Evil Pursueth Sinners

“Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.” (Proverbs 13:21)

“You’re so judgmental!”

“Don’t judge me!”

“Who do you think you are?”

It’s important to understand not only the what, but the why. If someone is pointing out your errors (the what), you must understand the “why”, why are they are doing it. When a parent points out the errant ways of a child (the what) it is for the child’s personal growth, protection and edification. But that’s not the why. The why is because they love you.

God will point out the errant ways of His children. This usually occurs in two steps. First comes loss and/or adversity, then pain. This is where it stays here for the unregenerated soul. This person never seems to draw the connection between cause and effect. Yes, evil pursueth sinners. You suffer the consequences and reap the benefits of the environment in which you choose to live, breath and have your being. Just like it gets cold in Alaska and hot in Africa, certain conditions are conducive to promote sin and in other environments, righteousness.

Be it in this life or the next, there is a consequence to our actions and our lifestyle. The child of God will also experience loss, adversity and pain. Everyone sins because it is the nature of fallen man to sin. But for God’s chosen, their eyes are opened to both sin and salvation through Jesus Christ. What was punishment for the sinner is chastisement for the saint. The same thing happened to both saint and sinner, just the intent and purpose of the adversity was different as well as their reaction to it.

“For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” (Proverbs 3:12)

“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Hebrews 12:6)

The eyes of the saint are opened. But not for the sinner. Or quite possibly the sinner’s eyes have been opened, but God and His righteousness are refused by the sinner due to their hardened heart, rebellious spirit and subsequent self-will. These are the foundation of pride.

“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom” (Proverbs 13:10).

“Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” (Proverbs 13:13).

And by the way, Jesus did not say, “Judge not”. The complete sentence is, “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). But that isn’t His entire message. It is part of an over-all warning by Jesus that if you judge someone, then you will be judged by the same standard in which you judged by. In short, we need to make sure our house is clean before we go inspecting someone else’s home.

“My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” (Proverbs 3:11-12).

Jesus repeats this message in Revelations.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Revelation 3:19)

Jesus tells us that, “It is impossible but that offences will come” and then proceeds to say that if a brother sins against us that we are to “rebuke him”. (Luke 17:3-4)

It is the responsibility of a Christian to “judge” a brother. It would otherwise be a grievance sin to idly sit by and allow a brother or sister in Christ to sin themselves to Hell when we can put a stop it and save them from self-destruction.

Christian judgment is pointing out sin. It is a course correction to get them back on the path of righteousness. Judgment is not pointing out someone’s deficiencies to put them down and lift yourself up. And judgment is not according to our standards, but rather God’s standard.

When Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went about setting judges throughout the land to judge people and their causes, Jehoshaphat told them, “Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.” (2 Chronicles 19:6)

Evil pursues sinners. We don’t want that. God doesn’t want that. We all want the sinner to repent and live. Sometimes a Christian must bring sin to the attention of folks. It is done in the sight of God, in the word of God, out of love, in an attempt to save someone from Hell. To do it any other way for any other purpose would be a sin.

Bill Hitchcock

Justice Has Been Redefined

The results of the President Trump/Russian Collusion investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller is the latest example of just how justice no longer means what it used to, or what it is supposed to. In today’s world, justice means getting the result you want, regardless of fact, or anything for that matter.

Justice, in the social justice, politically correct world we live in has nothing to do with what is just and right, and everything to do with satisfying a lust and desire. A person or group want a specific outcome. Anything but that outcome will be deemed unjust.

Legal recourse is usually not an option because the just decision was arrived via a just process. So, the unjust group who desire an injustice will attempt to discount and discredit the process and the people involved in it. The unjust group will try to take matters into their own hands. They usually promote and advocate violence and the threat of violence. Accusations of bigotry, racism, and what not runs rampant.

The Russian collusion decision is just the latest example of the Left redefining what justice means.

But here’s something to keep in mind.

In the Old Testament (OT) justice is defined as righteousness. Justice in the OT is almost always associated with process, or judgment. Justice is blind to the "who" or "what". Its focus is on the "how" of the process of judgment. Something is just when righteousness prevails.

In the New Testament, you won’t find the word justice anywhere! Why? Because Jesus Christ came with grace and mercy.

To all the social justice warriors that are ready to storm the castle over the Robert Mueller decision, you might want to contemplate true justice. It will lead you to righteousness, not lust and desire. The final destination will bring you to grace and mercy.

Bill Hitchcock

The List In Priority

When the Bible lists things, the list is almost assuredly in order of priority and importance. See if you agree with me in the following passage. Also notice the cyclical nature of love.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

With love, does not joy and peace follow? Love cannot exist in turmoil and bitterness, only in joy and peace.

Are not longsuffering, gentleness, and goodness the prerequisites for peace and the product of it as well?

Does not faith in God require us to be meek and to temper the emotions? We must bend to God’s will, not the other way around. Faith in God requires meekness and temperance of our will.

All of these attributes from the Holy Spirit are the result of love. And as Paul said, “against such there is no law”.

Wait, what? No law?

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:10) and “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Galatians 5:14)

There is no law against any of these attributes of the Holy Spirit because they all come from love. And as such, the law need not grace us with its presence for it has no power over us or reason to be. 

Where there is God’s love there is no sin.

Bill Hitchcock

A Question About Abortion Supporters

I have a question about those who actively support abortion. If someone believes an abortion is moral, ethical and legal and they have a baby they want to abort, then there is at least some reasoning behind their active support of the abortion causes. It’s personal. It relates directly to them, so they participate in events, in social media and what not.

It is all the other people I am trying to figure out. Why would anyone actively support terminating a pregnancy, even if you don’t think it is killing a baby, if there is no direct impact on them? Who actively supports any medical procedure when it has no bearing or relevance to themselves? Especially a medical procedure as controversial as abortion?

I have an autoimmune disease. I speak out about that. If I wasn’t sick with it, I wouldn’t.

So why are so many actively supporting, demanding the expansion thereof, and pushing for increased government funding of a medical procedure, something as morally and ethically polemical and contentious as abortion, but has no relevance to that individual?

Why?

Bill Hitchcock

To Be Chosen

When Jesus and His disciples arrived at Caesarea, Jesus asked them all, “whom say ye that I am?” Peter responded with Christ, the son of the living God.

Jesus then said to Peter, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17).

The revelation of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is appointed and designated specifically and exclusively for God’s chosen people. It is done at a time and place of the Lord’s choosing. Nature does not reveal Christ to us, God does.

Intellect does not reveal God to us. We don’t, “figure it out” on our own.

No quality or merit causes the revelation. There is no deed, nor preparation, qualifications, or level of holiness and righteousness that must be attained before being chosen.

The election by God of His people is strictly by the grace of God. He opens our eyes to Him. Once our eyes (the window to the soul) have been opened, we are then able to see God in other things. We discover the joy and wonder of the symphony God conducts in nature, something we were deaf to prior to our quickening.

God awakens us to Him at different points in our lives. Some at a young age, some when they are old. Jesus explains this in the parable of the vineyard and the workers who were all paid the same penny although each worked a different number of hours.

Jesus said, “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen” (Matthew 20:16).

Many are called but few are chosen. This does not mean that the elect are picked out of a crowd. There is no preferred quality, merit, or deed that qualifies us. Our election occurred before time began.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Ephesians 1:3-5)

Which adds another element. Almost everyone will hear the gospel message, but only a few will respond. Why? Because God only motivates His chosen, the ones chosen before the foundation of the world to respond to His call.

Do you think this is unfair?

“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (Romans 9:14-15)

Everything is a creation of God. Can He not do as He pleases with what is His? God is the potter. We are the clay. God can do as He wishes with the clay for He created the clay in which He forms His desire.

“Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.” (Psalm 135:6).

What God can never do is unrighteousness, God cannot, "not be”, nor  can God vary in any form or fashion.

The call goes out to all the world. But Jesus said that the, “people's heart is waxed gross (hardened and stupid), and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Matthew 13:15).

The 19^th century theologian Albert Barnes used a choice and most appropriate word to describe the people who’s heart had waxed gross and choose to stop their ears to God’s call.  The word was "Obdurate". It means to be, “stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing” (Merriam Webster). God obliges the wish of an unrepentant and obdurate sinner. This means that not only will God allow their behavior but makes it spiritually binding.

It is really important to understand that the sinner is so by choice. This is an act of their free will. God obliges the obdurate will, reluctantly so, for He would have everyone to repent and live! See Ezekiel Chapter 18.

David told his son Solomon that the, “Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.” (1 Chronicles 28:9-10).

God knows the heart. He also knows a stony heart, a heart that won’t allow the word in to take root and grow. Read the parable of the sower in Matthew Chapter 13.

Peter said, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

The chosen are this royal priesthood, the chosen. The term a, “peculiar people” doesn’t mean a strange people, but rather, “a thing acquired” by God, a “possession” (Vine’s).

Election was by God’s grace and the counsel of His own will. Why? So that we would “be to the praise of His glory”. (Ephesians 1:12)

We are called according to His purpose. As such, we know that being God’s chosen that all things, both good and bad that occur during this life, will work together for our good, to the elect that love God (Romans 8:28).

Bill Hitchcock

The Words That I Speak

“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (John 10:11)

Well, that certainly is cause for a check up from the neck up. What is coming out of our mouth? Can we go grab a Bible and source our words? No, I’m not restricting this to quoting Bible verses, but I’m also including principle, precept, and doctrine that the Bible expounds upon.

Some of the most ignorant Christians out there are full of memory verses, able to quote most any scripture at a drop of the hat. But what does it mean? How do we apply it? In short, What are you saying and why?

Jesus made it a point to let everyone know that what He says does not originate with Him. It all comes from God the Father. Can we make the same claim?

Man is crippled, tainted and influenced by sin. The problem is, is that man either doesn’t know this or doesn’t understand the extent of the rule sin has on him. We must be doubly sure that “the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself”. This is more difficult than it may seem. The root cause for man’s fall was pride. The problems created by pride have never changed nor gone away. Symptoms or characteristics of pride are not always obvious and not always what we think of as pride. 

Arrogance is just one of many diverse symptoms of this deadly sin.

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth wrote a great blog entitled, “41 Evidences Of Pride”. Yes, she was able to discern, define, and list out 41 different and unique examples of pride.

To defeat pride and the influences of sin, we must not only be able to say, but able to source our words. We don’t have to have everything memorized, just able to pick up a Bible and show the origination of what we said, be it in word or in concept.

But notice what Jesus says. He says, “the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” Jesus transitions words through God to works.

Jesus expands upon this in the next verse.

“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.” (John 10:11).

You know the old saying to, “Practice what you preach”? Do we? Jesus lived what He spoke of. Do we? Jesus was filled with God. God was in Jesus and Jesus was in God. Are we in the same type of relationship?

God fills Jesus, which in turn, fills His words and is cause for His actions.

Words are multi-dimensional. They are spirit laden. To give an idea of the infinite width, length, depth, and power of God’s word, John used “word” to describe Jesus Christ. When a name designation was to be given to our Savior, John used “Word”.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:1-5).

Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

Interestingly enough, the word spirit in both Hebrew and Greek also means breath. So, the Spirit of Christ was literally in the breath of Christ. For example, after His crucifixion but before His ascension, Jesus met with His disciples and He, “breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22).

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ is in His children. The Spirit of Christ within us motivates and encourages us to live, move and to have our very being in Him.

The Spirit of Christ is also in His word. God’s spirit filled word will accomplish what it is designed and intended to accomplish.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

Now imagine the power of a Christ filled person that is living and speaking the Christ filled word. Mountains move, seas part, the devil defeated and the return and reunion of a lost soul back to God and His Kingdom! The same Spirit of God that “moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2) at creation, will beckon you back home at the end, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:17, 21).

Bill Hitchcock

Unquantifiable Faith

Faith is not derived through natural means. The evangelist said that it is, “evidence of things not seen”. We can only see the effects of faith, but not the cause for it.

Faith is supernatural so therefore imbued with supernatural capabilities. This means you cannot quantify the supernatural, nor limit its results. Proof of this is when Jesus said, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you”.

Jesus had to express the power and capabilities of faith metaphorically not only so man could grasp the concept, but also because faith cannot be defined by any singular means or act. We can show examples of faith, but since there are no boundaries to faith it is impossible to define it through any one act.

Faith surpasses the natural knowledge of man.  It requires the intervening inspiration of God.

“It is a manifest work of divine inspiration that, spurning visible things, men should seek only what is invisible” (Thomas Aquinas).

Because faith cannot be substantiated by natural means is no cause to dismiss it. It is important to remember that only the unrighteous and untrue opposes the righteous and true.

Man’s inability to comprehend should not be the cause for opposition. If we can’t determine the cause of faith then we should judge faith by its effects. That’s what Jesus asked us to do.

“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.” (John 10:11) 

“If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.” (John 10:37-38)

If they didn’t believe Jesus, then they should believe the works that He does. In other words, judge the tree by the fruit it produces. Faith is no different. If you can’t believe in faith, then at least accept its effects, the results of faith as validation of faith.

“Now, the knowledge of the principles that are known to us naturally has been implanted in us by God; for God is the Author of our nature. These principles, therefore, are also contained by the divine Wisdom. Hence, whatever is opposed to them is opposed to the divine Wisdom, and, therefore, cannot come from God. That which we hold by faith as divinely revealed, therefore, cannot be contrary to our natural knowledge” – Thomas Aquinas.

Faith is a gift from God. Faith then becomes as natural as the air we breathe to a child of God. Even our faith in God was given to us by Him.

Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for, “he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

We must believe that God is (cause) and that God is the rewarder (effect) of them that diligently seek him.

As the evangelist said, “the time would fail me” (Hebrews 11:32) if I attempted to give all of the examples of what the faith of God in us has done already

.

The unquantifiable faith. It is a gift from God to His children, capable of moving mountains.

Bill Hitchcock

Singularity with the Cosmos

Again, I ask those who aren’t religious but confess and profess being “spiritual”, to what spirit are you being spiritual with? What spirit are you nuzzling up to and having a relationship with? You do realize that the devil can appear as an angel of light (truth and knowledge) and that Satan’s workers of inequity can present themselves as ministers of righteousness, don’t you?

Who better to fall victim to the false than someone nowhere close to the truth?

“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 11:14-15)

Often those claiming to be spiritual claim a relationship and singularity with the cosmos. They claim they are, “One with the universe”. This is extremely shortsighted in that their belief system and capacity to think ends with a composite, something material, finite and made.

God is unoriginated. He is the first cause and essential cause of everything. God is not a composite but the composer. His divine being is his essence and nature. God is the creator of all creations. The spiritual person is in love with one of God’s creations. They are duped by the devil by its size, scope, and magnitude. The spiritual person is limited in their thinking. They can only think of space, time, and matter in the finite. The spiritual person believes in cause and effect, but only when cause is random chance without purpose or premeditation. Their faith and belief system are based in vacuous and uninspired accidents.

The feeling of awe and wonder over the universe is being interpreted to be a spiritual feeling. Please note the frequent use of the word “feeling”, for this is what the spiritual person experiences, a feeling and nothing more.

Feelings are a great tool of the devil. He uses the feelings of the unprotected unregenerate to accomplish his goals.

Do the children of God feel? Of course they do! But God’s children are not guided by feelings. They are guided by truth and righteousness. The reprobate is guided by feelings. To discern and weigh feeling against truth is the role of God’s judgment and is why a Christian cherishes His judgment so much. It separates the tare from the good wheat. Truth, righteousness and judgment are what saves our lives from damnation. Feelings are a one way ticket to Hell.

And for further clarification about feelings. By grace, God will allow the intercession of His Holy Spirit with the spirit of His elect.  The unction it creates and the revelation of truth will urge, inspire and encourage us towards God’s will and truth. This expression and motivation of God’s intent for us can be called a “feeling” due to the strong stirring it creates within.

The strength of spiritualism is in the blindness it creates. A spiritualist sees the complex but not the simple. God is the epitome of simple for nothing has been or can be added to, nor subtracted from Him.

Thomas Aquinas said, “In thinking of divine things, men were made victims of their imagination” (Summa Contra Gentiles 1:20:37)

Everything hates a vacuum. A void will always be filled. Where God isn’t, the devil is. What man does not know or understand will be filled with his imagination and speculation. The devil can do nothing with the truth, he can do plenty with imagination.

God is by faith, but so is spiritualism.  Faith is a choice, therefore an act of the will. Those who are spiritual but not of God have done so as either an act of rebellion to God or through ignorance. It’s our responsibility to make everyone aware of the good news of Jesus Christ. It is out of our hands once the clarion call for salvation has been made. It becomes their choice as to what to do next.

Worship requires three things. First and foremost, it requires God as the object of the worship. Anything else is blasphemous idol worship. Jesus Christ explains the next two things needed in His encounter with the woman at the well.

Jesus said, “…the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). 

God is by faith, but so is spiritualism.  Faith is a choice, therefore an act of the will. Those who are spiritual but not of God have done so as either an act of rebellion to God or through ignorance. It’s our responsibility to make everyone aware of the good news of Jesus Christ. It is out of our hands once the clarion call for salvation has been made. It becomes their choice as to what to do next. 

Worship requires three things. First and foremost, it requires God as the object of the worship. Anything else is blasphemous idol worship. Jesus Christ explains the next two things needed in His encounter with the woman at the well.

Jesus said, “…the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). 

Jesus makes clear that: 

1. God is a spirit. 

2. People must worship God in the spirit

So far, all of this is consistent with those that are spiritually one with the universe. But here’s where the problem begins. 

The universe worshiper recognizes that there is some mystical, unknown essence of the universe and as such, worship it. God is not only looking for those to worship Him in spirit, but they must worship Him in truth as well. This is where the spiritual universe lovers fail. It’s the right road, just the wrong destination. 

We must worship God in spirit and in truth. Jesus Christ is the truth. We must be in Christ and in the spirit to truly worship God the Father.

The Greek root word for true is “Alethes”. It not only means true, but means opposed to what is fictitious, counterfeit, and imaginary. It contrasts realities with their semblances. (Thayer's Greek Lexicon)

Those who are spiritual with the universe as their deity are worshiping a counterfeit God. This is in direct opposition to what Jesus taught us. They are worshipping the universe, a creation of God and not God the Creator.

Bill Hitchcock

The Lord Is Right

“For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” (Psalm 33:4-5)

No wonder the world hates God. He is always right. Everything He does is done without falsity or deceit. And what does God love? Righteousness and judgment. I always think of that when I hear someone trying to condemn judgment or quote the first two words of Matthew 7 (Judge not).

True judgment is a good thing. It is for the benefit of the child of God.

“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.” (Proverbs 9:8)

The reprobate lives a miserable life because everywhere they go, they see the earth “full of the 

goodness of the Lord”. They see a world that is full of what they hate. The sinner knows God and His works are right, and good, and the truth.

The truth stands out to the reprobate because it is not only opposite them but opposes them as well. The truth shines light on what is imperfect, defective, frail, and uncertain. This is a mirror to the sinner, and they hate it. It infuriates the unregenerate.

What confuses many is that truth, righteousness and judgment aren’t necessarily meant to condemn, but to save.

“Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” (Zechariah 7:9-10)

The word of the Lord is right; and all of His works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment. Most of all He loves. God is affording us every opportunity to save our self.

Bill Hitchcock

Foolishness of a Man

“The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.” (Proverbs 19:3)

Augustine gives a good sense of the verse in his book, “A Treatise on Grace and Free Will” when he writes, “The foolishness of man perverted his ways, yet he blames God in his heart.”

Anything foolish, of course is not of God and certainly can “pervert” our thought, beliefs and doings. Not taking responsibility for your actions is a true sign of selfishness. Being mad at someone for not being to have your way is a true sign of immaturity. Both selfishness and immaturity are rooted in pride.

Pride is a spiritual problem. “Heart” in this verse from Proverbs is a reference to the inner man, the soul, the seat of man’s will. Anger towards God from here is none other than rebellion. This is the devil trying to butt heads with the Lord. This is a short journey to self-destruction.

Foolishness and anger are a choice of will. Our prayers are a choice of our will. So let’s pray that the cause of an ill will can come under the influence of the Holy Spirit and repent. Their hope may just start with our prayers.

Bill Hitchcock

Manifestation of the Truth

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:2)

A Few Thoughts:

The manifestation is the bringing to light, making manifest the absolute truth. There is no subjective rendering or interpretation of this truth. This truth is derived from the Greek, “Alethes”, and it simply, “is”. As is anything of God, it is a constant and immutable. Alethes is unaffected by any outside influence, thought or public opinion. Truth affects but cannot be affected.

“Commending ourselves” is an interesting concept. It literally means to place or band together. So, Paul is telling the Corinthians that they have had no part in dishonesty, craftiness, or deceitfulness, but by the evident truth of God have joined themselves to every man’s conscience.

Vine’s has a wonderful and accurate interpretation of the Greek “Syneidesis” transliterated as “conscience”. They define it as the, “faculty by which we apprehend the will of God, as that which is designed to govern our lives” (Vines).

You can see why Paul wanted to make clear that no works of the devil were involved with this. These men of God are bringing the immutable truth of God to the minds and will of every man. This is the last thing the devil would ever want to happen. And what an awesome privilege God has bestowed upon all of His elect. This is “commending ourselves” is what Jesus meant when He left us with the “Great Command”

“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)

The final stamp of assurance Paul offers the Corinthians is when he said what they do is, “in the sight of God”. This should be an ever-present thought for us all. Yes, we all know that everything is in the sight of God, but events of the moment tend to distract us from this reality. Distraction and taking our eyes off the prize of Jesus. It’s the devil’s best tool in his tool kit.

We are to make manifest the truth. Our responsibility is to, through fellowship and joining of mind and spirit, bring this truth to our fellow man. We don’t just tell or teach, we make it personal. We do this with God as our audience.

Bill Hitchcock

The God of Hope

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13).

Just kind of stop and think about this for a moment. God is the God of hope, which means hope does not originate with us. Hope originates with Him; therefore, hope is a gift of grace to us and for us from God. There is no hope if there is no God.

God, via the Holy Ghost fills us with joy, peace, and the ability to believe so that we can be abundantly filled in hope. The building blocks, the “secret sauce” as it were to hope are joy, peace and belief. These things are the effects of hope. These benefits would more than suffice and would be due cause to hope if they were all there was to hope.

But our hope is also the cause which produces another effect. To have hope in God means we are in a relationship with God. There is no hope without relationship. Hope is interactive, and made possible by the Holy Ghost when it mingles with our spirit.

God is perfect and righteous. We are neither. God cannot intermingle with the unholy and unrighteous. But Jesus the mediator and His Holy Ghost can. You can’t get more personal than Christ on the cross or the Holy Spirit interceding with our spirit. This what God does for us.

Our hope is in God and in the promise of God. Hope is the first step into faith, which is the foundation of everything.

Bill Hitchcock

Nine Years Later

Below is a Facebook post. It is from 9 years ago today. I first fell ill with psoriatic arthritis about 14-15 years ago. Then “POOF”, all of a sudden, all healed 4-5 years later. As you can see in the post that I started running again. I was determined to enter in a marathon. A marathon is 26.2 miles long and although I had done 32 miles in a single run, it was never in a sanctioned race. I wanted the distance to be “official”.

My running partner was my dog Bonzo. About a year or so into my healing we got up to 15 miles a day. We would run in the 3AM-5AM time period. It was pure joy.

Then one day while on a run, I felt what I thought were the signs of overstrain from overtraining. Then the skin lesions appeared all over my body. Refusing the reality of what was happening, Bonzo and I took off on a 10-mile run. It was a scenic route that took us down Evans Street to the eastern end of the Morehead City waterfront and back.

In runners terms, the run turned into a “death march”, except worse. It felt like all the blood had been drained out of my body. Every joint felt like the bone was grinding against bone. But I kept pushing it. I had to because I was in real trouble. I’m miles from home, it’s approximately 4AM, no phone and arthritis had made a crash landing on my body. I simply cannot describe the physical pain. It took me about 3 hours to cover 2 miles, something that would normally have taken me 15 minutes.

The psoriatic arthritis effects all of my joints including the spine, but it also affects the ligaments and tendons too. Why was it back? I suffered with it for several years. I credited God for taking it away. Now psoriatic arthritis, with its lesions and pain were back in full force. Why?

It’s really easy to think like how some Christians do and believe that bad people who do bad things get punished while good people who do good things get rewarded. Imagine the mental Hell I would have put myself through if after admitting God had healed me, only to have the disease return in full force.

One time in church I was upfront with the Pastor when he said that my illness was because I was a sinner. Yeah, that was an interesting hobble back to the pew.

Jesus dispelled the notion that sin and sinners are so instantly punished by God.

Jesus gave the example of when Pilate had murdered some Galilaeans during a ritual ceremony. The Galilaeans, who were known to be wicked, were murdered and had their blood mingled with that of the sacrificial blood. Jesus said, “Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans because they suffered such things?” (Luke 13:2)

Jesus then goes on to tell of a tower in Siloam that fell over and killed 18 people. Again Jesus asks, “Think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?” (Luke 13:4).

To both questions, Jesus answered, “I tell you, Nay”.

There is not necessarily a direct correlation between sin, sinners and immediate punishment or with the saints, good deeds and immediate reward. God sometimes allows sinners to prosper. Sometimes God allows the most saintly among us to suffer. Why? We don’t always know for sure. I do know that God always does what is best for His chosen. Sometimes we shouldn’t focus too much on the individual as we should the entire situation.

God called Job perfect in all of his ways and yet permitted the devil to rob Job of his wealth, health and family. Three of Job’s dearest friends spent the majority of the Book of Job trying to figure out what great sin Job had done to warrant such a punishment from God. But he hadn’t sinned. God described Job as, “None like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil”. This is who God, “punished”.

Think about this. If you didn’t know the backstory, imagine how terrible you would think it would be to be the Son of God? He was crucified!

The Psalmist had similar fears and concerns. How and why do the wicked prosper?

“Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.” (Psalm 94:3-7)

The Psalmist wonders if God even sees all of the sins that the sinners are getting by with.

“He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?” (Psalm 94:9-10)

As often is the case, we become envious of those wicked people who seem to be able to get by with all of their dirty deeds and even tempt our self with joining them in their nefarious doings.

“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.” (73:2-5)

Does any of this sound familiar? We see bad people getting by with bad things and wonder, “What is the point? If sinners get by with everything, why shouldn’t I do the same?”

And be honest, have we not all been on our righteous high horse and condemned some as sinners because of their misfortunes or praised others as saints for their prosperity?

Everything God does is right, righteous and for the benefit for the elect.

“So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee” (Psalm 73:22-25)

Keep this in mind, the sin of another has no bearing on you. The sin of another is not a permission slip or an open invitation. Do not allow the sins of another to be a temptation for you to sin. Temptation should be a big red flag for it comes from the devil, not of God.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:13-15)

Sometimes God will use the reprobate, the never to be born again as a teaching tool for His elect. The above is a perfect example. We see a sinner sinning. What do we do? Participate? Heaven forbid! Do we see the same sin within us? Do we understand that it is a sin and why? Teaching tool! Do we repent of that notion? Lesson learned.

Pharaoh is a perfect example of a never to be born again being used by God for the benefit of His elect.

“For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” (Romans 9:17-18).

God has mercy on whom He will have mercy and does not show this mercy to everyone. Paul tells the Romans something that is difficult for some to understand and accept.

“So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Romans 9:16).

God’s chosen, His elect, His children are by God’s mercy. We can not do anything to cause His acceptance. We can’t wish it or will it. Rightfully so, we are all sinners condemned to death. Every single one of us. But only through God’s grace and mercy is salvation possible.

Two things we must know about God. We must maintain absolute faith in God at all times. We also have to understand that we can’t understand everything about God, who He is and what He does.

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:30)

Remember when Jesus was dispelling the idea the Galilaeans and the victims of the falling tower were great sinners? Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay”.

That was the first half of His statement. In the second half Jesus said, ”except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Unless we all repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior then the end result will be the same for all of us. Jesus was speaking spiritually and eternally. We must always be long term thinkers and never get caught up in what amounts to the pettiness of the here and now.

Why did God remove my illness only to return it in full force a year or so later? Why did I suffer for 4-5 years, get healed, and then get sick again going on now some 8-9 years? Have I done something? Have I not stopped or not started something?

I have no clue.

Have I prayed, believed, had faith, repented, loved, befriended, helped, worshipped, studied, tithed, attended church, preached, listened, had fellowship, praised God, witnessed, testified, taken communion, helped the homeless, elderly and the poor, washed the feet of a brother, donated, fed, and participated in every church function?

Yes.

Have I lost faith?

Never, which is an interesting topic. Without a doubt, the number one comment from fellow Christians to me in regards to my illness is, “Don’t lose faith”. That is a totally irrational statement. Why would I willfully lose the most powerful force there is, my faith? My faith, my salvation, why would anyone think I would lose that?

I refuse to get caught up in what amounts to the pettiness of the here and now. My faith in God is not dependent upon goodies from God. My faith is in God and in the knowledge that everything He does is right, righteous and for the benefit of His elect. I do not have to understand, I just have to have faith.

I’m in pain, a lot of physical pain. Over time, physical pain generates psychological pain and mental anguish. But all of these things are separate from faith.

If faith is believed to be a magic pill. If God is Dr. Feel Good. If your belief is that saints are illness and pain-free, have lots of money, a new car and a big house, then maybe what you have isn’t faith nor God.

Conversely, if you believe it is Godly to be poor, suffering and destitute then I beg to differ. Those things in of themselves are neither holy nor righteous. But you say, “Jesus never had lots of money and a big house”. Again I repeat never, “get caught up in what amounts to the pettiness of the here and now”.

Jesus was the Son of God. His home is heaven, sitting beside God. That’s exactly what Jesus tried to communicate to everyone here on earth. We are all nothing more than pilgrims, travelers, and sojourners on this planet. Our citizenship is in heaven, not here.

For the people of this world and not of God their, “end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Philippians 3:19-21).

Recalibrate your spiritual lens and focus on things to come. That’s our present day hope, our faith in our final and eternal destination. Don’t let the positives or negatives of this world distract you from the point and purpose of it all. Truth, righteousness, love, equity, peace, fellowship, eternal life-God!

Bill Hitchcock

The Protestant Reformation and the American Revolution

The connection between the Protestant Reformation and the American Revolution.

I was thumbing through several books by Thomas Paine here at home when a particular passage about the US and the Reformation I had highlighted years earlier caught my eye.

In his book, “Common Sense” Thomas Paine states, “The Reformation was preceded by the discovery of America: As if the Almighty graciously meant to open a sanctuary to the persecuted in future years when home should afford neither friendship nor safety.” (Common Sense).

Is the spirit of reformation the same spirit as that of the American Revolution? Was America, to one degree or another the result of the Reformation movement?

Thomas Paine was a deist and held some rather “interesting” ideas on Christianity and the Bible. So, this isn’t some gung-ho, over spirited, Christian zealot’s comment trying to tie the two together. For example in his book, “Age of Reason”, Paine called the Old Testament a “book of lies, wickedness, and blasphemy” (Age of Reason), he called the New Testament a “farce in one act”.

Paine’s idea of church was, “My own mind is my own church.”(Age of Reason)

It’s plain to see that Paine had some rather non-traditional ideas about Christianity. So I find his observation about the Reformation and the Revolution quite unique.

So, can we draw a connection between the two? Did the Spirit that did goad the Protestant Reformation into existence, also prod the American Revolution?

Is not America a Christian nation? Many if not most will react with a resounding “No!” because they interpret that to mean a theocracy or afraid that being a citizen somehow makes one religiously affiliated. But is not America the result of Christian belief and principle? One just has to investigate the First Continental Congress to see and understand just how saturated in the word and the spirit these men truly were. Its first official act was a call for prayer, the First Continental Congress authorized Bibles for the “inhabitants of the United States”, and issued Proclamations for a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer.

Or, was the pulpit used for propaganda?

“Religion played a major role in the American Revolution by offering a moral sanction for opposition to the British--an assurance to the average American that revolution was justified in the sight of God....At the beginning of the war some ministers were persuaded that, with God's help, America might become "the principal Seat of the glorious Kingdom which Christ shall erect upon Earth in the latter Days." Victory over the British was taken as a sign of God's partiality for America and stimulated an outpouring of millennialist expectations--the conviction that Christ would rule on earth for 1,000 years.” Source: The Library of Congress

 We do know that the Ministers took an active part in the Revolutionary War.  The Black Robed Regiment was the name given by the British to the American clergy who played an important part in the fight of the Revolutionary War. Some credit them for the victory.

Alice M. Baldwin, in The New England Clergy and the American Revolution writes, “It is strange to today’s generation to think that the rights listed in the Declaration of Independence were nothing more than a listing of sermon topics that had been preached from the pulpit in the two decades leading up to the American Revolution, but such was the case.”

In regards to religion, the Library of Congress states that “legislators and the public considered it appropriate for the national government to promote a nondenominational, nonpolemical Christianity”.

Paine brings up another interesting point about religion, which might shed some light on the attitude of what religion was to our founding fathers. 

“As to religion….I fully and conscientiously believe, that it is the will of the Almighty, that there should be diversity of religious opinions among us: It affords a larger field for our Christian kindness. Were we all of one way of thinking, our religious dispositions would want matter for probation; and on this liberal principle, I look on the various denominations among us, to be like children of the same family, differing only, in what is called, their Christian names.”(Common Sense)

All religions seem to fall under one Christian roof. Were different Christian denominations their idea of religious diversity?

So I ask any and all, is America an extension of, or in any way connected to the Protestant Reformation?

Did our founding fathers restrict the idea of religion to Christian only?

Paine supported freedom of religion and diversity thereof, but he was adamantly opposed to religion in government. Why? And why does that attitude exist today from fellow Christians?

I value your thoughts and insights.

Bill Hitchcock

Republicans, Democrats and Black America

Republicans mean well, think well and intend well, but tend to fumble the ball when it comes to relating well.

To one extent or another Republicans are uncomfortable with Black America. Republicans know, understand and believe that all men are created equal. Republicans will fight to ensure that principle, philosophy, and practice is carried out for all. But for some reason, Republicans tend not to understand how to relate with anyone, not like themselves.

It isn’t bigotry. It isn’t racism. It is a lot like being British. A proper Brit has a difficult time with anything or anyone who is not a proper Brit. This is the opinion of an S.O.B. (Son Of a Brit)

I wish I had an answer. The Republican Party is the greatest ally Black America has. This is a historical fact. But Republicans do not know how to relate on a personal level. Democrats have portrayed this inability as bigotry and racism. Not only is this not true of the Republican Party, but Republicans also do not know how to respond to these lies and aspersions. Consequently, these lies have stuck and the Democrats, the true party of hatred, division, and envy have gained a tremendous foothold in the Black sector.

So how do they solve this problem? Republicans want the best for all because the way this country is designed, the better off a free citizen, the better off this free country. Disadvantaging anyone disadvantages everyone. Targeting any particular group so as to do them harm is not only biblically, morally and ethically wrong, it is also financially ruinous and political hara-kiri.

So how do we solve the problem of Republicans and their inability to relate? The first, best and most effective step would be to flush the Democrats notion that Republicans are nothing but bigots and racist and phobics. Push these engineered lies aside and start to work on your interpersonal relationship skills.

Republicans need to own up to the fact that they are inept at relating beyond a diplomatic level. They need to understand that it’s OK to be white or rich. That doesn’t mean you are the bad guy. It’s OK not to be Black or not to completely understand the Black experience. Guess what. Blacks do not completely understand the white experience. The misconceptions on both sides are a primary cause for our problems.

Most importantly, what makes a Republican is their ideas, ideals and philosophy. Those things know no skin color or gender.

The underlying political philosophy is that all men are created equal. And for you feminist out there, men or man in this context means a human being or all of mankind. The Old Testament makes a clear distinction with the original Hebrew word, “Adam” which was transliterated into English as a man, meaning all.

Everyone needs to own up to not only their race and gender but to themselves. Hatred and envy are the roots to racism and genderism. That hate is flush with all concerned. Here’s the thing about hatred. It’s either original or it’s retaliatory. Hatred strikes the innocent. The innocent become enraged and strikes the hater. The hater, in turn, accuses the formerly innocent and the process expands from there. Now everyone hates.

The common denominator that binds us all together is that we are all Americans. We should relate to that, the highest level. When we deviate from being an American first, we might as well all meet at the NATO table and play by NATO rules and turn ourselves into Europe with its 50 individual, divided and unique countries instead of the United States of America with its united 50 states.

The United States of America is codified. We are not the wild, wild, west where anything you say, goes. We have become a country of creationist. Anyone can create their own version of America, their own version of reality, their own politics, their own sex, their own religion, their own health care professional, and everyone else is supposed to play along and support you or else be accused of being a bigot or a racist or some phobic.

Nope. There is one truth, justice, righteousness, and equity that adds up to the American way of life. If we will return to that, then we will solve our social justice problems and all the other engineered, pre-fabricated nonsense that exists today. All of that silliness will cease and desist.

Republicans, learn how to relate. Democrats, learn how not to hate. Everyone, become an American again. For a primer lesson read the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. For a more in-depth study, try reading US history. And finally, read the Bible. It’s the cornerstone of it all.

Bill Hitchcock

Church

By modern day definition, a Church is either a physical building or a religious body of people. This definition is sad in that it presents either an inanimate object or some sterile, static concept of church members.

The original New Testament Greek word for church was, “Ekklesia”. This is a compound word of Ek meaning, “out of” and kaleō meaning to call, or “call aloud”.

The definition of Ekklesia is a “Gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly” (Thayer's Greek Lexicon).

As a church you are called, exposed, separated and designated, which by definition of the latter two means you are also sanctified. That is the church. You are called out, into the world to not only preach the gospel but to be the gospel.

The church is not some closed off, hideout from the world. It’s the exact opposite.

Bill Hitchcock 

Belief and Faith

(NOTE: The following was written for the North Carolina Fisheries Association magazine, “Tradewinds”)

You have a belief in your ability to catch fish. The accentuation here is in your ability to catch fish. It is the act of fishing in which you hold your belief.

Your faith in catching fish is a different story. Here the emphasis is not in the doing, or the act of fishing, but rather in the catch itself, the end result.

The difference between belief and faith are the same difference between cause and effect. The cause is the act of fishing. The effect is the catch.

What would happen if you had no belief in fishing? This is the cause, the act of fishing. Your belief, or rather your lack of belief in fishing may or may not have anything to do with your potential to catch fish. It would, however, eliminate any chance to catch fish if you didn’t go.

Now, what would happen if you had no faith in fishing? You could still go fishing, but you had zero confidence that the act of fishing would produce any positive results.

Belief in fishing will totally absorb and engross you in the process of fishing. Eventually, your belief will lead to frustration and befuddlement over the end results.

Faith in fishing is a different story. Absolute faith in a successful end result affects not only the process of fishing but all involved in it as well!

Faith becomes the cause which produces positive effects resulting in a successful catch. Faith becomes like the lead car during a stock car race. All of the like kind attributes (the other cars) which produce the catch just sort of draft in behind the lead car of faith and get carried across the finish line.

Nothing happens without absolute faith.

We can believe that we can fish but that doesn’t mean we will catch anything. We must have faith, absolute and total faith in producing the desired end result, the catch.

This same belief and faith apply to our relationship with God. You can believe that there is a God. That’s good, but the devils also believe, and they tremble (James 2:19).

We must have absolute faith in God. In our faith is our justification and salvation!

“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5a).

Our faith in God allows us to overcome the adversities of the world!

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16).

Faith is a gift. It is not something of our own design and making. Jesus Christ is the “author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). By “finisher” it means that Christ makes our faith perfect.

Faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Our faith is quickened and stirred to life by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that intercedes and mingles with our own spirit (Romans 8:26).

God is looking for the faithful!

“Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.” (Psalm 101:6)

“O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth?” (Jeremiah 5:3) This is what’s so fascinating about that passage in Jeremiah. The Hebrew root word, “emuwn” from which, “truth” is derived from is more often than not transliterated as, “faith”. We could re-write the passage as follows, O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the “faithful”?

It would do us all a great benefit to pause and think upon the substance and significance of the similarities between God’s truth and our faith in Him. After all, to be saved we are to put our faith in God’s truth, Jesus Christ.

“For He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:4b).

God looked for you. God called you. He chose you, the elect, and the faithful. You can believe in God but that won’t produce the desired effect of salvation. Residing in belief will eventually frustrate and discourage you. But you are the faithful! Faith is the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). It’s the box full of fish before ever leaving the dock. Faith has already arrived while belief is trying to figure out the way.

So here is what we are to do. Set aside every, “weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”. We are to do so in complete faith.

Run to the fishing grounds in faith. Run to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior in faith. Jesus Christ died on the cross in total faith in God and His complete ability to redeem and save, not himself, but you!

Abraham, “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Romans 4:20)

The just shall live in faith. Choose God in faith and live!

Bill Hitchcock

A Good Person

"All outward means of grace, if separate from the spirit of God, cannot profit, or conduce, in any degree, either to the knowledge or love of God. All outward things, unless he work in them and by them, are in vain." - John Wesley

I don’t think the gravity of Wesley’s statement is fully realized by most. It explains why a “good person” who does “good things” will burn in Hell without the grace and gift of regeneration.

Always consider the source. Where did that “good” come from? The source of the fruit will determine its status of holiness.

“For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit” (Luke 6:43).

Do not imagine that the good tree produces a fresh and yummy delicious fruit while the bad tree produces only a spoiled, rotten, worm-infested fruit. Who would ever be drawn to that? For all intents and purposes, the apple from the bad tree may be physically perfect. It probably is, for how else could it lure and seduce if it was not appealing and tempting?

This is why people get confused about “good people” who do “good things” and yet are destined for Hell.

The unregenerate are a bad tree therefore what they produce will always be unacceptable to God.

Bill Hitchcock

Speak Unto Us Smooth Things

“And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” (Exodus 20:18-19).

Unfortunately, this is an all too common scene that is played out today. The congregation has removed itself from the Pastor who preaches the all too often unpleasant news of the word of God. They run to the church that preaches nothing but good and pleasant things. The congregation wants a preacher that will, “Speak unto us smooth things” (Isaiah 30:10b).

Preaching nothing but good news of and for man, the next and final step for this sinful congregation is to have lies preached, believed, and held has doctrine.

“This is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord…prophesy deceits….Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” (Isaiah 30:9, 10b, 11)

In their fear of death, they unintentionally secure their death.

The problem is the lack of delayed gratification. They have a present need to feed the pleasure side of self while avoiding any pain. The temporal and temporary aspects of life are being secured and protected. Morality, truth, and life itself are being determined by what feels good now. People of the pleasure principle will agree with, adhere to, follow and even worship whomever or whatever will justify their beliefs and actions. Life, regardless of how short and limited it becomes, is founded and lived solely on the pleasure principle.

“Back in 300 BC, Aristotle saw that the reason so many people were unhappy was that they confused pleasure for true happiness. True happiness, according to Aristotle, is about developing habits and surrounding yourself with people who grow your soul. This allows you to move towards your greatest potential. True happiness entails delaying pleasure, putting in the time, discipline, and patience instead of feeling good now. A life of purpose, aligned with the seeking of true happiness, creates real joy. It keeps your happiness meter pretty steady throughout your life. So, which path would you like to take?”

(Ilene Strauss Cohen Ph.D./Psychology Today/Dec. 26, 2017)

The pleasure principle has no tomorrow, only today. It recognizes no consequence or retribution. Self is the priority, focal point and the center of the universe. People of the pleasure principle are quite literally babies. They cry for every need to be taken care of, will do whatever is most pleasurable. And like a newborn baby, the people of the pleasure principle must be taken care of, for they are too entrenched in fulfilling their wants to be bothered with their needs.

The epitome of sin is self. The people of the pleasure principle consume, they don’t produce, and they take but do not give, they lust but do not love.

God is the exact opposite. He is righteousness. He is love. God’s love would sacrifice self for the preservation of another. Jesus Christ is the living and dying and living again proof of love and placing another over self.

Pleasure in of itself is not necessarily a sin. Pleasure as the focal point, the foundation, and purpose of life make it an idol, which is a sin.

Sin kills. It will reign in your mortal body and cause you to obey the lusts thereof. No man can control sin, only serve it. This is why we must yield ourselves to God.

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:16-18)

Not sinning and doing good things does not equate to righteousness and eternal life. There is nothing we can do to merit heaven. We are not under the law, but rather under God’s grace. We can’t earn grace, it is a gift that is given by God.

“For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” (Ezekiel 18:32).

Turn away from the pleasure principle and return to God.

The Old Testament definition of repent is “Shuv”. It literally means to turn or to return. In the New Testament repent can be “Metanoeo” which means to change one’s mind, or repent could be the word, “Nacham” which is to be sorry and regretful.

To have God as the center of our life we must do all three meanings of repent. We must turn away from sin and turn back to God. This turn is actually a return back to our original status and relationship with God. This can only come about with a change of heart and head and to be genuinely remorseful for our past way of life and misgivings.

God has no pleasure in the death of any of us, saint or sinner. God has asked us all to return to Him.

It is to our advantage and for the security of our life to sit in the pew of the church with the preacher that preaches the word of God, all of the word of God. It will hurt. Jesus warned us of the trials and tribulations in this life. But please understand, it isn’t about this life. This life is barely the period at the end of the sentence at the end of the book called life. What is a millisecond compared to eternity?

But it is in this life that determines our eternity. Won’t you choose life and live?

Bill Hitchcock

Able To Comfort

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

The word, “comfort” is used five times in the above two verses. In the Bible, any repetition of a word, phrase, or theme is intended to add weight, significance, and importance to the subject matter at hand.

We discover in these verses that God is the God of all comfort. He comforts us during times of tribulation and troubles. We are to learn comfort from God so as to be able to give comfort to others in the same manner and fashion as it was received.

Comfort is an ability. We must be able to be comforted, as well as being able to comfort. So what exactly is this ability that is to be given and received?

The Greek root word for comfort is “Parakaleo”. It is a compound of, “para” meaning beside or near and, “kaleo” meaning to call or invite, usually in a loud voice. To comfort someone is to call them over to you so as to console, encourage and strengthen them. It is implied (loud voice) that there is a distance between you and the other person, that they have been cut off or isolated.

Just by the very nature of troubles and tribulation; what they are, their cause and effect will often time prompt those in dire straits to disengaged and dissociate from those closest to them as well as the world around them. This is when they need Godly comfort the most.

Mercy is a product of God’s will. God’s comfort comes from His mercy. Comfort is actionable and comes in the form of such things as compassion, forgiveness, and forbearance.

Think of the times that God has called you. Your thoughts of Him and the need for Him during times of difficulty and crisis isn’t by accident. If we don’t come to Him, God certainly can stir and motivate our spirit so as to go to Him. We often forget the spiritual bond we have with God and that bond works both ways. God doesn’t always idly sit by waiting on us. Sometimes He inspires us to come to go to Him. Never forget that.

God uses the good and the bad to our advantage, for our spiritual upbringing, and most of all for our salvation. We need to stay in constant communication with God to know and understand what to do at all times, be they good or bad. And if for some reason we find that the communication between us and God has been cut off, then God has done it purposely. Just remember, everything God does for His elect is done for our advantage, upbringing, and salvation.

Now the Apostle Paul teaches us that what God does for us, in giving mercy and comfort, we are to do likewise for other people. This is one of the most basic and most significant God principles there is. We are to do unto others as God does to us.

The Golden Rule is based on the idea that we are to treat others as God treats us.

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

The Great Commandment is based on loving God and in turn, loving your neighbor with that same Godly love.

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

God’s grace is to be received and utilized, but it is never meant to be retained and kept to yourself. God’s grace is to be freely given! The miracle of God’s grace is that the more you give to others, the more God supplies you afresh with new grace. God’s grace is just like Jesus with the five loaves of bread and the two fish (Matthew 14:13-21 and Luke 9:12-17). The food was freely given to the masses. Not only did thousands of people eat till full, but their remained 12 baskets full of the leftovers.

Another good example is the parable of the talents (Matthew 25: 14-30 and Luke 19:12-27). He who was given the most talents (money) and put it to good use was rewarded. He who was given the least and did nothing but hold onto it and was punished.

“The grace of our Lord was (is) exceeding abundant” (1 Timothy 1:14a). In other words, there is always an excess of God’s grace! So we are always able to comfort a brother or sister. We can’t run low or run out of it. Put it to the test. You will discover that no matter how you feel, no matter how unqualified you think you may be, that you will always be able to aid and comfort those who are in need.

There are a few things worth noting before I go. Notice Paul tells the Corinthians that God is the “God of all comfort”. This means that there is no situation where God’s comfort and grace can’t abundantly supply for the need. We have access to all the encouragement, strength, love and mercy that could ever be needed or used.

Also notice that we are able to comfort folks that are, “in any trouble”. Put stress on the word, “any”.

Isn’t God great? He gives us an exceeding abundant amount of grace in the form of comfort to be used to help others with any trouble they may be experiencing! Wow!

Bill Hitchcock