By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
11/07/2021

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man saws, that he will also reap. (Galatians 6:7)

When I was in the seventh grade, I had an English teacher named Mrs. Lewis. She was my favorite teacher. (And I like to think I was her favorite student!) One of the many memories I have from her class involves an exam that she gave and a disappointing grade I received. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Mrs. Lewis returned the papers, and when I looked at my exam, I noticed I had made a B+. I had been expecting an A. As she went over each question with the entire class, I discovered one question which I had misread. The instructions had asked for us to circle “all answers that apply,” and instead I had circled only one correct answer. The resulting mark down meant the difference between making an A and a B+.

After class, I approached Mrs. Lewis and explained to her that I had misread the instructions. “Had I understood the instructions, I certainly would have answered the question correctly,” I insisted. I pointed out that on all her previous tests, the multiple-choice questions only called for one correct choice. I was confused and misled, I contended, by this departure from her normal way of wording the questions. “I should be given a chance to retake the exam,” I demanded.

For a 12-year-old, I was pretty good at making my case. I argued that an exam is intended to demonstrate what a student knows, not simply how well he can follow directions. “You should change my grade,” I reasoned, “so that it reflects what I know and what I would have circled on the exam if only I had not been so confused by the wording of the question.”

My arguments were lost on Mrs. Lewis, and she denied my request. My grade of B+ was not changed. She looked me square in the eye and said, “Next time, J.B., read the instructions more carefully.” I learned something that day about accepting responsibility. The fact of the matter was it was my mistake. I should not have blamed it on anyone else.

One of the fundamental principles of life is this: You reap what you sow. There is a direct connection between one’s actions and the resulting consequence. This principle has proven true time after time after time. It is true with the big things in life, and it is true with the little things in life. You simply cannot escape the principle of consequence.

Whatever happened to standing up, taking responsibility, and saying, “I made a mistake, and I am prepared to accept the consequences?” In our culture, we have become very good at shirking accountability and blaming others for the consequences that result from our own mistakes. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

The consequences of life's choices usually make us stronger. We learn from our mistakes. The next time you make a costly mistake, own it! You will reap wisdom from what you sow. “The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise” (Proverbs 15:31).

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
01/23/2022

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
 
The Chicago Cubs were having a particularly rough season. Their pitching was terrible, and their batting was even worse. On one occasion the Cubs were traveling to play one of the best teams in the league. Their manager assembled the team in the hotel lobby for a pre-game meeting. “Fellas,” he said, “we have a big game tonight, and there will be two busses leaving for the ballpark later this afternoon. The 2:00 pm bus will be for all those who need extra batting practice. The empty bus will leave at 5:00pm.”

Do you ever feel like you need a little extra help in your Christian walk? No matter what you do, it seems like you fall short. Day after day is a spiritual swing and a miss. And the harder you try, the worse it gets. How can we stay consistent in our walk with the Lord, honoring and glorifying Him with our lives?

The Bible has a one-word answer to that question. You are already familiar with it because you came face to face with it when you first trusted in Christ for eternal salvation. It is called grace. The same grace that saves us also sustains us as a child of God.

God’s sustaining grace gives us strength in times of need (Hebrews 4:16). The Apostle Paul, who was as familiar with the grace of God as anyone ever has been, wrote, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). In the context, Paul was referring to the ability of the Corinthians to give generously to a collection for the needy in Judea. God’s grace, however, is not limited to financial matters. It is sufficient “in all things,” Paul said.

Grace in the Christian life is a lot like gravity. One of the most basic skills astronauts must learn how to master is how to function in an environment of zero gravity. While it may be a thrill to find your body suddenly capable of flying and free-floating anywhere in the spaceship, an absence of gravity can also increase the difficulty of completing a host of otherwise routine tasks.

For instance, how do you get the toothpaste to stay on the toothbrush when there is no gravity? For astronauts, such a basic item as the pen had to be redesigned so that it did not depend on gravity to deliver ink to its tip. Without gravity, everything must be nailed down, self-contained, and sealed tight or it will simply drift away. The world of zero gravity is a place where nothing can be taken for granted.

The same is true for God’s grace. It is as fundamental to our spiritual well-being as gravity is to our physical well-being. Grace helps us contain our lives and keeps us from drifting away into a frightening world with no meaning and no purpose. We often forget that grace, like gravity, is always there holding us up and helping us along the road of life.

Grace is one of those things that is easy to take for granted. But where would we be without God’s amazing grace? An absence of grace in our lives would certainly make it more difficult for us to function in several areas. For instance, how would we handle the loss of a loved one without a measure of grace? Indeed, how can we withstand any of the trials of life apart from grace?

Have you ever had times in your life when you shifted gears into manual mode and began to take control of your own life over and against God’s guidance and grace? If you have, you are not alone. Human pride is such a strong emotion that it often causes us to expend energy doing things that are unnecessary. When we take matters into our own hands, trying to do things in our own strength, we are pulling against the tide of God’s grace.

One difference between gravity and grace is that while we may tend to take both for granted, we never act as if gravity is not present. Can you imagine how silly it would look if my wife came in and found me anchoring down the kitchen table and chairs?  “I don’t want them to float away!” I might say. Wendy would respond, “Honey, I really do not think that is necessary.”

It is equally foolish to run around trying to please God based on our own merits when His ever-present grace has already made us acceptable to him. His grace is abundant. It was abundant when we received the free gift of eternal life, and it is just as abundant day after day when we need it for every good work. Rest in God’s abundant grace today.

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
06/28/2022

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)

Recently Wendy and I had the opportunity to get away for a rare vacation. It had been more than two decades since we were able to break away from family and ministry and enjoy a week of down time. We spent a week on the beach and watched the sunset every night for seven straight nights from various vantage points. Each one was gloriously different, depending on the clouds and the weather that day.

If you have ever watched a sunset, you know that at the very end it happens quickly. For several minutes it seems as though the sun has scarcely shifted its position. Then, in the final minute or two, you can almost see it moving as it darts beneath the horizon. One minute it is there, shining brightly across the ocean. The next, it is gone, leaving only a dim glow in the distance.

As I watched the sunset each night, I could not help but think of the church in America today. Is the sun setting on the church? Is our time in God’s plan of the ages drawing to a close? Is God’s work in and through the Church winding down? It is a difficult question to answer with certainty. Yet, there are many signs that indicate we may be entering the twilight of the church.

The Bible warns, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). More than ever before, deception has swept across this country. Satan is “blinding people’s hearts to the Gospel” and “deceiving the whole world” (2 Cor. 4:4; 2 John 7). According to a recent Gallup poll from June of 2022, only sixty-eight percent of Americans under age thirty believe in God.

This statistic is validated by a recent conversation I had with a woman who attended an event where I was speaking about the Great Satanic Reset. After my presentation, she came up to me and insisted that Jesus Christ is not the only way to heaven and that the Bible is filled with lies and errors. She is deceived.

We are also told in Scripture, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3–4). The great Satanic reset that is being thrust upon us by the Luciferians is a giant fable that is capturing the minds of many people. The “new normal” is rapidly setting in, and few seem to be aware of its dangers.

The evil powers behind the Satanic agenda in our world have told us bluntly that we will never return to “normal.” We must never forget, however, that although normal may not be coming back, Jesus is! He promised to rescue His bride, the church, from this present evil age (Gal. 1:4) prior to the great and terrible Day of the Lord’s wrath (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9). This does not mean, of course, that believers in this church age will avoid suffering altogether. Indeed, there is more persecution and martyrdom of Christians today than at any other time in church history.

It does mean, however, that someday, in God’s perfect timing, the Lord Jesus will descend from heaven in the clouds and gather His church together for that great reunion in the sky (1 Thess. 4:17). The Bible calls this event the “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). It will mark the end of the church age and a shift into the next phase in God’s plan of the ages. The “rapture,” as it is called in the Latin translation of the Bible, will mean the sun has finally set on the church age. And like a sunset, it will happen quickly.

The very last words of Jesus recorded in the Bible are, “Surely I am coming quickly” (Revelation 22:20). To those words, the Apostle John responded, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” The word “quickly” that Jesus used in this verse means “suddenly” or “rapidly.” It has been nearly two thousand years since John recorded those words of Christ in the book of Revelation, and throughout the church age we have been watching the sun slowly descend toward the horizon. Today, it has picked up speed.

As Wendy and I watched the sunset each night during our beach vacation, there were times when we were transfixed by the waves and distant glow and almost missed the chance to take a picture as the sun made its final, swift dash under the sea. Could it be that many people today are transfixed by the chaos around us and have failed to recognize the urgency of the hour? All signs point to the soon coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When it happens, it will happen fast. Are you ready? Have you placed your faith in Him as the only One who can save you from your sin and give you the free gift of eternal life?

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
03/29/2022

Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:3)

When I was in high school, I worked at my uncle’s Schwinn bicycle shop. Each day, after school, I would head over to the shop, take my place at one of the bike-stands in the back, and begin working on the tasks my uncle had laid out for me. Usually this meant assembling new bicycles for the showroom floor or doing simple on-the-spot repairs like replacing inner tubes in flat tires. As I got more experienced, my uncle gave me more complicated repairs and allowed me to assemble more expensive new bikes.

Uncle Harry was a no-nonsense manager. He treated me the same way he treated the full-time, adult bicycle mechanics in his shop. There were several rules that were non-negotiable, but none more so than his insistence that we use the right tool for the right task. I remember the first day I worked at the shop. He asked me to change a flat tire. I reached for a flathead screwdriver and started to pry the tire from the rim. I can still hear the gasps from the other, more experienced mechanics, as they waited breathlessly for Harry’s reaction. And I can still hear Uncle Harry’s words as he looked over at me and said, slowly and sternly, “What do you think you are doing?!”

It turns out, there is a special tool for removing tires from rims called a “tire tool.” Over time I learned that there were designated tools for almost every task. Each had a unique purpose. There was a spoke wrench, a cable tightener, a crank shaft puller, brake pad holders, etc. (I hope Uncle Harry does not read this devotional because I am certain that each tool also has a special name, and I am quite confident that after forty years, the correct name for each tool has escaped my memory.)

To this day, I still follow Harry’s rule that we should always use the right tool for the right task. I call it “Harry’s Dictum.” I do not use a crescent wrench as a hammer. I do not use a Phillips head screwdriver as a hole punch. And I never, ever tighten a nut with a pair of pliers! Using the right tool is crucial for accuracy and efficiency.

Similarly, when it comes to the Christian life, we must choose the right tool for spiritual growth. God has given us a special resource to help us as we become more mature in our faith. He has given us the Holy Spirit who permanently indwells us the moment we believe the Gospel. Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever” (John 14:16). That “Helper” is the Holy Spirit.

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he reminds us that we were not saved by our own strength, and we can never grow mature by our own efforts. “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh” (Galatians 3:3)? We will never grow spiritually mature by adhering to some external, legalistic standard of behavior. Only when we heed the Spirit’s convicting work in our life, through the Word of God, will we grow strong and mature as Christians.

As you navigate life day by day, make sure you are reaching for the right tool from your spiritual toolbox. It is not about trying harder or doing more. It is about living out the new life you have inside you through Christ. “Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
02/28/2022

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6:14)

Several years ago, there was a television show on CBS called Person of Interest. The series focused on a mysterious reclusive billionaire computer programmer, Harold Finch (played by Michael Emerson), who developed a computer program for the federal government that would allow the government to track citizens’ every move. Each episode centered around a new “person of interest” whom the computer had flagged as either being a threat to others or, in some cases, being in danger himself or herself.

The plot line was similar for each show: the person of interest must be found before something bad happened. Did you know the Bible speaks of another Person of interest who is of greater importance than any television character? His name is Jesus Christ. Throughout His earthly ministry He generated interest and turned heads as He performed miracles, preached sermons, and confronted the religious leaders of His day.

On one occasion, after He had miraculously fed five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two small fish, some observers declared, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world” (John 6:14). Jesus is much more than a mere prophet, however. Even though to those men, He was just an intriguing person of interest, He would turn out to be the Savior of the world.

For the last two thousand years, people have been interested in Jesus. They have talked about Him, written about Him, read about Him, and wondered about Him. Others have rejected Him and persecuted those who believe in Him. Some are searching for Him but have not yet found Him. Like the fictional character in the CBS television series, there is an urgency to finding Jesus.

If you die without ever finding Jesus, the consequences are eternal. Jesus Himself said, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (Joh 8:24). To “die in your sins” means you have never received forgiveness for your sins and will spend eternity in a literal place of torment called hell. No one ever has to face this horrible judgment, because Jesus offers the free gift of salvation.

Jesus Christ paid the penalty for the sins of mankind when He died on the cross and rose again. He offers forgiveness of sins and eternal life to everyone who will simply receive it by faith. Jesus said, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). And “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47).

Is Jesus more than an intriguing historical person of interest to you? Have you found
the greatest Person of interest who ever walked the face of the earth? Let me encourage you to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died and rose again for your sins. Do it today, before something bad happens.

The Principle Principle
J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.

Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God. (Jeremiah 42:6)

Chuck Swindoll tells the story of a football player at a large university in the south. He was a wide receiver, and widely considered to be one of the best in the country at his position. This young man was also a born-again believer who had grown up in a Christian home and learned to value his principles over personal pleasure.

On one particular occasion this wide receiver caught a touchdown pass at a pivotal moment during one of the biggest games of the season in front of the home crowd. The fans went wild; his teammates rushed up to him with cheers and high-fives; the photo journalists that surrounded the end zone began snapping pictures that would splash across the front pages of local newspapers and magazines. While fans and players were celebrating, however, the referees quickly huddled up. Although the back judge had signaled “Touchdown!” the field judge was not sure. Was it a legal catch? Had he really caught the ball?

To the amazement of everyone, including his coach, this Christian young man walked over to the referees and confessed that he had trapped the ball as he attempted a diving catch. The referees were stunned by the player’s honesty. The touchdown was waved off, and the team went on to lose the game. During a postgame interview, when asked about his decision to come clean about the non-catch, the young man said, “I cannot take credit for a catch I did not make.”

Displays of such integrity are rare these days. People often compromise their principles for the sake of personal pleasure. It is easy to embrace blessing and reward at the expense of character. Character is who you are when no one is looking. The Christian football player could have accepted the credit and glory that came with winning the game. No one would have been the wiser. No one, that is, except God, and the young man’s character would not withstand such dishonor.

Standing on principle is not easy. It takes hard work. We have all been guilty of taking a few shortcuts on the pathway to success. One of my more infamous examples involves a screwdriver, a pair of pliers, a hammer, an unassembled swing set, and a ten-page set of assembly instructions that I refused to read prior to beginning the project. You can fill in the rest of the details, but needless to say, my attempts to rush through the assembly without taking the time to read all of the directions cost me an extra two hours, three scratched knuckles, and a rip in my sweatshirt! We like quick fixes and fast-tracked fame, but few of us are willing to do the hard things that bring lasting honor.

In Jeremiah, the Bible records a refreshing statement made by the children of Israel. At the time, they were being held captive in Babylon. They asked Jeremiah for a word from the Lord so that they might be encouraged in the midst of their plight. Before he agreed to give it to them, Jeremiah insisted that the people commit to obeying God’s directions regardless of whether they liked them or not. In response to Jeremiah’s challenge, the people proclaim, “Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the Lord!” (Jeremiah 42:6)

It did not matter to them whether what God asked them to do was easy or hard; they would do it. It did not matter whether it was painful or pain-free; they would do it. They understood that the end-all of life is not about personal pain versus personal pleasure. To them, the ultimate goal in life is to obey God. They knew if they would obey God, everything else would fall in place. Now certainly anyone remotely familiar with the history of the children of Israel knows that they did not always have that attitude. Yet, at that moment, during the Babylonian captivity, the remnant chose to obey God regardless of the cost.

What we need is a return to that type of relationship with God—the kind of relationship where God is directly involved in all aspects of our lives, not just when it is convenient. We need to get back to the basics where principle is placed above pleasure. When is the last time you intentionally chose the hard way because you knew it was the right thing to do? Humanistic reasoning fcouses on what Sigmund Freud called the pleasure principle. Christians should focus instead on the principle principle.

The Thrill of Mercy
By: J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.

The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh. (Proverbs 11:17)

My family and I love amusement parks. With six children, amusement parks offer something that each of the kids is sure to love. Because we travel extensively for ministry engagements, we have been to dozens of parks in various parts of the country over the years. By unanimous vote, our favorite ride is the roller coaster. Every time we visit a theme park for the first time, we dash to the roller coaster the moment we enter the park. We have seen them all: tall ones, fast ones, wooden ones, double-loop ones, upside down ones. If it’s a roller coaster we love it.

One of the joys of parenthood is watching your child take his or her first roller coaster ride. They always tend to react the same way at first. They are nervous, scared, and hesitant. It reminds me of my first roller coaster ride as a teenager. Perhaps you can relate. While you are waiting in line your stomach turns, you get anxious, and you wonder, “Why in the world am I doing this?” As you watch the cars barrel over the first giant hill, fear tightens its grip. You tell yourself, “When I get to the front of the line I’ll just say I changed my mind, step across to the other side of the car, and sit this one out. There is no way I’m riding this thing.” But by the time it is your turn to ride, the fear of looking like a big chicken in front of your friends is stronger than the fear of losing your life on the roller coaster, so you squeeze yourself into the car and lower the lap bar.

As you sit there waiting for the ride to begin, you start praying, “Lord, forgive me for everything I have ever done wrong in my entire life. Help me to survive this ride. If I come out of this alive I promise to move to Africa and become a missionary!” Then you begin to rationalize things. “Now wait a minute. People rarely die on roller coasters. I am being ridiculous.” You spot a small child and say to yourself, “If that little kid can do this, so can I.”

Still waiting for that telltale lurch that signals the beginning of the ride (and indicates your life is likely going to come to a disastrous end sometime in the next ninety seconds), your thoughts turn to less mortal fears. “Okay. I am sure I’ll live through this. But what if I get sick and throw up on the people in the car in front of me? How embarrassing would that be!?” Suddenly, the car jolts forward and picks up speed. You close your eyes and hope for the best. Ninety seconds later it is all over, and you jump out yelling, “Let’s do it again!”

What’s the point? Showing mercy is a lot like riding a roller coaster. At first, all of your natural instincts tell you not to do it. When someone wrongs you, your tendency is to harbor bitterness, anger, and hurt. Yet, when you finally let go of those feelings and show mercy instead, mercy provides quite a thrill. In fact, to harbor bitterness actually causes physical harm. The Bible tells us, “The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.” (Proverbs 11:17)

The next time you are tempted to respond with vengeance or bitterness, just imagine you are in line to ride a roller coaster. You may feel hesitant to show mercy, but in the end you’ll be glad you did, and you may even find yourself wanting to do it more often.

Unshakable Faith
By: J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. (Psalm 46:1–3)

This beautiful psalm written by the Sons of Korah inspired Martin Luther to write his famous hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God.  The psalm, like Luther’s hymn, speaks of God as the Lord of Hosts who protects His people from unexpected trouble.  From the psalmist’s perspective, the earth beneath our feet does not normally move on its own.  Likewise, the mountains do not normally shake, and the oceans are not normally in a state of uncontrollable frenzy.  These are unusual circumstances.  When unexpected things happen, the Lord will provide refuge, the psalmist says.  God is always everywhere present; and He never changes. When everything else seems to be changing, the psalmist was confident that God would be there as a “very present help in trouble.”

The shaking ground in this psalm is a figure of speech.  It is a metaphor for any unexpected, severe trouble that is beyond our control.  The psalmist is trying to think of worst-case scenarios that might challenge our faith.  Even in times of unprecedented difficulty, God is still God.  Whether we see it coming or not; God does.  He is never surprised nor caught off guard.  Some 3,000 years after this psalm was written, we still have to deal with unexpected events.  Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ all over the world are called upon to put their faith into practice by trusting God to see them through unanticipated crises.

These days, it seems like there are metaphorical earthquakes and tidal waves all around us.  One minute we are cruising along through life just fine; the next, everything has changed.  When unplanned emergencies arise, we must crank up our faith.  Sadly, for many believers this faith has laid dormant for weeks or months.  We often don’t exercise faith until we have to.  When things are fine, we don’t need God; but when trouble arises, guess where we turn?  Unexpected trials separate mature believers from weaker believers.  “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” (Proverbs 24:10)  Difficulties will come. How we respond makes all the difference.

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)  If we hold our heads high and keep marching, in spite of the earth moving beneath us, we are demonstrating the kind of trust that makes us mature and leads us to a deeper relationship with Christ.  “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2–4)

The Apostle Paul challenged early believers in Thessalonica who were facing persecution and affliction to be encouraged in their faith.  He said, “no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.” (1 Thessalonians 3:2–3)  In other words, God saw it coming and none of their troubles surprised Him.  The word “shaken” (sainō) in this verse is used only here in the New Testament.  Elsewhere in Greek literature it is used to refer to a dog wagging its tail.  The idea is that we should not waver back and forth in our faith when we face persecution.

The writer of Hebrews compares our shakable world to the unshakable coming kingdom of God.  Since our God is unshakable, our service to Him should not waver in times of trouble.  The Bible says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28)  How do we maintain our faith in the Lord in times of trouble?  By exercising it!  Each day we need to read God’s Word and spend time in prayer—both things that express faith in spiritual matters.  We need to trust God for the little things in our lives so that when big troubles come, our natural instinct will be to turn it over to Him.

We must resist the tendency to set specific expectations in life.  There is a difference between expectations that are manmade and a general expectancy that God is in control.  Expectations are specific ideas formed in our minds to which we think life’s circumstances must conform.  When life does not play along with our plans, we are crushed.  Expectancy, on the other hand, is a general understanding that God is God, and He only wants what is best for us.  Expectancy trusts that God’s purposes will be accomplished each day, even if they are not always accomplished the way we thought they would be.  Expectancy means believing that God’s plan is always bigger and better than our measly little expectations, so why not just trust Him and watch the miracles unfold?  “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

If you have never trusted God for what matters most, your eternal salvation, start there.  Trust in God’s Son, our Savior, who died and rose again to rescue you from the penalty of sin, hell.  He is the only One who can forgive your sins and give you the free gift of eternal life. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:17–18)

Look Up!
By: J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up. (Psalm 5:3)

It was a typically cool evening in the mountains, and I decided to walk out onto our deck and enjoy the night air. At the time, we lived in a rural cabin surrounded by tall pines, aspen groves, and wildlife. As I leaned over the railing on our second story deck, I did what I always do in those peaceful moments alone on my deck: I surveyed the landscape.

The first thing I noticed was that another dead aspen had fallen. “Time for some more chainsaw work,” I thought to myself. Next I noticed a large doe nonchalantly working her way across the back of our seven-acre property, unaware of (or unconcerned by) my presence. Standing there lost in my thoughts, I suddenly heard the sound of an owl high above me in a lodgepole pine. I looked up. I could not see the owl in the darkness, but I knew he was there. Yet, what I did see was intriguing.

I noticed, for example, that one of the Douglas firs about twenty yards from me was leaning heavily toward my house. I had never noticed this before. From ground level, it looked fine. “I hope it doesn’t fall over in the next big windstorm and damage my roof,” I said to myself. My eyes shifted off of the Douglas fir, still focused upward. They landed on the moon, partially hidden by dark clouds. It was gorgeous. I imagined all of the nocturnal animals, many of which we have captured on our night-vision game camera like bears, mountain lions, and foxes, meandering in the wee hours of the night under the bright, moonlit sky. Eventually, I was able to peel my eyes away from the allure of the moon and, still looking up, I spotted the blinking lights of a jet advancing slowly across the western sky. I speculated that it was probably a military aircraft of some kind—not uncommon in that area of Colorado.

It is surprising what we miss by keeping our eyes focused on a level plain in front of us. When we take the time to look up, we might uncover lots of interesting sights that would otherwise escape our notice. Perhaps it is a bird’s nest in a tree, or a rapidly expanding hornets’ nest in the eaves. Maybe it is just a uniquely-shaped cloud in the sky on a bright sunny day. Sometimes looking up can even be a safety measure.

In my younger days I was a certified ASA umpire for fast-pitch softball. Whenever a high foul ball would make it over the backstop and into the stands behind home plate, I was trained at umpire school to immediately whirl and yell toward the spectators, “Look up!” Most spectators did not follow the ball much beyond where it left the bat. They were oblivious to the law of physics that states, “what goes up must come down.” Absent a warning, many an unaware spectator has ended up with a headache after a swiftly descending softball collided with his skull. (On such occasions the spectator also becomes acutely aware that a softball is not very soft.)

When is the last time you looked up? King David said that he started every morning by looking up. That is, he looked heavenward and directed his attention toward the Lord. “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.” (Psalm 5:3)

Paul put it this way, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on earth.” (Colossians 3:2) Many people go through life seldom giving a thought to the spiritual realm. They lack a heavenly perspective. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20) They rarely look up.

When we look up, we may not see God— “No one has seen God at any time.” (John 1:18) Yet, like the owl in the lodgepole pine, we will know He is there. It is counterintuitive, in a way. Those who spend their days walking around with their heads pointed upward actually face fewer obstacles in life. It is those who fail to stop and look up who end up bumping into things. Have you looked up lately?

Justice Delayed
By: J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.

“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:49-50)

There is little joy in delayed justice. When justice cries out, it cries out for immediate action. When our hearts are burdened by unfair suffering, the last thing we want to do is wait. I recall watching one of those news magazine shows where they interviewed the wife of a murder victim. The man who committed this awful crime was scheduled for execution later in the week. The victim’s wife was asked how she would feel once the execution was carried out. She knew, of course, that executing the man who committed this crime would not bring her husband back. Yet, she took some comfort in knowing that justice would be served. She said, “The only thing that could have satisfied my need for justice more would have been for this execution to have taken place sooner.”

God’s Word is filled with promises of ultimate justice. Revelation 19:11-16 and Matthew 25:31-46 come to mind. Both passages point to Jesus’ return to earth, when He will rule in perfect peace and righteousness. For those of us who read the Bible, and believe it, we know who wins in the end. There is definitely comfort in knowing that justice will be served one day. However, waiting for that day is not always easy. Did you know that even Jesus Christ Himself longs to execute judgment? In Luke 12:49-50 Jesus tells us how He wishes the fire of judgment was already kindled. As He looked around at the pagans within the Roman Empire, as He witnessed the hypocrisy of the alleged religious leaders within Judaism, as He looked with compassion upon the less fortunate and disadvantaged members of the Greco-Roman world, His righteous anger was aroused and only the will of His Father in heaven prevented Him from executing judgment on sin at that time.

Jesus knew that He had a job to do. He had to go to Calvary. The time for judgment would come, but not yet. What does this tell us about God’s mercy and love? God loves the world so much that He is willing to delay justice in order that one more person might trust Christ for salvation and become part of the family of God. God could have sent His son to earth the first time as an instrument of wrath. Instead, Jesus came as a source of blessing and hope. Jesus could have destroyed the earth with a word. Instead, He saved the world by His death. Christ’s death on the cross satisfied God’s wrath so that anyone who trusts in Jesus Christ for eternal life receives it as a free gift, paid for by Jesus.  Those who have trusted in Christ alone for eternal life are no longer under God’s wrath.

Justice will be served one day when Christ returns to “tread the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15). Until then, we wait.  Yet, we recognize that delayed justice is not always a bad thing. The fact that God is allowing sin to go on seemingly unchecked in many cases is an indication of His patience. Remember, “the Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Try not to allow the injustices of this present life to rob you of the joy and hope we have in Christ. The next time you feel overwhelmed by feelings of injustice, just remind yourself that delayed justice is a sign of God’s grace and love. “Life is unfair!” But, “God is patient, God is gracious, and God is good.”

By: J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
01/10/2022

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk....But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24)

I came across an interesting story from the days of Alexander the Great and his campaign to conquer the world. As the story goes, Alexander the Great received word that one of his soldiers had been engaging continually in improper behavior that was creating a poor reputation for all of the Greek troops. To make matters worse, the soldier’s name was Alexander. The commander summoned this rebellious soldier to confront him about his behavior. When the young man arrived at the tent of Alexander the Great, the commander asked, “What is your name, soldier?” The young man replied, “Alexander, sir.” The commander then looked him straight in the eye and said rather forcefully, “Son, either change your behavior or change your name.”

The lesson here is obvious. As Christians, we bear the name of Christ. In fact, the word Christian means “Christ-like.” When we trusted in Jesus Christ as the only One who can forgive our sin and give us the free gift of eternal life, we were born again. We took on a new identity as a child of God. By His grace, we joined the family of God. We are a “new man,” to use the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3. Thus, when we sin—that is, when we identify with the “old man” in us instead of the “new man”—we are creating a bad reputation for Christ and other Christians.

More than that, even if our sinful behavior is hidden or secret, we still bring an offense to our namesake Jesus Christ. Although the rest of the world may not see our actions, Christ does. How it must grieve Him to watch us sometimes as we ignore the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and instead indulge in the temptations of the flesh.

What about you? Who are you identifying with? The old man? The new man? The Christian life ultimately comes down to one or the other. The reason so many Christians struggle to live right is because they have an identity crisis. They are identifying with the wrong person in their minds. It reminds me of the time a woman got on an elevator in a tall New York office building and discovered that the only other individual in the elevator was none other than Robert Redford, the movie star. As the elevator slowly climbed upward, she finally mustered enough courage to ask, “Are you the real Robert Redford?” He smiled and said, “Only when I’m alone!”

Who are you when you are alone, when no one is looking? That is your real identity. Let me encourage you to identify with Jesus Christ, who gave His life to save you. If you have trusted in Him and Him alone for salvation, then you wear His name.  Live like it.

J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
09/21/2021

"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:28)

My favorite kind of cookie is chocolate chip.  There is scarcely anything better than a hot, just-out-of-the-oven, homemade chocolate chip cookie with a cold glass of milk.  When I was a teenager, I used to make them myself, using Mom's family recipe.  The first time I did, though, turned out to be quite a fiasco.  You see, the recipe card was so old and tattered from years of use that some of the instructions were hard to read.  In particular, the measurement amounts were difficult to discern.  When it came time to add the brown sugar, I thought it said "12 cups," when in reality it said, "1/2 cup."  Big difference!  A quick consultation with Mom clarified the matter, and needless to say that first batch of cookies was scrapped and the second batch came out much better.

There is a valuable lesson in this humorous experience:  If you do not know the precise measurement a recipe calls for, the result can be disastrous.  The same can be said of the believer's assurance.  A growing number of Bible teachers and theologians today are suggesting that one's assurance of eternal salvation is based upon "some measure" of good works, without specifying precisely how much good works are necessary to assure one that he indeed is saved.

For example, one popular Christian author writes, "There is no doubt that Jesus saw some measure of real, lived-out obedience to the will of God as necessary for final salvation." Notice his reference to "some measure."  If the final, determinative factor in our eternal salvation is "some measure of real, lived-out, obedience to the will of God," one understandably might want to know how much obedience? Do I need 12 cups of obedience?  Or is it only ½ a cup of obedience?  What exactly does this author mean by "some measure?"  It sounds conspicuously vague.  How can I ever know if I have produced a "measure" of good works acceptable enough to get me into heaven?

Another well-known theologian shares this view of salvation.  He suggests that for a person to get to heaven he must not only believe the Gospel, but his faith must produce good works.  He writes, "True faith is always accompanied by non-saving, but absolutely necessary works....If there are no good works, there is no true faith." It is not unreasonable to ask how good works can be both "non-saving" but "absolutely necessary" at the same time.  If good works are absolutely necessary for final salvation, as these authors suggest, then does that not make them determinative in our final salvation?

Neither author provides a quantifiable way to measure how many good works a person must perform in order to be assured that he is saved.  They insist that "good works are absolutely necessary" as "proof" that one is a Christian, but they never give the precise measurement for the proof!

Contrary to the assertions of these men (and many others), one's assurance of salvation is not based upon his good works.  It is "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy that He saved us" (Titus 3:5).  My assurance of eternal salvation is based solely upon the promise of Jesus Christ, my Savior, who said, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28).  If Jesus meant what He said (and He did!), then my salvation is both sure and secure the moment I place my faith in Him, and I need look only to His promise for assurance.  If I look at my works as the basis for assurance-trying to discover some ambiguous measure-I will doubt my salvation every day.

But if I go back to the source of my salvation to clarify the matter-Jesus Christ Himself-there can be no doubt.  He said, "I give you eternal life and you will never perish."  Even if I stumble; even if I fall sometimes; whether I have ½ a cup of good works or 12 cups of good works, I can be sure that my faith alone in Christ alone-the Son of God who died and rose again for my sins-has secured for me my eternal salvation.  "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.  Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Hallelujah!

In the final analysis, if a "measure of good works" is necessary for eternal salvation, than the best we can ever hope for is a "measure of assurance."  For me, that is not enough.  I want to have absolute, 100% assurance of my salvation.  What about you?  Have you trusted in Jesus Christ and Him alone for eternal salvation?  If so, then you can be sure you will spend eternity in heaven.

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
07/28/2021

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world...(Rev 12:9)

And I looked, and behold, a white horse.  He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. (Rev 6:2)

Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons...evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (1 Tim 4:1; 2 Tim 3:13)

When I was about ten years old my family lived in a house on a hill.  During the summers, my neighborhood friends and I would play a version of “king of the hill” with the kids from the next block.  All in good fun, we would have imaginary battles with our “enemies” from down the hill and try to keep them from overtaking our territory.

If you have ever played king of the hill, you know that the object is for one person, the king, to maintain his position on top of a hill by dominating everyone beneath him.  Using whatever means necessary (usually a lot of pushing and shoving), the king rules his territory and squashes any and all dissenters.  When it came to our neighborhood, my friends and I reigned supreme, and no one, least of all one of the kids from the next block, was going to topple our regime!

Did you know there is a global game of king of the hill taking place right under our noses?  It is a battle that has been raging since the Garden of Eden, and it has shifted into high gear over the last 2,000 years.  At its core, it is a spiritual, unseen battle between the forces of good and evil.  But make no mistake; the manifestations of this battle are very tangible.

Satan and his demonic forces have influenced elite world leaders for centuries in an attempt to achieve global domination.  His battle plan is deception—he wants to deceive everyone on earth (Rev 12:9).  And his goal is to conquer the world (Rev 6:2).  The Bible reminds us that in the present age, evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Tim 3:13).  It has been nearly 2,000 years since that prophecy was written—which means that for 2,000 years evil and deception have been increasing in intensity.  For Satan, world domination is far more than a good-natured backyard game.  He wants to overthrow the Creator and take His place as the sovereign ruler of the universe.

For a while, it will seem like he is winning the battle.  In fact, just prior to the Second Coming of Christ, Satan personally will control a man whom the Bible calls the “beast” or the “antichrist,” and through him, will set himself up as the global ruler in a one-world government.  At first he will be welcomed by most of the world.  People will line up behind the antichrist, wholeheartedly embracing the one-world system.  Eventually Satan’s reign of terror will be exposed.  But sadly, by the time his insidious plan is uncovered it will be too late for many.

Fortunately his reign will be short-lived.  A mere seven years after taking control of the world, the Antichrist will be overthrown when Christ returns to take His rightful place as the Messianic King.  No one knows for certain when the curtain will rise on the final stages of Satan’s plan for global dominance.  But this much is certain: All around us every day the stage is being set for one world government.

We are being pushed and shoved and oppressed by the global elite who sit perched atop the hill.  Our individual rights are being stripped away all in the name of global progress.  Blinded to reality by Satan’s intensifying deception, the average person is oblivious to the battle that is raging.  Ignorance brings with it a certain feeling of security.  But it is a false security.

By contrast, the reality that comes with a biblical worldview brings peace and confidence because we know that one day the temporary king of the hill will be toppled.  Until then we trust steadfastly in the promise of God’s Word, and eagerly wait for the return of the true King of Kings.  Until then we say, “Reign, reign, go away…come again another day…in true Peace and Righteousness and Justice” (Rev 19:11-15).

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
01/04/2021

“Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” Indeed, we do come to You, for You are the LORD our God. (Jeremiah 3:22)

The week after Christmas is the busiest time of year for stores when it comes to returns. Customer service counters are typically plagued with long lines filled with people returning unwanted gifts. Retailers anticipate an increase in returns this time of year. In fact, during the Christmas shopping season, when gift-buying is at its peak, many retailers provide purchasers with two receipts. The additional receipt is called a “gift receipt.” This allows you to include a receipt with your gift so that the recipient can return it if he or she does not like it.

I recall an experience I had one time during an outing that happened to coincide with the last-minute Christmas shopping rush. It was a few days before Christmas, and I made a quick run to the store to buy paper towels. When I checked out, the cashier gave me a gift receipt. Thinking this was strange, I looked at her and said, “Ma’am, I know I don’t look like the most creative person in the world, but do you really think I’m planning to give paper towels as a Christmas gift?” She smiled and replied, “Everybody gets a gift receipt.”

It seems as though returns have become a routine part of the Christmas experience in our culture. Have you ever been to Walmart the day after Christmas? If you are planning to make a return, you better pack a lunch! It is amazing how fickle we have become in our society. If you don’t want something, you just take it back. It is as simple as that. Yet, while it may be easy to return that unwanted electric mustache comb from Aunt Martha, there is one thing that is often difficult for us to return.

The prophet Jeremiah talks about how reluctant we are to return our hearts to God. Ten times in Jeremiah chapter three, the prophet uses the word “return” as he pleaded with the nation of Judah to come back to the Lord, but God’s people stubbornly refused. Consequently, God’s discipline came upon the people in 586 BC when Jerusalem fell to the invading Babylonians.

Before you return something you must first decide you do not like it. No one returns gifts they like. We return gifts that we do not like, or the ones that do not work, or do not fit, etc. Our devotion to God follows a similar pattern. Before we can return our hearts to Him, we have to decide we do not like our sin. As long as we like our sin, we will never return to God in full, faithful devotion. Sin has pleasure for a season, which makes it hard to realize that we really do not want it after all. Sin is like a new shirt that fits great at first, but then after you wash it, it shrinks and becomes uncomfortable.

Jeremiah called on the people of God to return their hearts to Him. “Your sin does not work,” he cried. “It does not fit.” God’s people never look good in sin. Someone has said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go; keep you longer than you want to stay; and cost you more than you want to pay.” What do you have that needs to be returned to God today? Is it your thought life? Your pride? Your bad habits?

Fortunately, God has a generous lifetime return policy. The great thing about returning our hearts to God is that we all received a spiritual “gift receipt” at the moment we were saved in the form of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is always ready to intercede on our behalf if we would only come to God in repentance, give up our sin, and return our hearts to Him. Furthermore, there are no lines to fight at the throne room in heaven. Everyone gets to go right to the front of the line, lay their burdens and sins down, and receive a fresh start. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
12/27/2022

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

C. S. Lewis wrote, “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” This is a great reminder as we wake up each morning and face the new day. Each sunrise brings with it hope that a better day lies before us. Whatever happened yesterday is in the past; today’s script is yet to be written.

Only the gloomiest of cynics wakes up each morning and asks, “What terrible things will befall me today?” The dawn of a new day wonders, “What joys await me?” When relishing a beautiful sunrise, we look toward it not away from it.

New Year’s Day, in all respects, is a day like any other. It is just another flip of the page on our calendars. Yet, there is something about it that seems different from every other day. January 1st beckons us more urgently to look ahead to new beginnings, new opportunities, new people to meet, new adventures to experience, and new memories to create.

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, my thoughts turn to King David and his unparalleled life of victories, tragedies, failures, and successes. Most people readily connect with David’s writings because our lives tell similar stories.

We may never have staved off menacing wolves, killed a giant on the battlefield, won a war, or committed murder, but we can relate to David’s heart cries in the Psalms because we have our own wolves to watch out for, giants to slay, battles to win, and sins to deal with.

In Psalm 30, David reflects on a particular difficult circumstance that he had endured. Sometimes trials are a fact of life, through no fault of our own. They are the result of living in a fallen world under the curse of sin. Other times, we bring hardship on ourselves. In David’s case, his trial was due to his own bad choices. We do not know the specifics of the sin that brought God’s discipline in David’s life, but we get a glimpse at David’s response.

David praised God for the fact that His anger is temporary, but His covenant blessings are permanent. “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Although our loving Father disciplines us, nothing can ever separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). He wants only the best for His children, and He will fulfill His promises.

True joy comes only through a relationship with God through His eternal Son, Jesus Christ. Have you placed your faith in Jesus, the One who died and rose again to save you from the penalty of sin? If not do so today.

If you already know the Lord Jesus by faith, rest in His promise of joy. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and said, “Peace be with you.” The Bible tells us, “The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord” (John 20:19-20, NIV). Whatever trials, difficulties, and heartaches you experienced this past year, let me encourage you to seek the “joy of the morning” as we begin this new year.

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
12/23/2023

Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

In 1989, Sigourney Weaver was nominated for an Academy Award for her leading role in the film Gorillas in the Mist, which was nominated for a total of five Oscars. The movie was based upon the life and tragic death of Dian Fossey, and her book by the same title. Fossey’s amazing story was also detailed in multiple issues of National Geographic magazine.

Dian Fossey was a zoologist and anthropologist who spent more than seventeen years studying mountain gorillas in Africa. In 1967, she established the Karisoke Research Center in the shadows of Mount Bisoke volcano in the Virunga mountain range bordering Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is reported that locals in the area called her Nyirmachabelli—“woman who lives alone in the mountain.”

Fossey lived among the rare, gentle mountain gorillas who were threatened by the cruelty of poachers who were tracking them down, one-by-one, and slaughtering them. She began her mission in 1963 on the side of a 14,000-foot-tall, rain-shrouded volcano, and after several years the gorillas came to accept her as one of their own. Fossey named her gorillas, cradled their babies, and cried with them when they mourned their dead.

She once wrote: “These powerful but shy and gentle animals accepted and responded to my attentions when I acted like a gorilla. So I learned to scratch and groom and beat my chest. I imitated my subjects’ vocalizations (hoots, grunts, and belches), munched the foliage they ate, kept low to the ground and deliberate in movement.”

After nearly eighteen years with the gorillas, she became like them, dwelt among them, and they were her friends. When faced with danger, she bravely defended them. She was their hero. And on the morning of December 27, 1985, she was knifed and murdered, apparently by poachers whose trade she had sought to destroy. She died for those she came to live among and to save.

Two thousand years ago, Christ left the comforts of His home for the fog-shrouded volcano of earth. He identified with us, learned our names, wept with us. And He, too, died for those He came to live among and to save.  Jesus once said: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friend.” (John 15:13)

The story of Dian Fossey was about gorillas in the mist. The story of Christ is about God in the midst. Eight centuries before Christ, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed that the baby born in Bethlehem would be called, Immanuel—God with us. And that is precisely what happened that first Christmas morning: God left the eternal realm of glory, came to earth, and put on human flesh to rescue a lost and dying world from the penalty of sin.

Let us never forget that the story of Christmas is a story of unparalleled love and compassion. It is a story of humility, grace, and sacrifice. The essence of the Gospel message is God in the midst. God in the midst of sin-stricken, helpless, and hurting people. God in the midst of a world in desperate need of a hero. God in the midst of you and me.  Do you know Him?

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took our place on the cross, died and rose again for our sins. And He offers freely to all the gift of forgiveness and eternal life if we will simply trust Him and Him alone for it.

By: J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
12/19/2019

A Truly White Christmas

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

Here in the Rocky Mountains, we get more than our share of snow.  Indeed, we measure snow in feet not inches.  Much of wintertime is spent tuned in to the Weather Channel watching the forecast and reading the advisories.  Travel through the mountain passes can be treacherous with blizzards, whiteouts, and icy roads.  By March we are longing to see more green and less white.  But in spite of these seasonal hardships, I just cannot seem to shake my romantic relationship with that first snowfall of winter.

There is nothing quite like it.  Watching the snowflakes float effortlessly toward the ground… Seeing rooftops and roads slowly turn white…  Beholding the tall pines as they become draped in snowy gowns... Something about it seems to fill the air with the aroma of smoke even before the first fireplace lights up.

Then as November gives way to December, and the brown and orange decorations of Thanksgiving transform into red and green, I begin dreaming of a white Christmas.  Bing Crosby's classic fills my mind and filters out over my lips with a hum.  Yet, as special as it is to wake up to see the sun gleaming off of snow covered mountain peaks on Christmas morning, we must never forget that there is really only one way to have a truly white Christmas.  A tragic story illustrates this point.

The story is about a young man named Lindsay, whose father was not likely to win any father-of-the-year awards.  His dad was particularly distracted during the holidays.  He spent much of the Christmas season on the road, and when he was home he worked long hours and had a short temper with Lindsay.

Perhaps it was the stress of the season, or perhaps it was the alcohol, but Lindsay’s father was especially rough on him this time of year.  Lindsay had to do extra chores on the family ranch and he endured regular whippings and verbal assaults when he did not live up to his father’s expectations.  He was often belittled and humiliated.

Memories of this emotional and physical abuse followed Lindsay into adulthood.  Every year at Christmas, these painful recollections flooded his mind, as if demons were tormenting him and holding him captive in a prison-house of despair.  One friend said, “Lindsay was never able to find happiness. He became a hard-drinking hell-raiser who went from woman to woman and couldn’t find peace or success.”

On December 11, 1989, at the age of 51, Lindsay listened to Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” one last time.  Then he put a gun to his head and a bullet through his brain.  And that is the ironic and heartrending story of the life and death of Bing Crosby’s son—Lindsay Crosby.
Lindsay once said, “I hated Christmas because of Pop, and I always will.  It brings back the pain and fear I suffered as a child. And if I ever do myself in, it will be at Christmastime. That will show the world what I think of Bing Crosby’s White Christmas.”

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Bing Crosby’s White Christmas is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide. Nevertheless, the disheartening tale of Lindsay is a stark reminder that without Jesus to wash us whiter than snow, there can never be a genuinely white Christmas.  Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem that first Christmas morning 2,000 years ago so that our sins, though they be as scarlet, can be as white as snow.

This Christmas, as you look out the window at the gently falling snowflakes, remember the most important lesson of all: Jesus Christ was born in a manger so that He could grow up and die in your place on the cross.   He rose from the dead and offers to everyone who believes in Him the free gift of eternal life.  Have you trusted in Christ for salvation?

And the Wait Goes On
By: J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6–7)

I had been sitting in the deer stand for what seemed like hours. It actually was probably only about thirty minutes, but to a teenager hoping to bag a trophy buck, time crept more slowly than sap on a sugar maple. Patience has never been my long suit, and waiting did not come easily in the early hours of that cold December morning. Eventually, a buck emerged from behind a mesquite tree. He was about one hundred yards away, and at first I had trouble finding him with my binoculars. It was critical that I get a clear, close-up look at his antlers because this 1,500-acre ranch in the Texas hill country had a policy that only bucks with eight points or better could be taken.

When I finally zeroed in on him, his head was obscured by a low-hanging branch and I could not get an accurate count of his points. “Was it eight? Or only seven?” I wondered. I thought to myself, “I see seven for sure, but isn’t that an eighth point on the left side of his rack?” I counted. And counted again. By this time, I had raised my .300 savage and was watching him through my scope. Each time the unsuspecting buck would tilt or turn his head, I would count again from a new vantage point. Every count came up with only seven points, yet there must be an eighth point, I reasoned with myself.

Maybe it was the cold. Maybe it was the adrenaline. Maybe it was just an honest miscount. Regardless, my patience ran out, and I shot a 7-point buck that morning. The guys back at the lodge never let me live it down. I was forever known as the “guy who can’t count,” or the “guy with a quick trigger.” To add insult to injury, the next day, at that same stand, late in the morning hunt, a fellow-hunter killed an impressive 10-pointer. If only I had been more patient, perhaps that trophy would have been mine.

Patience is the rarest of virtues. Waiting does not come easily for most people. As we look back at the birth of the Messiah on that first Christmas morning, we find that the promise of global peace and justice was not realized at that time. It was the eighth century BC prophet Isaiah who had foretold of a virgin who would conceive (Isaiah 7:14) and a child who would be born (Isaiah 9:6). Isaiah’s contemporary, Micah, prophesied that this baby would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Seven hundred years later when that baby finally arrived, most had already given up hope. Their patience had run out.

Moreover, the nation of Israel failed to recognize that Isaiah’s famous prophecy would be fulfilled in stages. The “Son was given” in Bethlehem, and He eventually made His way to the cross where He became the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Yet, Isaiah also foretold of a time when “the government would be upon His shoulder” and He would establish “justice” and “peace” forever (Isaiah 9:7). Clearly that did not happen in the first century when the nation of Israel crowned Jesus, not with a King’s crown, but with thorns.

In the years immediately following Christ’s death and resurrection, believers eagerly waited for His return. They understood that the remainder of Isaiah’s prophecy awaited future fulfillment. Paul wrote, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20) However, over the centuries, hope began to wane. Many believers, in a similar manner to the first century Jews, ran out of patience, to the point where today, very few Christians are heeding Christ’s admonition to “look up and be watchful, for our redemption is drawing nigh.” (Luke 21:28)

And so, the wait goes on. As we celebrate Christmas this year, we need Christ’s Kingdom of peace and righteousness like never before. Be patient. “If we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (Romans 8:25) Jesus promised to return and take the throne (Matthew 25:31). He promised to make all things new when He returns (Revelation 21:5). The world may seem like a very cold, dark place right now. Keep waiting. A better day is coming, and the reward is great. Merry Christmas!

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
12/04/2022

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4–5)

I came across a humorous story recently that perfectly illustrates what Christmas is really all about. It seems a pastor was sitting in his office on the first Saturday of December. Outside in the courtyard of the church the men of the church were in the process of building a stage for a live nativity scene that would take place later in the month. It was a mild day and the pastor had his window opened, which allowed him to hear two nearby children discussing the construction project. One child asked the other, “What is this going to be?” The other child responded, “Oh, they’re building a live fertility scene.”

Out of the mouth of babes! A “fertility” scene indeed. According to God’s Word, we are all born dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:10). We need to be made alive. We need new life. As Jesus told Nicodemus, we need to be “born from above” (John 3:3). And it is only in Christ that we can find this new life. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

When the Son of God left the eternal realm of glory, put on human flesh, and came to earth that first Christmas morning, He came to bring life. It was great news! “Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’” (Luke 2:10–11).

The Christmas story is really a fertility story. It is a story about bringing new life to a lost and dying world. It is a story about hope for the hopeless; peace for the troubled; rest for the weary. It is a story of new beginnings and fresh starts. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ…for He Himself is our peace…” (Ephesians 2:13-14).

Jesus said, “I am the way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). And He offers that life freely to all who will receive it by faith. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Have you received the new life that only Christ offers? Have you been born again? If not let me encourage you to make this Christmas the best Christmas ever by placing your faith in the only One who can save you from the penalty of sin and give you new life.

If you have already trusted Christ, and Him alone, for your eternal salvation, let me encourage you to reflect on the new life you have in Him and enjoy the abundant life that He gave you. “I come that you might have life, and that more abundantly” (John 10:10). Merry Christmas! Have a wonderful fertility season!

Seasons Come and Seasons Go
By: J. B. Hixson, Ph.D.

“I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.” (Ezekiel 34:26)

Do you know much about Ezekiel? He was a prophet to Israel during the time of the nation’s exile in Babylon. He prophesied for twenty-two years from 593 to 571 BC. During his ministry he foretold of a time when Israel would be restored to her sacred land and enjoy peace and safety. According to his prophecy, the ultimate fulfillment of Israel’s restoration will not occur until Christ returns to establish His earthly kingdom. When He comes, Christ will reign over all the earth from God’s holy hill, a reference to Jerusalem. It will be a time of global righteousness and justice never before seen on the earth.

Wouldn’t you like to know when all of this will come to pass? When will the suffering and heartache that span the globe give way to joy and blessing? Ezekiel tells us it will happen “in its season.” Nearly 2,500 years after Ezekiel, his prophecy inspired Daniel Webster Whittle to write the following hymn in 1883.

There shall be showers of blessing.
This is the promise of love.
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need.
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

Ezekiel refers to the future earthly kingdom of Christ as a time when God’s “showers of blessing” will come down “in their season.” Throughout history, God’s chosen nation of Israel experienced various seasons. Often, these were times of refreshing linked to Israel’s obedience and faithfulness. Sometimes God’s people faced negative consequences due to their own disobedience. Still other times, circumstances beyond Israel’s control caused them to experience a dark and stormy season. Yet through it all, Israel held on to the hope that showers of blessing would come; and they always did.

Are you going through a difficult season? Perhaps, like Israel, you have been led away from your land of milk and honey into a land of captivity, and you long to return to the promised land of peace and contentment. Ezekiel’s message is a message of hope. God has not utterly forsaken you; you can be sure of that. The showers of blessing will come; it is a promise. Time after time the Old Testament prophets balanced the difficult times in the lives of God’s people with promises of hope and restoration. David echoes Ezekiel’s words when he writes, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

Seasons come and seasons go. If you are living in a time of God’s extended blessing, praise Him for it. Enjoy the moment, being careful to give God all the glory. If you are living in a time of extended drought, praise Him for that too; and be patient, because the rain is coming. Though the seasons may change, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) No matter what your season, Jesus Christ is the one constant in an ever-changing world. Keep your eyes on Him.

Hold on to the promise that God is good all the time, in all seasons. Paul reminded us of this fact when he spoke to the crowds in Lystra. He said that God “did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:17) As the pages on your calendar turn, allow the changing seasons to remind you of the seasons of life, and never forget…there shall be showers of blessing.

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
04/26/2023

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11–12)

Early in my ministry I worked in sales to help supplement my income. As a sales representative, I learned very quickly that my task was not to sell a product or service; it was to sell the value of my product or service. I needed to establish the need, and then explain why my product would meet that need. Sales associates make a mistake when they spend too much time highlighting the problem, but not enough describing how their product can solve that problem. Once a prospective customer sees the value of the product, closing the sale becomes easy.

As I reflected on this well-known sales principle, it occurred to me that there is an application for the church today. Lately, many prophecy teachers, including me, spend a great deal of time exposing the problems in our country—and for good reason. There can be no doubt America is in dire straits. By virtually every measure, we are declining. Morally, culturally, economically, spiritually… all the metrics say the same thing. Namely, these are not the finest days for our country.

Bible teachers are right to call out the church for its role in aiding and abetting this decline. The church has failed to take a stand against sin. Apostasy is rampant, and only a small remnant of Bible-believing churches and pastors are sounding the alarm. Everywhere we turn, evangelical churches in America are adopting a woke, inclusivist model that welcomes and embraces sin rather than confronting it

The church in America has lost its luster. We no longer resemble the special, unique body of Christ that was turning the world upside down in the first century (Acts 17:6). If anything, the church today is hastening America’s rapid slide into oblivion. By and large, the American church is apostate, artificial, apathetic, and asleep. There is no place for this in true, biblical ecclesiology. A woke church is not a church, at least not in the biblical definition.

Yet, as important as it is to confront the church when it compromises on moral standards and abandons the clear teaching of God’s Word, perhaps we have not done a good job of explaining how the church is supposed to make America better. What is the value of the church? Why does America need the church, now more than ever?

First, America needs the church because the church is a divinely ordained institution. In God’s plan of the ages, He established the church in this present age because we have a job to do. The church has many purposes in the world today.

The church exists to showcase the exceeding riches of God’s amazing grace (Ephesians 2:7) by sharing the clear, accurate, and urgent Gospel. We are here to call attention to Christ’s name (Acts 11:26; 15:14). When the church is fulfilling its divine purpose, we remind Satan that God is eminently wiser than he is (Ephesians 3:10). We also remind unbelieving Israel of the benefits of serving God (Romans 11:11) so that when the Messiah returns, they will receive Him. And never forget the crucial role the church is supposed to play in the spiritual battle raging for control of the earth (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Second, America needs the church because the church makes America great. We are to shine like lights in an otherwise dark, perverse, and crooked world (Philippians 2:15). The presence of the Holy Spirit, working in and through the biblical church today, serves as a restraining influence on the destructive, sinful behavior of the world (2 Thessalonians 2:7). When people see the church, functioning like the church is supposed to function, it brings glory to God (1 Peter 2:11-12; Matthew 5:16).

Third, America needs the church because our government has abandoned its duty. Like the institution of the church, the institution of civil government also has a divinely designed purpose and obligation. Throughout history, when governments fail to perform their God-given purpose, God often brings judgment. Solomon warned, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). In God’s divine design, the government exists to punish evil and bless good (1 Peter 2:14). When the government is asleep at the wheel, the church must stand in the gap and maintain the standard of morality and righteousness.

There is a remedy for our nation’s serious problems, and it does not take much selling to see it. If the church will behave the way the church is supposed to behave, it will make America a much better place as we await the Lord’s return.

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
1/30/2022

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)

If you have ever purchased a car on credit, you are familiar with the concept of installment plans. You know how it works. You pay a certain amount of money up front and then so much a month until you eventually own the car. These days, most installment plans like car loans and mortgages, are paid via electronic funds transfer. Back in the day, however, an installment loan came with a payment booklet. Each page showed the monthly payment, principal and interest, balance owed, and the number of remaining payments before the loan was paid off.

Having to mail a payment coupon each month to the bank along with your check made it easier to remember that the thing you were purchasing did not actually belong to you just yet. After a long time, and a series of repeated payments, the debt was erased, and the house or car was yours. Installment-buying means the item is not yours until the final payment is made.

Many people have the mistaken notion that salvation works like that. They are trying to be saved on the installment plan. They think that they must pay for their sins by offering God some kind of pledge or promise up front, followed by a certain amount of good works every day/week/month. They seem to have the idea that God will erase some of the debt of their sins each time they do something good.

I hope none of you has that idea, because if you do you will never be saved. Your sin debt cannot be paid with installments of good works over time. The Bible says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5). “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5).

God settles our debt instantly when we trust in Jesus Christ to forgive our sins and give us the free gift of eternal life. Eternal salvation happens immediately, not over months and years as we return the payment coupons. For example, when God saved Abraham, He said that Abraham’s faith was “reckoned to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3). That means that when Abraham believed, his faith was put on his account as payment in full for his sins.

God settled Abraham’s account all at once. God did not hand Abraham a book of payment coupons the moment he believed. The instant he believed, God fully and forever settled his debt of sin, and God does the same with anyone and everyone who receives His payment on their behalf by faith. “Being justified by faith we have peace with God" (Romans 5:1). “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

2,000 years ago, there lived a group of people who had become experts on the erroneous "installment plan road to heaven." The Scribes and Pharisees lived their lives according to a 613-installment legal code that said as long as they kept making the payments of good works, they would be first in line to enter the Kingdom of heaven. They were dead wrong.
The problem with this line of thinking is that the payments never end. There is no last page in the coupon book. You can never do enough good works to meet the standard of perfection that heaven requires.

That is why the Gospel is such good news. It pays a debt we can never pay on our own. The moment we believe the Gospel, our debt is paid in full, and we are saved instantly and eternally. Is your sin debt paid in full? Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died and rose again for your sins? If so, stop trying to pay for something you already own. Rest in the assurance of your salvation.

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
07/25/2023

“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30)

Bible prophecy enthusiasts are known for their love of charts. Long before Clarence Larkin produced his masterfully illustrated book, Dispensational Truth, in 1918, prophecy teachers were sketching out the details of God’s end times plan on chalkboards and scratch paper to illustrate what God’s Word has to say about the end of the age.

More than one hundred years later, eschatology experts continue to explain the prophetic future using elaborate PowerPoint and Keynote presentations. Such charts can be particularly helpful in clarifying the sequential order of end times events. Where does the Rapture occur relative to the Second Coming? When will the abomination of desolation take place? Where do the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments fall within the 70th week of Daniel?

These and other questions are more easily answered when we can visualize the timeline of future events. Yet, as useful as charts can be, we must be careful not to let the sophistication of our drawings obscure the object of our faith. Never forget: The hero of all Bible prophecy is Jesus Christ, our Savior and King!

Don’t misunderstand me. Our system of eschatology is crucial, and we should do whatever we can to clearly portray it. We must passionately defend the doctrine of the Rapture and other prophetic truths as we rightly divide the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15). But our system should not eclipse our Savior. When we teach and talk about the return of Christ, let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

This tendency to let the trees obscure the forest as we study theology is not a new problem. The people of Israel often elevated the shadow of the temple system above the substance to which it pointed (Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 8:5; 10:1). The Psalmist expressed the proper attitude toward the Jewish system when he wrote, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalm 84:10).

In other words, he valued being near the temple, not for legalistic or religious reasons, but because there he could experience intimacy with God. For the Jews, the temple represented the presence of Yahweh. By standing in the temple, the Psalmist was able to more intentionally worship God and focus on Him. Today, studying Bible prophecy should provide the same opportunity for Christians. Do we study the end times because it draws us closer to our Lord?

Perhaps one reason so many Christians have little or no interest in the study of Bible prophecy is because we have inadvertently focused more on the plotline of prophecy than the Hero of history. We are so busy debating dates, details, and diagrams that we have missed the point. Jesus Christ, the One who took my place on the cross and paid my personal penalty for sin, is coming again, and when He does, I will meet Him face to face. What a day that will be!

Jesus said, “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30, emphasis added). Seeing our Savior is the essence of Bible prophecy.

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
06/02/2023

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. (Proverbs 26:27)

Recently the U. S. Air Force conducted a simulation in which an AI-enabled drone tasked with destroying surface-to-air missile sites attacked the very officer who was controlling it. The story sent shockwaves around the world with headlines such as, “AI Could Go Rogue and Kill Its Human Operators.”

The Airforce later walked back the incident, but one official with firsthand knowledge of the test said in a blogpost, “[The AI] killed the operator. It killed the operator because that person was keeping it from accomplishing its objective.” He added, “We trained the system: ‘Hey, don’t kill the operator – that’s bad. You’re gonna lose points if you do that.’ So, what does it start doing? It starts destroying the communication tower that the operator uses to communicate with the drone to stop it from killing the target.”

Stories of AI systems going rogue are becoming more and more common as our world hurtles rapidly toward a nightmare dystopian scenario right out of Hollywood. Skynet is no longer a fictional enemy confined to the Terminator movie franchise; it is a reality. Such advancements in technology are paving the way for the Beast system, a full spectrum planetary control grid led by the Antichrist and False Prophet during the future seven-year tribulation.

The Luciferian elite are hard at work trying to create “godlike” beings, as Yuval Noah Harari put it. They are constructing a bio-digital convergence they believe will transcend humanity and constitute the perfect weapon against anyone who resists the great Satanic reset. Yet, any attempt to thwart God’s sovereign control and contravene his plan of the ages is sure to fail. No amount of computing power, semi-sentient artificial intelligence, or array of microchips will change that.

Scripture reminds us the very weapons used by Satan and his earthly accomplices will one day blow back on them the same way the AI-enabled drone turned on its operator. Perhaps that is why God laughs at the oligarchs who dream of controlling the world (Psalm 2:4-6). He knows the stone they are fashioning is going to eventually roll back on them (Proverbs 26:27). Sometimes justice is poetic, as the enemy is hoisted by his own petard.

AI weaponry is no match for God. The technocrats are ignoring the promise in Scripture that no weapon formed against God and His people will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). In an ironic twist, one day the one who claims to be god will be crushed by God Himself. Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, will destroy the Beast’s system with the “breath of His mouth and the brightness of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

All the intellectual enlightenment and scientific virtuosity of the transhumanists is useless against Almighty God. Those who conspire against the Lord and His Anointed are plotting a vain, hopeless thing (Psalm 2:1-3). “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray” (Proverbs 5:21–23).

By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
12/10/2021

“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13–14)

By now you likely are familiar with The Great Reset being thrust upon the world by Klaus Schwab, Bill Gates, the World Economic Forum, and a host of other Luciferian elites. If you are not, I encourage you to watch the series What In the World Is Going On? in which I expose the Satanic, globalist agenda that is rapidly unfolding before our very eyes. The Great Reset is the phrase these globocrats use to describe their evil scheme, according to which they plan to kill billions of human beings and control every aspect of the ones who survive.

One leading Luciferian, David Rockefeller, who died in 2017 before this one-world objective was fully rolled out, put it this way in an address before the globalist think tank, the Trilateral Commission, “The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto determination practiced in past centuries.” In other words, nation-states are a thing of the past. What we really need is a one-world government.

Another member of this Luciferian cabal, James Paul Warburg, who hails from a long line of global elites, declared, “We shall have world government whether you like it or not, by conquest or consent.” Zbigniew Brzezinski, who died the same year his co-conspirator David Rockefeller did, 2017, arrogantly proclaimed not long before his death, “Today it is infinitely easier to kill one million people than to control one million people.” Declarations like these are pervasive within the writings and speeches of these malevolent oligarchs.

As horrifying as these statements are, it is nevertheless a thrilling time to be alive. Why? Because we are witnessing like never before the setting of the stage for the climactic conclusion of God’s plan of the ages. What once was a secretive plan known only to the elites themselves, and a handful of relentless investigators, is now out in the open. The Luciferian conspiracy is no longer an assertion of a few well-informed researchers; it is a brazen blueprint for a new world order outlined in books, summits, and the evening news.

The war between Satan and God that has raged for six thousand years is heating up and racing toward the final battle, Armageddon. Along with his demons and earthly accomplices, Satan is pulling out all the stops as he seeks to take control of the earth and usher in the one-world political, economic, and religious system prophesied in Scripture.

Meanwhile, God, the Creator of the universe, is not the least bit impressed. All of this is clearly predicted in His self-revelation to mankind, the Bible. God laughs at the notion that somehow these Satanists will be able to overthrow His sovereign plan. “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion’” (Psalm 2:4–6).

When you find yourself anxious about the Great Satanic Reset that is advancing at warp speed, let me encourage you to stop and contemplate the greatest reset that is yet to come. After the rapture; after the 7-year tribulation; after the battle of Armageddon; the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, will return to inaugurate the long-awaited Kingdom of peace, righteousness, and justice. The true King will take the throne in God’s holy hill, Mount Zion.

When He returns, Christ will make all things new. This will be a reset like no other as the world comes full circle back to the pre-fall, Edenic state in the Garden. All the injustices and inequities of life will be made right. Satan and his fellow conspirators on earth will be “broken with a rod of iron” and “dashed to pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2:9).

The best thing about the Greatest Reset? It will be a permanent one! Daniel the prophet reminds us, “Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13–14). What a day that will be!