The World Cannot Hate You

“The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” (John 7:7).

Jesus is saying that the given current state of the human affairs, one in which excludes and opposes God at every turn, this world cannot hate you. It can only hate me.

Why is that? Why does mankind hate and despise Jesus? Is it because He is the Christ? The Son of God? Because Jesus is the way, the truth and the life? No, none of that. The world hates Jesus because He testifies of them and the evil which is them. In short, Jesus reveals sin and the world doesn't like that.

The English word “testify” comes from the Greek root word “martys”. It’s where we get the word martyr from. Often times the Bible transliterates martys as “witness” or to “bare record”.

In today’s world a martyr is usually thought of as someone who kills themselves for a cause. But being a martyr is to speak the truth regardless of consequence. This is not the same as being an antagonist. It’s not intentionally assuming an adversarial position or attempting to provoke someone. 

A true martyr speaks truth and nothing but the truth without concern of consequence, whether the consequence is positive or negative.

How different this world would be if truth is the only thing put forth. How different this world would be if truth was the only thing we would receive. Both are choices we make.

“…that the works thereof are evil” The evil is a reference to a perilous time for Christians. It’s a time of pain and suffering. This is to be expected when God is omitted from our life.

The word “evil” is derived from the Greek, “ponos” meaning pain. It expresses especially the "active form of evil". This kind of evil brings, “toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of peril to Christian faith and steadfastness; causing pain and trouble” (Vine’s).

So here we have an offended world bringing its evil ways, attacking Jesus, not because He showed the world the way of righteousness, but because He showed the world their way of sin. This is what infuriates the world, its true self.

“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:31-32)

The world thinks of itself as holy and right. The world will not recognize nor repent of its sins. The world can not and will not tolerate the chastening of the Lord. Because the world will not condemn sin, the world itself will be condemned by sin.

Yes, God is love and God loves everyone. But, understand this. God’s love is not a permission slip to continue sinning. God’s love for us does not mean that He will conform to our will, wishes, desires, philosophies and thought.

We show our love for God by recognizing sin for what it is, repenting of our sin, following God and living righteously. Because we love God we change for God. God never changes for us. It is impossible for Him to change because God is perfect. Perfection can only change to imperfection, and God can’t do that. God is immutable, unchangeable and perfect

Where people get confused is when we stumble and fall. God forgives the regenerated repenter. As a child of God (As John explains in his epistles), we no longer sin because our sins are covered by the blood of Christ. But God does not forgive the sins of those who deny Him, deny His word, truth, righteousness and continue in their sins. These are the reprobates and the apostates. God loves everyone, but not everyone will be forgiven and saved. The choice is ours. God has done His part. That will never change. But we have to do our part. Change happens with us, not God.

One final thing. Jesus said something confusing when He said, “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth”.

The world loves itself. We are of the world. But we as Christians have had firsthand experience when the world did in fact, hate us. The reason being is that Jesus is a part of us. Two become one. What the world reacts to isn’t us, it is the Jesus inside us. Remove Jesus from our life and the world will love us all along the path to Hell.

Bill Hitchcock

God’s word is the salt. Christians are the salt shaker

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” (Matthew 5:13)

All offerings in the Old Testament were made with salt.

“And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.” (Leviticus 2:13)

“Salt was the opposite to leaven, for it preserved from putrefaction and corruption, and signified the purity and persevering fidelity that were necessary in the worship of God. Every thing was seasoned with it, to signify the purity and perfection that should be extended through every part of the Divine service, and through the hearts and lives of God's worshippers. It was called the salt of the covenant of God, because as salt is incorruptible, so was the covenant made with Abram, Isaac, Jacob, and the patriarchs, relative to the redemption of the world by the incarnation and death of Jesus Christ.” (Adam Clarke).

The Bible mentions a salt covenant (Or a variation there of) several times. Although the term is never specifically defined, it is understood to represent cleansing and purifying, and was used to seal an agreement, and confirm a covenant or a promise.

Salt, although common today, carried great monetary value too. It was called “White Gold” and was used as currency. Roman soldiers were often paid with salt. This payment was called a “salarium” and is where we get the word “salary” from.

What Does Salt Do?

-Salt is a nutrient

-Salt is essential for life

-Salt is a preservative

-Salt enhances texture, flavor and color of food.

-Salt suppresses bitterness

The above shows the effects salt has on food, taste and our physical bodies. But when Jesus said “Ye are the salt of the earth”, he was making a spiritual reference, not a physical one.

We as children of God, as Christians are the salt shaker. God's word is the salt. We are to sprinkle (spread) the salt (word) all over so as to give life (nutrient), enrich lives (enhance) and save souls (preservative/essential for life). The word of God (salt) can remove sin, hate and the devil (bitterness) from everyone.

Salt can also make you thirsty. Hopefully we can create a perpetual thirst for the word in our self and in others.

Lose Its Savor

Can salt lose its “savor”?

Salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl), is stable and will retain its properties. Sodium Chloride is non-reactive in its crystalline form, so no, it cannot lose its flavor. But, salt can be mixed with water and in effect lose its saltiness through dilution.

There is another way salt can lose its saltiness.

“Historically, salt has been obtained from crude sources such as salt marshes, and minerals such as rock salt. This contains the stable sodium chloride plus other components. Sodium chloride is readily water-soluble, so if this crude salt were exposed to condensation or rain water, the sodium chloride could be dissolved and removed, and the salt could in effect lose its saltiness” H/T Ask A Scientist.

Salt can lose its saltiness by dilution or through impurities. The exact same thing holds true with the word of God.

God’s word is perfect, immutable and unchangeable. It is “stable and retains its properties”. But God’s word can be diluted with another gospel, which isn’t a gospel at all. We can inject impurities such as our own thoughts and opinions, wishes and desires and the vain janglings from man’s philosophy and religion.

Any deviation from the stable properties of God’s word will cause it to lose its “savor” and is “good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men”.

God’s word is the salt. We as Christians are the salt shaker.

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Bill Hitchcock

God Gave Earth To The Children Of Men

“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. (Psalm 115:16)

God has given the “children of men”, the earth. God allows the sinner this earthly domain. God will let go and turn loose those that are not His. He permits the sinner to walk, “according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).

Let that sink in. God will let go of the willfully unregenerated, the stiff necked, those who know God but say no to God. At some point in time God will just say, “Fine! Go do and be “according to the course of this world”. God will step aside and let you.

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

“When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened….Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves….For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections….And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Excerpted from Romans 1:21, 24, 26 & 28)

God gave them up and gave them over to Satan and this world. Read the entire passage of Romans 1:21-32.

Because the reprobate refused to hear the calling of God and to see the salvation offered them, spiritually speaking God disabled their ability to hear and see.

“And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:9-10)

“He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” (John 12:40).

The reprobates that God gives up doesn’t necessarily mean they will lead a life of sorry and woe here on earth. On no, it could be quite the opposite. The reprobate could be successful and appear quite happy. They could be that person who seems to be able to get away with everything. The Teflon sinner, the guy in which consequences seem to never stick.

Ever wonder why you can’t get by with sinning? Ever wonder why it seems like if you even thought of doing something wrong that you would still get in trouble? It’s because God won’t allow it. God hasn’t turned you over to this world and “the prince of the power of the air”. God doesn’t want you to sin because sinning leads to death. God wants you alive, well and with Him.

Psalm 73 addresses this situation head on. The Psalmist asks, wonders and then realizes why good things happens to bad people.

“But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men….And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches….Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. (Psalm 73:2-5, 11-12, 17).

The above are just a few select verses from Psalm 73. Read the entire Psalm to receive the benefit of the entire message.

Even King Solomon, the smartest and richest man on earth, wondered as to why good things happen to bad people.

“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 8:11-14)

The elect will be steered towards Him by His call. This calling is the voice in the wilderness that we choose to listen & adhere to and to follow. God has made a highway, a way of holiness (Isaiah 35:8), a narrow path and strait gate (Luke 13:24) for His elect to walk while following His call.

The children of men get the earth. And although there may be many fruits in this garden, it is but for a short period of time. The willfully unrepentant reprobate will not be with God and his earthly pleasures will soon melt under a fervent heat.

Bill Hitchcock

Socialism Is An Abject Failure

Single-payer health-care, Free college, Government-mandated wage, and Universal basic income, these socialist government programs have all been implemented to their fullest extent in countries such as Canada, Finland and the United Kingdom. All of these socialist government programs have failed miserably. Venezuela is presently crushed by socialism and has one of the world’s worst economies.

The latest World Competitiveness Rankings came out about a month ago. Guess what country has the best economy in all the world? It is the United States with its free enterprise, capitalist system of government.  

So why do the Democrats continue to push socialism so hard when it has been proven time and time again to be an abject failure? Is there some emotional contagion, a “socialist virus” that has infected and spread throughout the Democratic Party? It certainly appears as if it has. This “socialist virus” has impaired cognitive, emotional and volitional processes and capabilities.

The theory of socialism has been put into practice time and time again and when the money from capitalism runs out, socialism crumbles and falls.

You have your proof. Why do you keep demanding socialism? What is this emotional and irrational need you have for it? If not caused by some virus, then what is the driving force for wanting something that doesn’t work?

The following article gives a few clear and concise examples of the failure called socialism. Everyone, socialist, communist and capitalist alike really needs to read it.

"Democrats' love of socialism is a losing strategy – but they foolishly follow it anyway"

Bill Hitchcock

There Is No Tomorrow

“For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4).

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8).

This is God expressing time in human terms to help us get a handle on the concept of from everlasting to everlasting. This is one of those times we are not to take the Bible literally.

God is always present. God is always in the present. Time is always now. Understanding and accepting this should put more weight and emphasis on the following: “… now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

One of the great lines from the movie “Rocky III” is when Apollo Creed tells Rocky Balboa, “There is no tomorrow”. He was right. There is only the here and now. Now is the time to do something about your salvation.

Bill Hitchcock

Salvation Goes To The Obedient

“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:8-9).

Two things. 1. Jesus “learned” obedience. 2. He learn it through suffering.

“Obedience” above is rooted in a Greek word meaning “listen to” and “to heed”. Notice that there are two parts to obedience. You hear (comprehend) and you heed (submit).

Jesus had to suffer before He could first hear and then submit to God. This may sound strange to some, sacrilegious or even heretical to others. But Jesus had to have the human experience, as a human. He had to be affected by the world so as to defeat the pain, suffering and death of sin that was in the world.

Suffering removed the blinders of sin. But seeing the truth does not automatically cause one to believe and accept the truth. Faith and adherence in truth is a decision. James teaches us in the second chapter of his book that even the devils believe in God and tremble. But they do not put their faith and obedience in God.  

Being affected by sin and suffering the consequences there of, Jesus Christ became the author of eternal salvation. But there is a qualifier and the fact that Jesus has a qualifier to be saved is something that many will deny. Yes, Jesus is the author, or the cause of salvation. But that cause only affects only, “all them that obey him”.

Too many people have the false notion that since Jesus loves everyone (and He does) and was sent to save everyone (and He was) that everyone is going to be saved. No! The message is clear, the ones who will be saved are, “all them that obey him”.

For some reason a lot of folks have a difficult time understanding that salvation is a joint effort. Jesus has already done His part. That cannot and will not change. Now it is up to us to do our part if we want to be saved.

For a clarity, the verse says that Jesus was “being made perfect”. Jesus did not have to suffer to be perfect. He is God, He is already righteous, pure, true and perfect. “Being made perfect” is reference of completion. His suffering, His crucifixion was the completion of His purpose, hence His final words at the cross of “It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30).

Jesus suffered so as to save us. We have to accept this and be obedient to Him if we want to be saved. Accepting Christ means we will have trouble, trials and tribulations in this world. But don’t let your heart be troubled. Jesus Christ has overcome the world and at this very moment, is preparing a place for you in heaven.

Important Note! Suffering for the sake of suffering is not holy. It is nothing more than pointless suffering. There are those, even religions that believe in self-flagellation and self-mutilation. This is an exercise in futility and is plain wrong. It places the emphasis on works and deeds as a means to salvation.

True suffering is the effect of conflict between righteousness and unrighteousness. Suffering comes from the struggle with sin. This is why Jesus had to defeat the devil on the devils battleground.

Bill Hitchcock

My Doctrine Is Not Mine

“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? ” (John 7:16-19).

1. How much of what we preach and teach actually originates from self? How much of God’s word has been fashioned by our own desires, attitudes, ambitions and understanding? What colored glasses do we wear when reading God’s word?

The truest indication of our knowledge of God will be manifested in our daily lives. Do we “do his will” in due course of our day? Action is the acid test of value. The engine and propellant that drives us to act is our spirit.

2. Where do we put the emphasis? What is the focal point? Beware of the preacher or the Godly person that preaches, “I”. Beware of the road to God that leads through someone else before Jesus.

Too many preachers and people preach, “I know”, “I saw”, I prophesy”, “I dreamt”, “I healed” all the while proclaiming that they are of Christ. These people present them self as having an insight, a knowledge, understanding, and power that you don’t. They attempt humility be proclaiming that these powers and gifts don’t originate with them, but rather have been given them by God. These “I” preachers are bold enough and proud enough to claim possessing Godly gifts, but consider it humility in giving God credit for choosing them as the recipient of these gifts.

People will consider these “I” preachers ordained by God as some “chosen one”. Often times these “I” preachers will go by names such as apostle, bishop or even prophet. Jesus never gave himself a title. His disciples did. His detractors did. But Jesus never went around calling himself by position, so why should anyone else? Who and what you are will be obvious and made manifest by your life.

The epitome of sin is “I”. We have an all-out display of the devil and “I” in the Book of Isaiah.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” (Isaiah 14:12-15)

Jesus asked us to love God and love our neighbor. Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). To edify, uplift and to love others is what Jesus preached. The opposite, then, must be of the devil. Beware of the “I” preachers and teachers.

3. If perfection is the goal, then why kill the perfect? This is what we do when we deny, discount or discredit Moses, the law, the Old Testament, Jesus Christ, or His gospels. Pay close attention to the last sentence in the passage above. Jesus is justifying, verifying, and validating everything to do with Moses and the law. Jesus is justifying, verifying, and validating everything to do with Himself and the gospels.

Nothing is dead or passé with the Lord. Time does not affect God. There is no time with God, only now. What God has proclaimed has no expiration date.

“The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” (Psalm 33:11)

The Bible evolves not, it changes not. God’s word doesn’t suit the day or conform to the person. It’s the other way around.

The Jews, Romans and pagans wanted to kill Jesus and destroy the doctrine of God because they were a mirror to their sin and iniquities. Jesus was the light of truth that shown in every corner, whether it was dark or bright. Nothing has changed. Religions, governments, and sinners still want to kill Jesus and do away with the doctrine of God. Except now both are in our heart. Jesus and the word of God are in our spirit and soul. We are now the target.

Remember Ephesians 6. Put on the whole armor of God. Stand in God so as to repel the fiery darts of Satan. Remember what God told Samuel. It isn’t you that the world hates, it is God that lives inside you.

Our reward and lot is God. Standing in God against this world secures our place with Him

Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know” (John 14:1-4).

Jesus did not say there would be no trouble. Oh no, quite the opposite. Jesus did say let not your heart be troubled. Why? Because that’s where He is and if God be for us, who can be against us?

Bill Hitchcock

Theologian

I once belonged to a church that routinely allowed a church elder to deliver the message. In almost every sermon this particular individual would proclaim, “I’m not a theologian”. I can only guess that this was his attempt at humility.

To hear a Christian say, “I’m not a theologian” bothered me greatly. It still does because my first response is always, “Why not?”

What the church elder thought he was saying was that he was no expert on the subject of God. Unfortunately his self-assessment was spot on. But again I ask, “Why not?” 

The word “Theology” is a compound word. “Theo” is Greek for, “God”.  “Logia” is Greek for “the study of”. A theologian isn’t designating an expert on God. A theologian is someone who studies God. It’s a verb, not necessarily a noun. After all, isn’t that what a Christian is supposed to do? Isn’t that what the Bible is for, to study?

Theology is a process, a never ending, ongoing process. And no, the study of God isn’t restricted to just reading the Bible or books of exegesis. That’s obviously a big part of it and hopefully a major part of our learning experience. Scripture is pure undefiled truth. It should always be THE source and our one point of reference.

Unfortunately, most people get all of their theological knowledge from their preacher. This is never good for it creates followers and adherents of the preacher and not God and His word. How do you know if the preacher is preaching truth if you do not know the truth yourself?

The Bible is very clear. We are to “prove all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). It gives us examples of the congregants checking scriptures to see what the minister preached was true (Acts 17:11).

But too many folks think of a theologian as a title, position or rank; something that has been obtained; an academic or degreed expert. Obviously there are numerous and varied degrees in theology you can get and a degreed person in theology is usually called a theologian.

But a true theologian is simply someone who studies God. They are observe, worship, listen to sermons, have fellowship, witness as well as crack open the Bible and learn.

So I ask all Christians to be a theologian, to daily study and learn of God and His word. I ask you to take to heart Acts 17:11 and check what was preached and taught to see if it is so. I ask you in your studies to omit prior notions and any assumptions and open your mind, will and heart to the word. I also ask that you proclaim your study and your love of God and to share this experience with others.

Bill Hitchcock

The Fear and Hate of Liberalism

Fear and hate. These are the only two things a liberal understands as to why someone does not think and act like them. Fear and hate are the only two motivators of a liberal. Ever see a, “We love so much that we want to help Trump” rally? Ever see Antifa or BLM holding signs that say, “Love Thy Neighbor” or out helping, repairing or building anything??

Have you ever seen Maxine Waters make a speech calling for, “every soul be subject unto the higher powers”? (Romans 13:1)

The only thing a liberal loves is itself, which by the way, is characteristic of the devil himself.

“For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.” Luke 6:32-33).

Loving self and hating others is the epitome of sin and the characteristic of a sinner. That’s liberalism.

A liberal fears and hates diversity. They love uniformity and conformity to their beliefs and standards. This by definition is bigotry, racism and generates countless what is known today as, “phobias”.

This desire for conformity is on full display in their push for socialism and communism. There is no diversity under these regimes, in fact diversity and independent thought are punished.

Fear and hate are easy. They are at the very core of carnal man. Fear and hate do not accept, they do not attempt to understand. Fear and hate steal, kill, and destroy everything in its path.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness defines the freedom and latitude made available to an individual within a civil and functioning society. America has never been about conformity. It has always been about individualism within the parameters of a functioning society. All societies have boundaries which define who the people are and defines the liberty that they have. Our society is designed to propel the individual forward through opportunity and to safeguard that effort from unwelcome influences of private, public, domestic and foreign powers.

With liberalism, wealth is demonized. But I have a question for you. How can you give if you don’t have it yourself? The liberal answer is the government will give it. But where does the government get its money? Under liberalism the wealthy are evil and to be hated so therefore it is justified to overly tax them. In short the wealthy fund liberalism. But this doesn’t make sense. Why not just remove liberalism? Because it’s about power. The power of liberalism is the control of someone else’s money. Liberals control money through taxation. Once the money is in government (liberal) coffers, they then determine where that money goes.

The power of liberalism is the control of someone else’s money and spending it on liberal causes and not spending it where it could possibly advance some other cause. A good example of this is happening in Europe right now. Entire governments are divesting public funds from fossil fuel companies under the guise of fighting the “Climate Crisis”. Pension funds are being diverted not for the benefit of the pensioner, but rather to advance a liberal notion.

Liberalism, socialism, and communism destroy liberty, individualism and opportunity. These regimes destroy the individual.

Liberalism, socialism, and communism must be the ultimate power for adherents to follow. There is no God but government. Liberalism, socialism, and communism must rule with an iron fist and subdue the will of their citizens.

The power of liberalism, socialism, and communism are fear and hate.

Liberalism, socialism, and communism come to power and maintain that power by stealing, killing, and destroying everything in its path.

Man does not naturally gravitate towards anything oppressive. Oppressive governments always come into existence by force and stay in power by force. Man does gravitate towards security. Security is the favorite bait used by liberals to lure people into their control.

Jesus said the great commandment was to establish that there was only one God, to love that God and to love our neighbor as our self. With liberalism, socialism, and communism there is no God but government. It is government we should love, even above self and others.

Liberalism, socialism, and communism are fear, hate and sin exemplified.

Bill Hitchcock

Do Good, Be Good

“Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.” (Psalm 125:4)

It is a matter of being, the doing will follow according to the will of God. Good deeds are empty clouds if not filled with an upright heart and the spirit of God.

Bill Hitchcock

Your Retirement Fund And Climate Change

In Ireland, the Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill passed through parliament. It mandates that all public investments by the state in fossil fuel companies to cease. Currently that investment amount exceeds €300m ($350m) in 150 fossil fuel companies that have at least 20% or more dealings in coal, oil, gas and peat.

Divestment of public funds in fossil fuel companies is happening all over Europe.

“Norway’s huge $1tn sovereign wealth fund has only partially divested from fossil fuels, targeting some coal companies, and is still considering its oil and gas holdings.” H/T The Gaurdian.

According to the “Fossil Free Europe” website, “Fossil fuel companies are driving the climate crisis”. Their purpose is to “chip away at their (fossil fuel companies) power to carry out their immoral business plans”.

So, it is Europe’s opinion that climate crisis (aka global cooling, aka global warming, aka climate change) is caused by immoral fossil fuel companies. Here at least we discover their target, and their real political and social agenda. (Notice social and political agenda have nothing to do with climate). But this is not about that.

My questions are these. What are they going to invest in with all those millions, billions and trillions of dollars that they will no longer invest in fossil fuel companies? Is not the purpose of investing public funds to garner the highest return for the investor? (Notice I didn’t use that dreaded and foul word, “profit”). Have these European countries found a better rate of return in some other industry? Is this investment scheme going to lose money and weaken pensioners retirement funds all because of the global cooling, global warming, climate change and now renamed to climate crisis political/social agenda?

Is this divestment consistent with the point and purpose of investing? Is this in the best interest of the public and their money?

The EU wanted the US to spend billions if not trillions on their climate change agenda. Now European countries are diverting the public’s pension monies away from anything fossil fuel and putting those funds……where? I haven't found a news outlet yet that is reporting where trillions of dollars are being diverted to.

Look out to all of you that let a company invest your hard earned dollars for you. Make sure that they have your pension at best interest and not the left’s political and social agenda.

Bill Hitchcock

Faith Is Evince

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Faith is a substance, a material fact. Faith is rarely thought of as something in a real and tangible sense, but it is.

Substance is transliterated from the compound word “hypostasis”. “Hypo” meaning under and “Stasis” (from “stao”) means to “stand” or “set”.

Examples of stasis:

“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and “setteth” him on a pinnacle of the temple” (Matthew 4:5)

“And Jesus called a little child unto him, and “set” him in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:2).

“And Jesus “stood still”, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?” (Matthew 20:32).

Faith is the support that upholds our hope. Hope in of itself is an unsubstantiated wish or desire. What gives our hope substances is our faith that supports it.

Faith is a steadfast conviction, a trust in God and of His promises to come. In true faith there is no difference in what is and what will be. “Is” and “will be” are all the same. This fits into the timeline and realm of God where everything simply, “is”. There is no past or future with God. There is only now.

“Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.” (Psalm 43:13).

Maybe it would help to understand the concept of now if we stopped thinking of it as a horizontal timeline, but rather stacked up in a vertical fashion. Think of time in terms of everything that ever was or ever will be stacked up on top of the period at the end of this sentence.

“Everything that begins to be or ceases to be does so through motion or change. Since, however, we have shown that God is absolutely immutable, He is eternal, lacking all beginning or end. Again. Those beings alone are measured by time that are moved. For time, as is made clear in Physics IV , is “the number of motion.” But God, as has been proved, is absolutely without motion, and is consequently not measured by time. There is, therefore, no before and after in Him; He does not have being after non-being, nor non-being after being, nor can any succession be found in His being. For none of these characteristics can be understood without time. God, therefore, is without beginning and end, having His whole being at once. In this consists the nature of eternity.” (Thomas Aquinas/Summa Contra Gentiles, Book One, Chapter 15)

Our faith in things hoped for is made manifest in our daily lives by how, “we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). This brings substance to our spiritual condition. This is the evidence of things yet seen.

It is interesting to note that of the 247 times faith is mentioned in the Bible, the Old Testament only mentions it twice. Why do you think that is? Anyone can live by and adhere to a law. But only the just will live by faith. Yes, many in the Old Testament did live by faith as Hebrews 11 mentions. But the New Testament makes clear that our entire religion, so therefore our life, is founded on it and is the way to please God!

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” (Galatians 3:11)

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10:38).

Faith is real and tangible. Faith evinces the existence of God.

I’ll leave you with this about faith, the next verse in Hebrews 11.

“For by it the elders obtained a good report.” (Hebrews 11:2).

Then, as it is today, our religion hangs on our elders. Youth knows not the faith and hope in God. They see no evidence of it, which puts the onus back on us. For faith to be the substance of things hoped for in Christ, we must not only believe (See James 2:19-20), but we most of all must, “be” that faith and hope, which will manifest the substance of that faith and hope.

Bill Hitchcock

Washed, Sanctified and Justified

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Washed

Our sins have been washed by the blood of Jesus. Christ on the cross was a bloody, horrible mess. I have yet to see a picture or movie that accurately depicted the physical condition of Christ as he was brutally mauled and murdered. But as horrifying a sight Christ was to the human eye, it doesn’t compare to how revolting a sight sin is to our Lord. Sin and unrighteousness are so vile that God can have nothing to do with it. God had to send His Son to deal with our disgusting and revolting mess we turned ourselves into. God is nothing but pure and righteous. We, His joy, His children, perverted our self into the most unrighteous, and vile of creatures.

Sanctified

There are two aspects to being sanctified. The first is to be separated from the common and profane. The second is to be designated and dedicated to God. It is imperative to understand the distinction between the two and why one without the other is not an option.

It is not enough that an unclean spirit has gone out of a man and his house being empty, swept, and garnished. If not sanctified and dedicated to God, then the unclean spirit will return with “seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:26).

Spiritually speaking there is no such thing as a vacuum. Either you are sanctified and dedicated to God or you are fodder for the devil. You are either God’s or the devil’s, there is no third option. Good deeds do not make you God’s disciple.

Sanctified comes from the Greek word, “Hagiazo”. It is sometimes transliterated as “Hallowed”. Hagiazo is the word used in the first verse of the Lord’s Prayer.

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed (Hagiazo) be thy name” (Matthew 6:9).

This changes the context from what most folks understand the verse to mean. The name, or who and what God is and represents is sanctified. It is forever separated from the common and profane. It is and always will be holy and righteous.

Justified

We are, “justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God”. We are made just, meaning made righteous by the Holy Ghost for the purpose of, and in the image of, Christ our Lord. Jesus has redeemed us by the Spirit of our God!

The Holy Ghost quickens our spirit. Spiritually speaking, the Holy Ghost opens our eyes to Jesus. Jesus paid the price for our sins at the cross. But, and this is important, this does NOT mean we are justified and saved. Although our eyes are open to Jesus we must still accept Him, His name and what He has done for us. This relationship can be declined and rejected by us. Christ will save us. He won’t reject us or let us go if we accept Him. But, if we say no to Him, Jesus will take us at our word. Jesus isn’t mandatory or automatic. Jesus is a decision and the decision is ours to make and ours alone.

Jesus washed us clean at the cross. We are separated out as holy, away from the vile. Jesus has made us righteous and acceptable to God, who can only have the righteous and holy. All of this, this massive price has been paid. We have been redeemed IF we so choose it. Today I beg of you, Choose life! For why should you die?

Bill Hitchcock

 

The Left, Income Inequality and Socialism

Income inequality is defined as, “…the extent to which income is distributed in an uneven manner among a population” H/T Inequality.org.

Investopedia defines it as, “Income inequality is the unequal distribution of household or individual income across the various participants in an economy.”

Obama called income inequality "the defining issue of our time" in his State of the Union address in 2012.

Income inequality is nothing more than folks earning different salaries. That’s it! This should be expected due to the simple fact that we all have different jobs and professions, have different training and experience levels, as well as different capabilities, talents, drive and ambitions.

Income inequality is NOT a reference to people with the same job, credentials, training and experience but for some reason are paid different salaries.

So, why do you think the left is so offended by something so obvious and natural as different incomes for different jobs and experience levels? Do they really think a burger flipper should be paid the same as a physician? And what do you suppose is the left’s answer to this “problem”?

It’s simple. The left is trying to convince you that socialism is the answer to income inequality.

The left’s supposed offense to income inequality is a tactic to generate envy and anger within the populace. It’s an attempt to rebel rouse and cause folks to rise up in protest against those with higher incomes. The left wants you to believe that income inequality is rooted in inequity and iniquity.

The reality of life is that income and wealth disparities always have and always will exist. It is the result of a natural, free and open economy. Equal opportunity does not produce equal results. It never has and it never will.

The epitome of income inequality is under socialism and communism. There are only two classes of people under these regimes, an upper class of government officials and party elites and then everyone else. Instead of the top 1% determined by a free market and open society, under socialism and communism the top 1% are determined by the might of the government and its party officials.

Socialism is totalitarianism. It is a dictatorship with centralized control, with the citizens subject to complete government authority. If America became socialist it would no longer be the land of the free and home of the brave. America would become the land of the obedient and the home of the enslaved.

Why on earth would anyone want such a government?

First the left must convince the people that income inequality is morally wrong. Second they must deceive the people by saying that socialism is people controlled and not government controlled, whereas the free enterprise system is controlled by a few of the rich in the private sector. The left’s favorite target and group to demonize are the top 1% income earners.

By definition socialism, “owns and controls the means of production and distribution of goods.” This means that the government owns and controls what use to be privately owned and operated. It means the government controls the people and dictates to them. You don’t vote socialism, you are instructed and ruled by it.

Unfortunately, a lot of folks just hear the proposed benefit of socialism. They hear that under socialism they get free college, free health care and a guaranteed income. Here’s the problem. Most folks think these benefits are value added to the current free enterprise system. It isn’t. Under socialism our current way is done away with. Choice and free will are supplanted by government mandates and law.

Quality of service and product are greatly diminished under socialism due to government inefficiency and lack of competition in the market place. As a result, you have no option or recourse when the product or service is subpar. You’re stuck.

What no one seems to think about is where the money come from to pay for all of the free stuff the left is promising socialism has to offer. The left has convinced many, particularly the 30 and under age group, that it is morally, ethically and legally permissible to overly tax the more affluent simply on the grounds that they have more money. The left demonizes the higher income brackets to justify their actions.

In the free enterprise system, the market place determines salaries. Under socialism, the government does. In the free enterprise system, the market place determines price and quality of goods and services. The market place also guarantees satisfaction with those goods and services. Under socialism you are stuck with what you get, when you get it.

Income inequality in the free enterprise open market system is a big Duh-Huh! Of course different professions get paid differently. Of course different qualifications get different salaries.

But the left is trying to convince you that income inequality is bad, based in deception and caused by evil rich people. Their answer is to level the playing field through socialism and make everyone broke and dependent on the government. 

That’s the bottom line to socialism. It is the left’s attempt to gain power and control of the US, you, and me.

Bill Hitchcock

Doing and Being

The difference between “doing” and “being”. There are entire religions built upon the doing. These religions even predicate salvation on “doing” good things. But these religions fail to realize that the devil himself can “do” even the most righteous acts, but still have hell in his heart.

We must be holy, not just act or “do” holy. And when we are holy we cannot sin, for the sins of the holy, the child of God, the regenerated soul are forgiven. Our nature, our character or in a true biblical sense our “conversation”, will produce holy acts and deeds. Holiness will also produce the desire for holiness in all facets of our life.

Jesus Christ died on the cross for the redemption and salvation of the holy. I know, this sounds confusing. But Christ did not die for those who are not His. He died on the cross to save His children because we in our mortal form are unable to save our self from the devil and sin. If we could, then there would have been no need for the crucifixion of Christ. And if Christ had died for the unregenerated as well, then no one would ever go to Hell, and we know this not to be true.

Doing is a by-product of who we are. It should be a manifestation of the spirit.

Bill Hitchcock

Blessed Is The Man

“Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments” (Psalm 112:1).

The word “Blessed” is one of the more misunderstood words in the Bible. Most folks think of being blessed as having the favor of God or being holy, consecrated. But blessed or “esher” in the Old Testament Hebrew means “happiness” (always the plural form of happy). It’s an exclamation of great cheerfulness and contentment.

So in the verse from Psalm above it is saying, “Praise ye the Lord, cheerfulness and contentment to the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments”.

This is nothing more than a proclamation of tremendous joy for God and His ways!

That kind of puts a new twist on it don’t you think? Most folks don’t necessarily associated happiness with fearing God and following His commandments. Usually folks resent both.

Jesus said, “It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5). Maybe if we stopped bucking God and His commandments so much, we to could be “Blessed” with God and by God.

Bill Hitchcock

Whom Say Ye That I Am?

“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-16).

“Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” This is absolutely fascinating! When Jesus says, “Whom do men say”, the word “men” comes from the Greek, “anthrōpos”. It is not gender specific and means all of humankind, or in other words, the world.

Jesus continues his question to Peter with, “…that I the Son of man am?” The term, “Son of man” is Christs’ preferred Messianic title believed to be due to it communicating His lowliness, meekness and humility.

So Jesus, who is identifying Himself as the Messiah, is asking Peter, who does the world believe Him to be?

Peter responds to His question by naming prophets from the Old and New Testaments. It’s significant that Peter names only people from the Bible.

The world has shifted. It has changed. In today’s world the response would be a lot different. The contemporary world identifies Jesus Christ as either a prophet, scholar or imaginary. A minority know Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, the one part of the Holy Triune. 2,000 years later and we still have an uphill battle.

But then Jesus shifts the direction of the question by asking Peter, “But whom say ye that I am?”

A universal belief and opinion is now a personal one. This is most important for many reasons, but mainly because this involves something under our direct purview. Jesus Christ “is”, so it becomes up to us to 1. Accept this as fact, or not and 2. Define the scope of this fact.

The first step, is Jesus Christ real or not. Is probably the least difficult and least controversial. “To be or not to be” doesn’t seem to be much of a question when it comes to the existence of Christ. This is a yes or no proposition.

The real question is not “if” Jesus existed, but rather “when”. This leads us to number 2.

Defining who and what Jesus was/is. If you believe Him to be a scholar or a prophet then your belief in Him is past tense. If your belief in Jesus is divine, then you think of Him in the present tense. And of course, if you think Jesus was imaginary, as some fictional character then there is no tense to Him at all.

Now, for those who think of Jesus in the present and as divine, how do you define Him? This is where we run into trouble and controversy. For the ideas held by believers of Jesus as to who He is and what His purpose is, is without question quite divergent.

Why? Why do so many people believe in the one Christ but have such differences in opinions and belief in Him? “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Could it be that God is not the author of some of their beliefs?

I really don’t want to go off the deep end here (or anywhere for that matter!). But we do know the tactics of the devil. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). We know that “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

So what is our defense? How do we know Jesus? Jesus is the truth, how do we know it is the truth that we know? How do we know who He is and what His purpose is?

There is only one answer to this. The Bible. What does the word of God say? For us to know what the Bible says means we have to read the Bible. This is generally a big stumbling block for most Christians. In fact, a study done a few years ago found that atheist have a better over-all knowledge of scripture than Christians. We have to read and study the Bible continuously. A one and done reading of scripture, while beneficial, doesn’t magically fill us with all things divine.

Your opinion or what you think the Bible says or what you would like for it say matters not. Be forewarned, the Bible will offend you.

Going to church on Sunday is vitally important, but is not a substitute for being in God’s word.

Be careful of the preacher, teacher, Church and religion. All can, have and do, alter the word of God to suit the desires and wishes of man.

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).

Understand this. Anyone who preaches something that is not of or from the Bible is damned to, “the direst of woes”.

All throughout the Bible is the command to, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). This includes proving yourself and your relationship with the word, proving your relationships with others through the word, proving the preacher and theologian strictly by the word, and even proving the word with the word itself.

Jesus Christ asked Peter and asks all of us, “Whom say ye that I am?” This is not asking for an opinion. This is not a quiz testing your knowledge of scripture. The devil himself is an expert on the Bible.

Actually it is less of a question and more reflection and introspection. Who do we think Jesus is and what is His purpose, can you substantiate that belief? I hate to tell you, if all you have are “feelings” or what someone else has told you then you are in line for a lot of trouble. Even love, when it’s without the knowledge of Christ and the righteousness of God can be nothing more than misguided lust.

I will leave you with this. Who Jesus is and what His purpose is, is a perpetual question we need to be asking ourselves. How we respond to those questions is going to change, grow and evolve as we are brought up in Christ. If it doesn’t change, then we’re in trouble, even if we are reading our Bibles daily and attending church whenever the doors are open.

The complacent in Christ experience no change in their life. The complacent tend to become self-righteous. The church of the Laodiceans became complacent. Jesus said, “…thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot” (Revelations 3:15).

Jesus then warned the Laodiceans, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelations 3:16).

It is imperative that we get in and stay in the word of God. Not only is this the key to the revelation of truth, it is critical for our continued growth and eventual eternity in Jesus Christ as our Savior. Those outside the realm of God’s word are open and fair game for Satan himself. Remember Job, who God said was, “Perfect in all of His Ways”. Job was protected by God. The devil could do nothing to Him without God allowing it.

The Apostle Paul instructs the Corinthians to expel a fornicator from the Church and “deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5).

If you are not a child of God, then you are fodder for Satan. Stay in the word so you can stay in Christ.

Bill Hitchcock

Liberty

“And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts” (Psalm 119:45)

As citizens of the United States we walk in liberty because we adhere to a constitution. Laws are made intended to keep us within the scope of that constitution.

In the physical and spiritual domains, we walk in liberty because we adhere to the word of God. God’s laws are intended to keep us within the scope of His word.

Liberty is freedom from sin and its consequences. We free ourselves from sin by adhering to the precepts and principles of our religion, by being, believing and living the word of God. It is impossible to sin while in the word of God. Righteousness and unrighteousness cannot comingle. 

God’s laws are intended to keep us from the act of sinning. They delivers us, “from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21).

God’s law without liberty is death and destruction. God gave us His Son for atonement for when we do sin.

Some confuse liberty with an unleashed, unfettered will. It isn’t. Liberty doesn’t mean you can do whatever you please.

Liberty is the freedom and protection within the parameters of a belief and purpose. Liberty doesn’t constrain, it protects and propels us forward. It is a conduit towards a purpose. The purpose as a citizen in the United States is Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. The purpose as a citizen of Heaven is God.

“The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot” (Psalm 16:5).

Bill Hitchcock

Fellowship In The Gospel

In the Apostle Paul’s opening greeting to the Philippians, Paul thanks God for their, “fellowship in the gospel” (Philippians 1:5).

Imagine that! Being grateful to God for the friendship and comradery with others for the love and commonality of God and His word! That’s what I want. That’s why I write!

Fellowship means communion and participation. But it has a deeper and far greater purpose. Fellowship is a gift that is jointly contributed. This is the gospels of Jesus Christ! This is love!

Bill Hitchcock

Thy Word Above All Thy Name

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Psalm 138:2).

When the Psalmist says that he will “praise thy name”, what he is saying is he praises who God is. The Psalmist is praising the being of God and all of His attributes. The Psalmist specifically names the attributes of love and kindness. Truth is the being of God. The truth of God is the word of God.

But catch ahold of what the Psalmist says next. He is mostly praising God for the fact that He puts His word (truth) above His attributes (love and kindness). God puts the word of God above His love, and kindness.

This is most important to understand in this present day environment of worldly love that takes precedence over everything else. The word of God prevails over everything!

In today’s world, love is a vehicle in which to excuse sin. It is considered love when we are “big enough” or “open minded” or are, “all inclusive” so as to permit sin. The Corinthians thought the same way. The Corinthians felt they were demonstrating a love conquers-all attitude by being open-minded, all-inclusive and big enough when they were proud of an incestuous relationship between a mother and son.

The Apostle Paul writes, “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:2).

Paul writes that the Corinthians were “puffed up”, or proud of their open mindedness and permissiveness. Paul chastises them for not mourning over this horrible sin.

Man’s carnal love above God’s word creates sin. God’s love is a product of God’s word. John repeats in his first epistle that “God is love”. This love is a manifestation of God’s being. This is the exact same love we are to show God and our neighbor. When we accept Jesus Christ and are filled with His word and spirit, His love is manifested through us back to Him and to all others.

God and His word are above everything. All that is true is an attribute and manifestation of the word. God is the word!

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

All good and perfect things come from God. Now listen to this and, to “whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”.

God and His word is truth, immutable, from everlasting to everlasting. No sentiment, sense, will or intellect of man can change that.

Bill Hitchcock

Perfect

“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” (Psalm 138:8)

What do you think it is that the Lord is perfecting in you? What, above all else, “concerneth” you? It is your salvation. Due to His never ending, all fulfilling mercy, God is perfecting each and every one of His children.

“Perfect” comes from the word, “gamar”. It means to “to end, come to an end, complete, cease”.

God is ending the carnal man, the man we created, and He is restoring His creation to its original condition. This is a renovation project. God is perfecting, or ending, the old man and restoring us to the “new man”. Salvation, in that sense, is going back to the future.

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

The word “renewed” in the above verse from Ephesians means to “renovate”. Putting off the old man, the carnal man that we created, and putting on the renewed (renovated) man, the man that was made in the image of God.

Finally, the Psalmist asks God, “forsake not the works of thine own hands”. The Psalmist is speaking about us. We are the work of God’s hands! Please Dear God, in your infinite mercy! Please do not forsake this sinner!

Our salvation is what concerns us most. Without it, we don’t know God. We don’t know truth. We don’t know love. We don’t know the way. We don’t know life.

Bill Hitchcock

Woe To Them

“Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.” (Micah 2:1)

It isn’t so much that evil was thought of. It isn’t even the fact that evil was done. It’s the tipping point, the opportunity where the weight of this message rest upon.

Some folks don’t sin simply because they don’t have opportunity to do so. But when the power is in their hand, they seize upon that opportunity and “practice it”.

We must examine our self, question our self. What would I do if given the opportunity?

We must never put our self in the position of opportunity to sin. But if that gate of sin is wide open, we must know not to proceed through. Some will, because “it is in the power of their hand”.

Some won’t, even though, “it is in the power of their hand”.

God will test and prove us. God will reveal us to our self.

One last thought. Sin expands. Walking through the open gate of sin just leads to broader areas and wider gates of sin.

“For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at” (Matthew 7:13).

Once sin is seized upon and the threshold crossed, “nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do” (Genesis 11:6).

Do not sin simply “because it is in the power of their hand”. The power of sin quickly outgrows its possessor and will consume him.

Bill Hitchcock

The Racist Nation

If America is such a racist nation, why then, did a bunch of highfalutin, European, upper class, 18^th century white men declare that, “all men are created equal”? They had a clean slate. These folks could have written anything they wanted to.

Why did those same white folks abolish slavery?

Why did those same white folks vote a black man into the office of the presidency….twice?

America was founded and built by White, Christian Europeans escaping an oppressive government, a government that was attempting to be both government and religion to its people.

Queen “Bloody” Mary was burning the fledgling Protestants at the stake. The King James Bible is a government Bible, (as the name would suggest), that was published in retaliation to the Geneva Bible. The Geneva Bible was the first study Bible translated into the common man’s language. It’s called the Geneva Bible because the translators had to move to Geneva, Switzerland to translate it so as not be arrested and killed for their actions.

Politics has folks looking through skin tone glasses. Politics thinks in terms of diversity. Politics must segregate people into definable groups. Politics exist only in conflict between people and groups of people. No conflict, no politics, and most importantly, no power for those involved in politics. Conflict resolution is bad for politics. In today’s political environment conflicts are either created or imagined so as to garner favor, wealth and/or power.

Most problems associated with this country are political in nature, pitting one group against another. To survive, politics must separate and categorize people. It promotes that all people in a specific category think and act alike. Individuality does not exist in the world of identity politics. Dominance is gained by demonizing and polarizing a dissimilar group. This permits the now dominant group to control and extract money, power and things from the defeated group.

Rarely are the problems or solutions of this country non-political in nature. Problems are created and then perpetuated to the benefit of one political group over another.

God thinks in terms of people, not politics. God thinks in terms of unity, a collective of one. God promotes love and forgiveness. God wants us to uplift and edify each other and to place others above self.

This is the exact opposite of the goals and purpose of politics.

Jesus’s purpose was unity.

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:21-23).

It’s past time for everyone to get down from their political high horse and get down on their spiritual knees in obedience to God. Politics is of man and will have a man’s goal and purpose. A child of God has no politics, only the precepts and principles of the one true God.

Bill Hitchcock

False Christs and False Prophets

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24).

“If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” Guess what? It isn’t possible for the elect, God’s chosen to be so deceived. No man can snatch away God’s very own. 

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand” (John 10:28-29).

“Christians may be sometimes led far astray; they may be in doubt about some great doctrines of religion; they may be perplexed by the cavils and cunning craftiness of those who do not love the truth, but they cannot be entirely deceived and seduced from the Saviour.” (Adam Clarke).

We, as children of God, are to be Christ like.  Some believe that this means that a true child of God must also display supernatural powers like Christ. Many are keen to speak in tongues, lay hands, and prophesy. Those weak in the Lord or struggling with sin are apt to reach out towards those who display some sort of supernatural ability. The devil knows this and will prey on those very souls.

So what are we to do? God certainly can work in miraculous ways.

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

“And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

A true child of God will never deviate from the word of God. If some “prophet” preaches another word, no matter how great the miracles they perform, they are to be avoided and banished.

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9).

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

A great man of God is not judged by his miracles. He is judged by his obedience to, and faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Bill Hitchcock

To Dissolve The Political Bands And Reunite With God

“…to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them…” (Excerpt from Declaration of Independence)

It wasn’t so much about dissolving ties with Britain as it was about dissolving ties with man’s oppressive government and reuniting under the grace and liberty of the government of God.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

America is not the melting pot for immigrants. Geo-political immigration is not the common denominator of this country. Immigration and rebellion are not its foundation. America is the assembly of those under God. America is home to any and all who worship the one true God. That’s why we are indivisible, just and offer this opportunity to all who adhere to the same thing.

Think about it for a moment. How silly and perverse is it to think that through diversity we become united! Cohesiveness comes through commonality and the one common thread to America has been God. (I use the past tense of “has been” and not the present tense “is” with profound sadness)

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”

Equal, not diverse. What makes us equal? Is it race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, politics, or age? No, none of that. America was birthed with the common knowledge, belief and obedience to the one true God.

“….endowed by their Creator” means we have been blessed by God. But blessed with what? $15/hour minimum wage jobs, free health care and abortions on demand?

No, we have been blessed by God, “with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

“Unalienable Rights” means we can’t be separated from these rights. How is this possible because no government can legislate them into being? But God can.

“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33).

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them” (Hebrews 10:16)

“…the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God” have been instilled in our hearts (spirit) by God. We can’t be separated from them.

There will be some that kick and holler over the fact that God is the reason for America. But I ask the intelligentsia to study Britain, the church and the crown for the centuries leading up to America. It becomes quite clear what their purpose and motivation was.

Bill Hitchcock