Eagle Point
- Shan Young
- | Aug 3, 2008
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WHY EAGLE POINT?
One fascinating thing about eagles is that they exist on every continent but Antarctica. They are found in every climate from rain forests to the arctic tundra, from the desert regions to the dense forests and from the beaches to the mountain ranges. Wherever there is suitable prey to be found, these hunters of the sky will be found as well.
Whereas most birds migrate with the seasons, the eagle typically does not follow such migration patterns. They do not migrate because of weather changes unless the climate causes their food supply to dwindle beyond what they need to survive. Thus, the eagle is completely dependent on the availability of those animals that meet his / her need for survival.
This is germane to Eagle Point for this same reason. The eagle is a hunter, and he follows the prey. If there is not any prey for the eagle, then the eagle will move on to find appropriate hunting grounds. The eagle's activity, location, survival, etc. is completely centered around the availability of the prey. How does this apply to Eagle Pont? Eagle Point exists to reach people for Christ. If there were no people to reach, then there would be no point in having an "Eagle Point". We exist so that we can "know Christ and then make Him known" to those who do not know Him as we do. Just as an eagle needs suitable prey to survive, no church will survive if it is not "hunting" the lost around it. If there are no lost to evangelize, then the church has to "go" seeking those for which it has need to survive. If the lost are not being brought into the church, then the church will eventually die.
Of the seven churches that are listed in the Revelation, only the church at Smyrna still survives! The other churches died because they lost their purpose for being a church. Ephesus as you know had lost its "first love". They lost their desire to please God and to seek after His will. Just as the city itself gradually died away, so did the church. The church had lost is evangelistic fervor, and gradually it became non-existent. If we truly love God, we will keep His commandments. His commandments include that we "go and make disciples" of all peoples. (Matthew 28:18-20) Are we doing this?
We cannot sit inside our four walls and expect the lost to come to us. Alligators do this. Snakes do this. A preying mantis does this. Eagles do not. An eagle's nest is not considered by ornithologists (those who study birds) to be a comfortable nest, for it is made of thorns, sticks and twigs with little else for comfort. They will even use the smallest space on the perch of rock to build their nests. Eagles do not seek the comforts of home, and yet they are considered the "kings" of the birds.
Unfortunately, too many churches have become too comfortable in their pews. They come to worship every Sunday expecting the "prey" to come to them. They have nested in their comfortable spots, and they dare anyone else to disturb their "nests". Such people may seem alive, but if they are not fulfilling God's will for their lives and for the church, then they are DEAD! The Lord warned the church at Sardis: "'I know your works, that you have a name that your are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die.'" (Revelation 3:2, NKJV) An eagle that does not leave its nest will eventually die, for it may appear majestic on the outside while the inside is malnourished and dying. Eagle Point is to be a ministry that we seek out those who are lost. Our survival depends on it. May we never be too comfortable at home that we lose sight of why Eagle Point exists! Are you ready to hunt?