Category: devotional

  • 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

    End Times Speculation- Why I’d Rather be Found Faithful
    Eschatology – Study of End Times
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  • Simply Dovely – Doves in the bible

    pair of eurasian collared doves

    I was awakened gently this morning by the cooing of a dove. It’s  a soothing sound the first few times, but after that, it tends to get very annoying. This morning, the doves decided to have an extended conversation, and the sound moved quickly, from comforting to annoying, to very irritating, to me wanting to yell, Shut up already!”

    There are about half a dozen species of dove that live in British Columbia. The most common is the Eurasian collared dove, a species introduced to the Americas in the 1970s that promptly took over. We still have a few mourning doves and plenty of rock doves (common pigeon). 

    I learned a fascinating fact about doves this morning. According to one source, “[Doves] are also a nurturing family of birds, with both parents caring for the babies, and both sexes capable of creating a substance called crop milk, which feeds their fledglings after they hatch.”

    Thinking of doves drew my mind to the Bible. Doves appear frequently, both in the literal sense of physical birds and also heavily in symbolism.

    I attempted to identify the species of dove the Bible refers to, but as there are many native to that part of the world, I was unable to find the information through some quick searches.

    What comes to mind when you think of doves and the Bible?

    Perhaps the dove comes to mind when we think of the Flood narrative (Genesis 6:11–9:19).

    Perhaps you think of the sacrifices given by people who couldn’t afford larger animals. (Leviticus 1:14-17)

    Some of you may think of the dove in calls for purity or as a symbol of peace.

    I think when most people think of doves in the Bible, they think of the appearance of Holy Spirit. All four gospels testify to that event.

    Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22

    And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. Matthew 3:16

    And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. Mark 1:10

    And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ John 1:32-33

    That’s a massive event because the Holy Spirit isn’t visible to us. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “

    The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:38

    The event symbolized so much. God spoke at the appearance, testifying that Jesus was His Son. The appearance of the dove symbolized purity and sacrifice.

    Jesus, the Lamb of God, would soon be a sacrifice for the sins of others. The spirit didn’t come as a ram, lamb, or goat, the sacrifices only the wealthy could afford. He came as a dove … the sacrifice that even the most lowly of people could afford.

    Jesus came for all people regardless of position, status, or wealth. The Spirit sealed that.

    Next time you see or hear a dove, give thanks that Jesus came for all who would open their hear.

    Be blessed, 

    Kevin

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