Turkeys, Ducks & Eagles (Gospel Snapshots)
I have used the 'turkey, duck, and eagle' analogy to the
Christian life for quite awhile. Let me share it with you. Keep
in mind that none of us are only one type of bird. We all have
elements of all three in our lives.
TURKEYS are easy to spot. They have 'fire insurance,' and know
they are going to heaven, but they will never soar. They just
walk about the barnyard of life, scratching for their existence.
They are content to live with other turkeys and know their final
destination (heaven) is sure. But they miss so much of life
because of 'religious contentment.' As Paul says, they never see
there is 'so much more.'
DUCKS are beautiful. They fly gracefully, and have beautiful
colors. They do a lot of quacking. Christians who are like ducks
look good. They impress you with their knowledge, beauty and
works. They know the Bible pretty well and they quack it. They
are usually sin-conscious, and they are rule focused -- they 'do
things by the book.' Well, maybe they are just 'selective
legalists.' They choose what rules and laws to apply. They don't
like the scriptures that say we should keep them all (Jam 2:10,
Rom 3:10). EAGLES live at a higher level, and this is what the
gospel is all about. Eagles don't have the need to be honored
and praised (John 5:44). They don't have all that religious
stuff holding them down, so they tend to fly higher. It might be
said they 'rest' on the air-currents of life, that originate
from the throne of God. They just tend to soar with God. They
know it is not them that's important -- without Christ they can
do nothing (John 15:5).
Eagles aren't afraid of being used, abused, or even
misunderstood. It seems like they're oblivious to both the
praise, and the condemnation of others. They don't play 'the
blame game.' They adapt to what happens to them. They know what
happens to them isn't half as important as how they respond to
what happens to them. They are VICTORS in life, not VICTIMS of
life. They don't worry or fear -- they know God's in control and
trust him to work things out for the best.
Eagles view life as a journey, and the gospel as the power of
God to live the best we can while on the journey. They know that
life is simply Christ living in them (Gal 2:20). So they live
with a real sense of thankfulness for life itself, regardless of
life's circumstances that intrude on them. They live in a sense
of peace and joy that escapes other species of birds.
None of us live as eagles all of the time, but it is a good
target to keep in our sights.