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  • The things we value most will be left behind – We gain everything

    The things we value most will be left behind – We gain everything

    row of rusty pickups

    The farmyard had many rusty old trucks. It seems likely the owner was a collector (or perhaps ‘accumulator’ would be a better term), as they had rows of them.

    There were a few cars, but I mainly noticed pickup trucks. There were a lot of them from the fifties and sixties. There was even the odd one from the 40s or earlier. 

    These trucks were, at one point, the pride and joy of their owners. They had that new vehicle smell that so many people find appealing. They were bright and shiny, freshly painted, and certainly wouldn’t have been cheap to buy.

    Over the years, the paint faded, the bodies got dinged and dented, and the new-car smell gave way to the smell of the owner’s lifestyle. Eventually, they broke down or wore out and were just left in the field to rust.

    Eventually, they will rust away into nothingness. The elements gradually eat away the steel until nothing remains.

    Now I understand the need for a vehicle, and I know that they usually reach a point where they are no longer worth repairing. Seeing so many of their rusted old bodies, though, made me think about the Lord’s coming. Our possessions will be left behind.

    He’s coming again for His people.

    “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14 

    The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:63-64

    Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. Revelation 1:7

    All the “things” we value so highly, all the accomplishments we’re so proud of, all the “stuff” and accolades we’ve accumulated, will at that moment become even less valuable than those rusted old hulks sitting in the field. It will be left behind, exchanged for something far more valuable.

    Where are your priorities? Are the things that will be left behind when you die, or He comes again first in your life? Or have you accumulated treasures in heaven that won’t rust away and won’t be left behind when you go?

    Until next time, may your focus be on the things of His kingdom.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed, 

    Kevin

    Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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    All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

    Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    From Gleanings From The Word (Kevin Corbin, 2001– ), a Scripture-based devotional work.

  • Last Leaves – Feeling alone, but never alone.

    Last Leaves – Feeling alone, but never alone.

    tree with most of the leaves already fallen on a foggy morning

    Driving home from the pool yesterday, the lyrics “all the leaves  are brown, and the sky is grey” were going through my head.

    The sky was grey yesterday, and it rained off and on all day. The leaves aren’t all grey, but most trees have shed them all. A few lonely leaves are holding on for dear life, but every little gust of wind shakes some more of them off the tree.

    Sometimes, we feel like those remaining leaves. We think that we’re the last faithful Christians left. That thought might apply to our own faith walk or our denomination/affiliation compared to others.

    It feels that no one else wants to do the work; finding volunteers is like searching for hen’s teeth or frog hairs. You can’t find anyone to study the Scriptures or pray with.  The weight of the gospel message rests fully on our shoulders, and we fear that God’s work won’t get done if we don’t do it.

    Of course, that’s wrong thinking, and we’re not the first people in the world to have those thoughts. We are never alone.

    In 1 Kings, we see God work incredible miracles through Elijah, but he feels alone. I recommend reading 1 Kings 18-19 to get the full story, but I want to hit on a few relevant verses.

    Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.” 1 Kings 18:22

    God works in miraculous ways to defeat all the priests of Baal, which angers Jezebel, the Queen, so Elijah runs away into the desert to hide.

    While in the desert, he hears the still small voice of God and complains.

    He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 1 Kings 19:14

    The Lord responds by giving Elijah a task to anoint a new king over Israel and reminds him that,

    Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him. 1 Kings 19:18

    That 7,000 might be a literal number, but it’s more likely to refer to many more believers than Elijah can comprehend. Seven is the number of completeness, and 1,000 often suggests large numbers. Either way, Elijah is far from alone in doing God’s work.

    We are never the only ones, no matter how we feel. God’s church is larger than we ever imagine. Things are happening that we may never see. We are never alone.

    God’s tasks will get accomplished with us, despite us, or through us. We are accountable to God for our own obedience, not the obedience of others.

    He is the one with power and makes things happen.

    Joyfully do what God calls you to and let Him worry about what others are, or are not doing. He’s got it covered.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed, 

    Kevin

    Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

    __________________________________________ 

    Please like and share this post with your friends and those in your circle of influence. Feel free to comment.

    Subscribe today 

    Find us on Facebook

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    Visit our Homepage

    Find us on Pinterest

    ___________________________________________ 

    All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word. 

    Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    From Gleanings From The Word (Kevin Corbin, 2001– ), a Scripture-based devotional work.