Author: Kevin Corbin

  • Wedding Supper

    The marriage supper of the lamb

    I remember a morning over at the lake where a wedding party was having its photographs taken. There is a perfect spot near the narrows on the lake, with a fountain, a wooden bridge, and a set of steps down to the water, ideal for group shots.

    The bride was lovely in a full white gown. The groom and his party wore traditional black tuxedos. It was obviously an important day for them, and they didn’t seem to have spared any expense.

    There’s something about brides; they always seem beautiful to me. I think it’s the romantic ideal of the virginal bride (even when you know they’re not), making a commitment for life (even though it often isn’t) to the man she loves. 

    I’m old-fashioned. I know that it can’t always work out the way it should, but I believe that marriage is designed to be until death do us part.

    Our relationship with Christ is better than the most ideal of marriages. His blood washes away all our sin. He sees us like I see brides, pure and beautiful even when they’re not.

    Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27

    He has made us His pure and spotless bride, despite all of our flaws.

    Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— For the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:7-9  

    Made fresh and new, forgiven, loved forever. That’s something to celebrate. This marriage goes long past “until death do us part.”

    I prayed that couple I saw have a lifetime of wonderful times together.

    Whether you marry or not on this earth, whether you have good marriages or not, we can rejoice in knowing that, as good as earthly marriage was designed to be, you and I have something even better, forever, through Christ.

    Until next time, celebrate your marriage to the King of Kings.

    Kevin

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  • Old and New – The Old Will Pass Away

    This morning’s image showcases a small section of a massive  sandstone cliff in Point Roberts, Washington. Point Roberts is a pene-exclave of the USA, meaning it is American soil, but you have to go through Canada to access it by land. It has some small but beautiful ocean-side parks.

    These sandstone cliffs have stood seemingly forever, yet they are slowly vanishing. If you look at the center of the pic, you can see a groove running downwards. The sand is almost constantly in motion, trickling back down to the sea as it slowly erodes away.

    The sound is like a soft, gentle rain. It will take innumerable human lifetimes for the cliffs to be gone, but in the fullness of time, they will stand no more.

    Even the most permanent-seeming of things in the created universe have an expiry date. The sun itself will eventually burn out if God hasn’t come back by then.

    The little blue planet, third from the sun, that we call Earth will pass away.

    Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Matthew 24:35 ESV

    For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. Isaiah 66:17 ESV

    But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 2 Peter 3:10 ESV

    And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” Hebrews 1:10-12 ESV

    The final end to the existing physical order is not something we need to fear. The same God who created it all with a word, who stands outside the physical realm, remains, and He promises His faithful a new home.

    Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:1-6 ESV

    As we await that day, we steward the physical realm to the best of our abilities, all the while recognizing that God created it for our use.

    The seas may dry up, the climate might change, the magnetic poles might swap end over end, and the mountains fall into the sea. Yet, we can hold fast because the God we worship remains the same, regardless of our earthly situation.

    God is in control and totally dependable. Praise His name.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed, 

    Kevin