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Gleanings From The Word

Tag: Kevin Corbin

  • The power of the natural world points us to God

    Vedder River near Chilliwack - flooding with the powerful atmospheric river

    We have just come out of another atmospheric river, a powerful series of rainstorms. It has created powerful flood and near-flood conditions. It has washed out roads and caused mudslides and landslides. Just another typical spring in BC’s Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. 

    It’s a powerful sight, and it’s often commented on. There is no doubt that it can be an awe inspiring sight to see, and it can also be incredibly destructive

    I frequently hear people commenting about the “Power of Nature.” There is power there, but the power isn’t caused by “nature.” Nature has no power to do or cause anything outside the constraints set by God. There are rules that the natural world must abide by.

    The power that created this “Nature” that many worship is none other than the God of the Bible, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. As its creator, he stands outside of time, space, and matter, but can intervene in any way that He sees fit, in any manner that does not violate His character. There is nothing and no one more powerful than Him.

    Our world is a broken place and will continue to fall apart until the Lord redeems it at the culmination of time. The new heavens and new earth will be better than this one, even better than Eden.

    Those who worship the created are blind.

    For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.  Romans 1:18-25

    There is much to be admired and awed by in the natural world, but it ought to send us in search of the creator.

    Open your eyes. What do you see? The fingerprints of God are on everything in the created universe.

    Give Him the glory due His name.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Some posts you might like

    Jesus walks on water – sovereign over the natural world

    Creation is a signpost – you can’t say you didn’t know

    The gospel – the best news ever

  • Step Out of the Boat Faith

    Man standing on the water beside the boat - get out of the boat faith

    When I awoke this morning, I was remembering a fishing trip long ago, with a friend and his dog. We were sitting out in the lake enjoying the sun and catching a few fish, when Tawny spotted a duck she wanted to visit and decided to step out of the boat.

    The result was as inevitable as it was comic. The water wasn’t solid ground, and down she went. By the time we got her back in the boat, both Bruce and I were soaked and had nearly capsized a couple of times.

    Whenever I remember that trip, my mind drifts to a familiar passage in the gospel. The one where Jesus walked on the sea, and Peter, too, decided to step out of the boat.

     Immediately, he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,  but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
    And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.     But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

    And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

    He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

     Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-23 ESV

    I’m sure the other disciples ribbed him about that for years. We often talk about the foolishness of Peter panicking when he began to sink.

    We forget one important point, Peter actually stepped out of the boat. He had faith, weak faith, but faith nonetheless, and acted on it. Jesus rescued him.

    The other disciples didn’t even bother to try. They probably teased Peter for a long time, but I suspect that deep in their hearts, they wished they had been the ones who tried.

    Faith that isn’t put to the test isn’t faith; it’s a wish, a vague hope.  You’ve got to put into practice the things God has called us to do, exercise your spiritual gifts.

    Perhaps you’ll find yourself in over your head, but trust God. Peter didn’t fail; he tried. The other disciples stayed in the boat and didn’t experience God’s rescuing hand.

    It’s time, my dear friends. Step out of the boat, walk in the Spirit, and put your faith to the test.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

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