Devotional

No Regrets – Dr. Tim Hill

Dr. Tim Hill -Singer - Songwriter - Author - General Overseer of the Church of God
Dr. Tim Hill -Singer – Songwriter – Author – General Overseer of the Church of God

Everybody ought to live so they can have a convincing declaration of departure. Every time I travel out of the country and return through customs, I have to exit through one of two gates. One gate is marked “things to declare”. The other is marked, “Nothing to declare”.  One day, when I exit this life
I hope to go through the gate with something to declare. That’s what Paul did as he was getting ready to meet Jesus.

Obviously, he couldn’t take any natural goods from this life but he  left declaring, “I’ve fought a good fight, finished the course and kept the faith.” Any regrets he may have ever had had long before been covered by the blood of the lamb and he was more than
qualified to say, “I am now ready to go.”

How liberating it must have been to be at such a place of confidence and completion that Paul could just throw up his hands and say, “That’s  it, all done, assignment finished. Now let’s go home!”

A life fulfilled should be every Christian’s
goal. Is that even possible? According to David it is. The secret is found in the
23rd Psalm.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. This is a promise of provision
supplied.

My daily bread comes from
the “Bread of Life” himself, Jesus Christ.
He has promised to provide for all my needs. “But my God shall supply all of my need according to His riches in Glory
by Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 4:19)

To be blessed “according to” someones riches is dramatically different than being blessed “out of” their riches. God meets our need in light of his abundant resources. And oh, what resources he has. He’s not into token giving or token blessings. He  is an abundant source of supply.

He makes me lie down in green pastures
and leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul. This is a promise of
peace serene.

There is a constant and consistent calm available to all who serve the Lord, even when a raging storm is brewing and trouble is breaking out like a prarie fire all around you. Paul said it best, “We are troubled on every hand, yet not distressed, Perplexed but not in despair. Persecuted but not forsaken and cast down but never
destroyed.” The promise of peace does not mean immunity from trouble but rather a quite confidence while it is going on.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. This is the promise of protection surrounding.

David had his enemies and though it isn’t a pleasant  thought we are not on everybody’s “favorites list” either, but if we keep our hearts right, God has promised to fight our battles while we are having dinner. Seriously, David was affirming the overiding protection of God in spite of the near proximity of his foes.

He leads me in the paths of rigteousness
for his names sake. This is the promise
of purity settled.

You don’t  have to live in sin, because following  in the footsteps of Jesus leads to a born again soul and sanctified mind. He has laid His name on the line to insure your safe
journey down a righteous path. I’ve got a feeling you’ll get there alright.

He anoints my head with oil and my cup
runs over. This is the promise of of His presence sustained. The oil used in the anointing process had a long lasting fragrance about it. It did not soon diminish or evaporate. God’s presence is ever with you and His abiding joy is there too because the
bible states that in His presence, there is fullness of joy.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I  will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. This is the promise of paradise secured.

My Dad used to say, “Im followed daily
by two angels. One is named goodness
and the other is named mercy.” I think
Dad was right and they are helping us every day. God is using  them to help guide me to Paradise and once I get there, I don’t ever have to leave. It’s an eternal home not a temporary vacation. Best of all, Jesus himself will be there to welcome me in.

When I get there, I’m going to look for the line for those with something to declare and
If I find one, I will declare with Paul
I have no regrets because standing in
the presence of a King will make it all
worth while.

Dr Timothy Hill

Dr. Timothy Hill currently serves as General Overseer of the Church of God. He has also served as the general director of World Missions; First Assistant General Overseer; Second Assistant General Overseer; Secretary General of the Executive Committee at the International Offices of the Church of God; Chairman of the Executive Council of the Church of God; and as Administrative Bishop for the Church of God in Southern Ohio and Oklahoma. Hill graduated from Lee University, Cleveland, Tennessee, in 1987, and received a Doctorate of Divinity from the Church of God Theological Seminary, Cleveland, Tennessee, in 2006. Hill has released a book entitled, “Beyond the Mist,” which has also been translated into Spanish. He has authored five books of sermons and written 150 gospel songs over the past 32 years. Many of his songs have been recorded by the nation’s top artists in gospel music. Hill is the author of the number one song, “He’s Still in the Fire,” which was voted as Song of the Year by Gospel Voice Magazine.
Back to top button