly any element in you is more influential than this power to identify yourself with something greater than yourself, so that when people think of you, they think of that. I want that representative capacity on my side. "Be my witnesses."

As we look into history, we can see how this is confirmed. How people have identified themselves with what they stand for, so that Galileo and Astronomy, Napoleon and Militarism, Moody and Evangelism, Florence Nightingale and the high profession of Nursing, are all done up in one bundle of thought.

Think of the people whom you know personally and see how inevitably they have achieved a personal suggestiveness, so when you think of them, you think of what they stand for. And then bring the question into the focus of your own mind and ask yourself, "As a Christian, for what and for whom am I witnessing?" A second thought to which I would direct your attention is --

The Least of Us Can Stand for the Greatest Thing.

It has been said, and justly so I believe, that when this life is ended and we cross the mystic sea into eternity to meet our Savior face-to-face, those who have been in the public eye, the great evangelists, preachers and pastors are not necessarily the ones who are going to receive the greatest rewards. Instead, those rewards may go to that woman whose blinded eyes have caused her to carry on a powerful ministry intercession. Or that man whose broken, emaciated body has prevented him from active service so he has found joy and life in intercessory prayer for those who do the things he cannot do himself.

The greatest complement Jesus ever paid to one of his followers was when he said of Mary, "She hath done what she could!" Listen. It may not be in you to be a great preacher, a Moody or a Wesley. It may not be in you to be a great singer, an Ira Sankey or a Bev Shea. It may not be in you to be a great missionary, a William Carey or a Judson Taylor. It may not be in you to be great in any field of endeavor in the eyes of men. But, if you will be a Mary in that you "do what you can" for Christ, you will have achieved greatness in the kingdom of heaven and will have merited favor in the sight of God.

Some day when this pageant of life is over and you stand before the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, you will hear him say, "Well, done thou good and faithful servant,

enter into the joy of the Lord."

To hear those precious words will be enough to pay for all the suffering and sacrifice which often come to those who earnestly endeavor to be true witnesses of Christ. Which brings me to my final point, and with this I close --

Great Living Always Comes at a Great Price.

Nothing worthwhile can be achieved without sacrifice and struggle. A mother was walking along a downtown sidewalk with her young son who suffered from Polio. He had been outfitted with braces on his legs and canes for each hand. As he struggled along, an older boy who came running down the sidewalk bumped into him, knocked him over and, without looking back, left him sprawling there. The mother, instead of leaning over to help her little boy stand up, moved back about ten feet, extended her arms to keep passers by from tripping over him and then, watched as her son attempted to right himself.

With great effort, the boy struggled to his knees, managed to straighten one leg and lock the brace in place. And then, manipulating his canes to give him leverage, he slowly, but surely, pulled himself up, locked the brace in place and, with a triumphant smile on his face, looked into his mother's eyes. She, in turn, smiled back, gave him the "okay" sign, and together they walked on down the sidewalk.

My friend who told me this story said, "Johnnie, I don't think I've ever seen a more loving act. That mother could have helped her little boy to his feet, but in doing so she would have weakened him. By allowing him to struggle to stand p on his own, she strengthened him, and prepared him to deal with the other kinds of blows life would surely hurl at him."

I say to you, nothing worthwhile is achieved without sacrifice and struggle. And, while at times it may seem you have been left to sacrifice and struggle alone, Christ has said, "I (will be) with you always, even to the end."

This is my message to you on the second night of our campaign. This is God's message to you as a Christian. Heed this pleading, consuming, constraining challenge of the Lord Jesus Christ to "Be (his) witnesses," and go on to greater heights of service for him.

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