Just Keep Flying Up!

It has been said of the hawk, that most species usually cannot fly over tree-top level.  While crafty and resourceful, they remain dependent on food sources from ground level.

It has also been observed that small birds, who would serve as “perfect prey” to these larger birds (specifically the Hawk and the Falcon), have been successful in their escape by flapping their wings at a more rapid pace, thus lifting them further into the air where they cannot be easily captured.

The enemy of our soul, Satan, has been described in scripture as, “the prince of the power of this world” (John 14:30), and also as, “a fowler” (Psalm 91:3).

Satan is always a fowler (a hunter of birds), and his goal is to catch men in his net.  His aim is to distract us from a full life in Christ, weaken the power we have residing in us from Jesus, and to ruin the life of godliness inside us.

He’s cunning, craft, and calculated.

And I have learned in my lifetime that very often, when the enemy fails in his open attempts to destroy by means of deliberate attacks, he will use a hawk to bring down his prey.

Have you ever been spoken badly about?
Have you ever had your good reputation tarnished by revengeful spirits and gross jealousy?
Sometimes even worse altogether… have you ever had a close family member misjudged or lied about?  Has someone hurt your child or polluted your family’s good name?

 I would think this reality has been experienced by all of us at one time or another.
It is my strong belief that no one… not one of us… escapes this planet without some form of slander and persecution.  1 Timothy 3:12 says this, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…”

In fact, Jesus says it to His disciples in an interesting response found in Mark 10.  When their spokesperson, Peter, says in verse 28, “We’ve given up everything to follow You.”  Jesus responds and in verse 30 says, “{You} will receive a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property - ” but then adds something interesting to the text, “along with persecution.” 

It would seem that persecution was to be expected for the lives who are truly committed to following in His ways.  Because a multitude will reject what they cannot understand.  A host of unbelieving - even among Christians - will likely persecute what is difficult to rationalize and remains illogical to worldly perspectives.

Persecution… accusations… slander… it will come.
For the Jesus-people especially, the enemy will send down his agents - the hawks - to swoop in and descend upon unsuspecting birds, all just trying out their newly developed wings against flight patterns and harsh elements.

But the bird has a chance if he simply flies up. 
The hawk can do no harm to the precious feathered creature while they, indeed, remain above him.  It is only when they lower their aviation that he can be at all injurious to him.  It is only by way of soaring, “high on wings like eagles” (Is 40:31), that they will be safe from the fowler’s snare (defined as = “anything serving to trap or entangle unawares.”)

We must keep aware of the danger that is lurking all around us - often times disguised by human agents - seeking to kill us.  We’ve been told before, “rise above” it - and perhaps this is the best illustration of it ever.  Just maybe those words have never rang more true in the ears of the one who knows belittlement and defamation.  And just possibly we can encourage ourselves with those words, “fly higher little birdie.”

Because the higher we go, the safer we are.
Because the more forward we fly, the more protected we are.  The more shielded we become.

Closeness to the King ensures us a most divine protection.
All shall be well if the heart be kept from revenge, and if the hands refrain from entanglement of sin-filled schemes and turbulent tactics.

To the one who has been seeking to look more like Jesus, we must come to know that His ways include a different approach, “He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God…”  (1 Peter 2:23)

When dealing with the slanderous hawk, fly up little birdie, fly up!