A person could begin their life very nagative but ending it very positive. Jacob is a good example, he started his life as a deceiver but ended it as a prophet and priest. 

When Jacob began his life he prosuaded his brother to sell him his birthright for a bowl of food although he could have given him freely. He then deceived his father and stole his brother's blessings, which belonged to him as the firstborn son. This evil cause him to run away from home for twenty years to save his life. During that period he suffered greatly at the hands of his uncle and cousins. Through those experiences God trained him to become a better person. Later on he lost his beloved son, Joseph, for over twenty years during which time he suffered again greatly. Famine finally caused him to go to Egypt to live the rest of his life. 

By that time he had developed into both a prophet and a priest. As a priest he blessed Pharaoah, regarded as possiblely, the greatest leader on earth at that time. By blessing Pharaoah he demonstrated that he was greater than Pharaoah, because the bible says, in Hebrews 7:7 that, as a rule, "The lesser person is blessed by the greater."  As a prophet he prophesied over his twelve sons, predicting what would happen to their respective tribes. 

What we have seen is that Jacobs past did not determine his future. He started badly but ended his life as a great man of God. The principle is, your past does not determine your future. Therefore, no matter how bad your life has been you can end your life as a great person of God. But you must go through the process that God has ordained to train you to become great. To go through your training you must learn from your experiences and pass your tests. PASS YOUR TEST!!!

Christians like golden eagles go through low periods in their lives. It would do us good to learn from the golden eagle what happen during their low periods called molting period. At this time, usually in midlife, the eagle finds a lonely place in a valley and stay there alone with its head down. It is unable to shed tears because its tear ducts have stopped producing tears. Its feathers fall out. It stops searching for food because its talons (feet) become fragile from constant efforts to find insects in the ground to eat. The eagle loses it weight, motivation, the ability to fight, and to soar. It is at the lowest ebb in life. Without help at this stage from other eagles, it is hopeless; death is imminent. At this point, other concern eagles, especially those that have been through similar experiences, fly over this molting eagle, making sounds to alert it that they are there to help. They help the molting eagle by dropping food close by so it may eat and be strengthened and prepare to soar again when it is renewed.

Here are some lessons to learn: in our low periods we should look beyond ourselves for help. First from God and second from others. If we fail to seek and receive help from God and others we will not rise again. Another lesson to be learned is this: we should help others in their times of needs. The Apostle Paul says, " Carry each other's burden and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:1 - 2 ) NIV The law of Christ is love. 

For us to experience renewal in our low periods we must trust in God " Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:5  (NIV)  Also remember God's promise in Isaiah 40:31 "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (NIV)

MAY YOU LIFT YOUR FAITH AND RISE AGAIN!!