Life or Death?

“A good reputation is more valuable than the most expensive perfume. The day one dies is better than the day he is born! It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals. For you are going to die, and it is a good thing to think about it while there is still time.”
(Ecclesiastes 7: 1-2) -TLB

What is death? Is death the end of life? Have you given death much thought? If you haven’t given death much thought, you haven’t reflected on life enough. Before I Die is a global art project that invites people to contemplate death and reflect on their lives. Originally created by the artist Candy Chang on an abandoned house in New Orleans after she lost someone she loved, today there are over 2,000 walls around the world. I encourage you to look through the website and examine many of the responses people wrote. How many of those responses reflect a life well lived?

When someone dies, people who knew the deceased person share memories about him/her. When you die, you most likely will be remembered for the true person you had been. If you were to die today, what would people say about you tomorrow? What would they know about you? What would they not know about you that you would want them to know? How would they describe you? That’s the purpose of an obituary – it explains who you were.

The worst obituary I have ever read came from the Reno Gazette-Journal:

“Marianne Theresa Johnson-Reddick born Jan 4, 1935 and died alone on Aug. 30, 2013. She is survived by her 6 of 8 children whom she spent her lifetime torturing in every way possible. While she neglected and abused her small children, she refused to allow anyone else to care or show compassion towards them. When they became adults she stalked and tortured anyone they dared to love. Everyone she met, adult or child was tortured by her cruelty and exposure to violence, criminal activity, vulgarity, and hatred of the gentle or kind human spirit. On behalf of her children whom she so abrasively exposed to her evil and violent life, we celebrate her passing from this earth and hope she lives in the after-life reliving each gesture of violence, cruelty, and shame that she delivered on her children. Her surviving children will now live the rest of their lives with the peace of knowing their nightmare finally has some form of closure.”

The purpose of this message is to give you a second chance (or 3rd, 4th, or 100th chance). GOD inspired me with this message in order to give you another chance to repent of any wrongdoing and to become the person you are meant to be. You could die tomorrow; you could die tonight. Regardless of how many chances GOD has already given you, this could be your last chance. We should all start by examining our own hearts. Perhaps you could relate with that awful obituary and you have also held resentment toward someone. GOD commands forgiveness. If you struggle with forgiveness, please read my other article, “The Frog In Your Jar.”

It doesn’t matter where you start, it matters if you finish and where you finish. There have been people born into money yet ended up miserable and broke when they died. Some people are so poor all they have is money. There have been people who were born into poor families yet they ended up having money at the end of their lives. I once read a news article about someone who had received a terminal diagnosis from a doctor and then ended up beating the illness and living many years longer than the doctor claimed she would live. What does it all mean? How can we make sense of it all?

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.”
(Exodus 14:21) -ESV

“When she couldn’t hide him any longer she got a little basket-boat made of papyrus, waterproofed it with tar and pitch, and placed the child in it. Then she set it afloat in the reeds at the edge of the Nile.”
(Exodus 2:3) -MSG

In an attempt for population control, Pharaoh of Egypt had ordered that all newborn males of the Hebrew population be drowned in the Nile River. Moses was born in secret and protected for about three months until his mother could no longer hide him. The life of Moses started as an abandoned baby in a basket in the very river where he was supposed to have been drowned. Moses’ life began where it was supposed to end. Do you feel like you’re at your end? GOD declares that at your end you will find the beginning. How? The beginning in Christ is found at the end of yourself.

“If any one of you wants to follow Me, you will have to give yourself up to God’s plan, take up your cross, and do as I do. For any one of you who wants to be rescued will lose your life, but any one of you who loses your life for My sake and for the sake of this good news will be liberated.”
(Mark 8: 34-35) -Voice

“If you have heard Jesus and have been taught by Him according to the truth that is in Him, then you know to take off your former way of life, your crumpled old self – that dark blot of a soul corrupted by deceitful desire and lust – to take a fresh breath and to let God renew your attitude and spirit. Then you are ready to put on your new self, modeled after the very likeness of God: truthful, righteous, and holy.”
(Ephesians 4: 21-24) -Voice [See also Romans 12:2)

Understand this: Moses grew up, became a murderer, and ran away to start a new life somewhere else. However, GOD spoke to Moses from a burning bush and gave him another chance and changed his life. Even though Moses was chosen from the day he was born, it wasn’t until Moses was at his own end that he found his true beginning. Moses didn’t find his calling until he gave up trying to do everything his own way. Miracles didn’t come through Moses until he decided to let go and let GOD guide. And because Moses seized the second chance GOD gave him, he ended up as a prominent leader who led the Israelites out of slavery. That’s how Moses was remembered! I’m pretty confident that his obituary wouldn’t have even mentioned the fact that he had once murdered an Egyptian. I’m pretty sure Moses’ obituary would have read something like this: “He led the Israelites out of slavery, parted the Red Sea, got lost for 40 years, but then finally found the promised land. He was a good leader.”

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 8: 38-39) –NLT

GOD loves us so much that He provides opportunities for us to change. Most people don’t live to their full potential because they live in fear. The fears of pain and failure usually prevent people from even taking one single step of faith outside of their comfort zones. Refer back to Ecclesiastes 7:2 – it is good for us to think about our death while we still have the time to do so. So, let’s do that. Let’s ponder on our death for a moment.

Why in the human experience do we die? Your body is programmed (intelligently designed) to expire. Your body tells itself to age and to allow death to overtake it. It is a process called apoptosis. But why? Let us look at the definition of the process that kills us:

Apoptosis:  A genetically directed process of cell self-destruction that is marked by the fragmentation of nuclear DNA, is activated either by the presence of a stimulus or removal of a suppressing agent or stimulus, and is a normal physiological process eliminating DNA-damaged, superfluous, or unwanted cells —called also programmed cell death.

Apoptosis is basically the act of our body committing suicide at a very slow rate. What we see at old age is the privation of the good in the original design. Regardless of whether or not our mind is aware of this, our soul knows that the body is temporary and that the soul has somewhere else to be (2Corinthians 5:1). The very difference between a body that is declared alive and a body that is declared dead is the soul within or the lack thereof. Dead bodies are interesting. There is a noticeable difference between a body (shell) that contains a soul and one that does not. When the soul exits the physical body, that body no longer moves and it begins to decay and rot even faster than it had with the soul inside of it. Truth be told, the energy of the soul is the energy source that keeps our bodies going. But the energy that powers our souls comes from the Source — GOD!

Can you imagine what Earth would be like if it were full of humans who did not die? As if pride doesn’t run rampant enough in this world! We would have people gloating, “Who cares?! I can’t die anyway!” People would do whatever they wanted without regard for anyone else. It would be complete chaos.

What would be served as a consequence for mistakes if death didn’t exist? If death didn’t exist, would there be consequences at all? Death is the destination of all negative consequences. Sure, one can do something that will burn and inflict pain, correct? And isn’t it also correct that someone can do something that will lead to hunger? But all minor consequences ultimately lead to the major of death if not dealt with and managed. If we view death in this manner, it becomes a good thing. Limits. Rules. Guidelines. Commandments. If only the world would seek Truth! All things, regardless of how small or insignificant they may be, call attention to the greatness of GOD!

Look at the definition of apoptosis again. It says it “is activated either by the presence of a stimulus or removal of a suppressing agent or stimulus.” – That’s exactly right! It is both! The presence of GOD that grants life and enables life to exist is what causes us to grow and live! The removal of GOD’s presence is the death. Imagine the process as GOD’s hand of life coming to us, being upon us, and then leaving again. That is your lifespan. Imagine the process as a plasma ball: When you place your hand on the plasma ball, the ball comes to life and forms a bond with your hand. When you remove your hand, the ball goes into a neutral mode again. GOD’s hand is upon us! GOD is with us! Right here, right now!

“Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don’t expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose. As long as I’m alive in this body, there is good work for me to do.”
(Philippians 1: 19-22) -MSG

Paul was in prison while he contributed his writings that ended up being a part of GOD’s living word! Do you know the link between Paul and so many others that ended up being a part of GOD’s living word? Faith in GOD and living a life without fear! Faithful and fearless! Unless we come to the end of ourselves and start living our new lives in Christ, we will never experience miracles! We cannot allow fear to keep us from the calling. What do you want to do before you die? What do you believe GOD has called you to do before your expiration date arrives?

“Don’t be afraid of people. They can kill you, but they cannot harm your soul. Instead, you should fear God who can destroy both your body and your soul in hell.”
(Matthew 10: 28) –CEV

“The Lord says to his people, ‘I comfort you because of who I am. Why are you afraid of mere men? They are only human beings. They are like grass that dries up.’ ”
(Isaiah 51: 12) –NIRV

If you allow the fear of pain to prevent progress, you’ll never fulfill your purpose. We must become so faithful and full of love that we would sacrifice ourselves to make lives better for others.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
(1 John 4: 18) –NKJV

In the name of Christ Jesus, by the power of GOD, I cast out all fear right now!

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
(Psalm 23: 4) –ESV

“So we do not set our sights on the things we can see with our eyes. All of that is fleeting; it will eventually fade away. Instead, we focus on the things we cannot see, which live on and on.”
(2 Corinthians 4:18) -Voice

“He will swallow up death forever.”
(Isaiah 25:8) -NKJV

“Then the saying will come true: ‘Death swallowed by triumphant Life! Who got the last word, oh, Death? Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?’ ”
(1 Corinthians 15: 54-55) -MSG

“So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.”
(James 4: 7) –GW

“Can anyone really harm you for being eager to do good deeds? Even if you have to suffer for doing good things, God will bless you. So stop being afraid and don’t worry about what people might do.”
(1 Peter 3: 13-14) –CEV

“I am the resurrection and the source of all life; those who believe in Me will live even in death. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never truly die. Do you believe this?”
(John 11: 25-26) -Voice

Do you believe?! If you are filled to the brim with faith, then you will believe that nothing is impossible for GOD-of-all-creation! GOD has all control! Jesus conquered death; therefore, death does not actually exist! Death is a mirage. Death of our physical bodies exist, but who cares? GOD’s hand is upon us! GOD is with us! Right here, right now, and forever more! This life is not all that there is! But our time here is our only time to live this one life — and we have work to do before we leave!

I challenge you to step out in faith. Banish fear! Just as a factory has an assembly line which inspects products for defects, we are being inspected and put to the test. Be aware. Not beware. But be aware. There is no need to beware so long as you be aware. Fear clouds judgment; awareness enhances judgment. Are you aware? Do your best while in the test. Remember: it’s not where you begin that matters, it’s where you end up. Are you aware that you are a child of GOD-Almighty?! Are you aware that GOD who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1John 4:4)?!

What many people view as their ceiling is actually the floor of the next level. A ceiling is the limit imposed upon us by the world’s standards. But I tell you that the ceiling has no sealing and there is more to life than the world is revealing. GOD has a plan for your life. But you need to decide to leave your comfort zone and take a leap of faith in the direction GOD is leading you. You will have to challenge yourself to get to the next level. The world’s ways keeps people complacent in their comfort-coffins. Many people are alive yet not living — they are merely existing! There’s more to life than what you are shown. Do you want to experience the next level?

To ponder on death is to reflect on life. Who or what do you reflect? To see my reflection, read my other article, “Reflection and Direction.”

GOD is giving you another chance today. Think beyond your current circumstance. I challenge you to think about what you want your obituary to say after you’re dead and gone and compare that to what it would actually say if you were to die today.

Now, go and live your life today in such a way as to lead yourself to your goal of tomorrow. You can accomplish anything in alignment with GOD’s will so long as you are faithful and fearless. The choice to either banish fear or be controlled by fear is a life or death decision. But if death only brings you to the end of yourself and to the beginning of life in Christ, is death to be feared at all? What would you try to accomplish if you knew you would not fail? What makes you feel alive inside? How can you make the world a better place? What are you going to do before you die? I challenge you to start here: who needs to hear the Gospel before they die? If anyone came to mind, start your new and awesome journey by loving those people and sharing the good news of the next life when we will be in the presence of the Source of all life.

Sculpture

Michelangelo began the sculpting of the marble Statue of David in 1501 and completed it in 1504 — it took about four years to finish! Please take some time right now to truly absorb that information. Michelangelo spent four years of his life in order to complete one single statue!

Most people can’t finish something they started four hours ago! In fact, most people won’t even give someone or something a mere four minutes of his/her time! As of April 02, 2015, the average attention span of a human being dropped from 12 seconds (in 2000) to 8.25 seconds! The average attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds!

(Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, The Associated Press)

So if you’ve read enough of my message thus far to see this, congratulations for possessing a focus which surpasses the vast majority of our entertainment-seeking population. How sad and pathetic is it that a goldfish has a longer attention span than a lot of us humans? But if you are one of the rare individuals who possesses the desire to be greater than a goldfish, please keep reading…

Michelangelo’s David is 14 feet tall. Why? Many believe that Goliath was 13 feet tall. Though David was a small man, his character and triumph over Goliath made him a bigger legend. When installed, the Statue of David was positioned to face Rome. Why? Rome may have its empire, but David had GOD-Almighty. David became the symbol of liberty and freedom of the Republican ideals, showing Florence’s willingness to defend itself; the little guy will not cower in fear to a seemingly bigger opponent:

“David said to Goliath, ‘You are coming to fight against me with a sword, a spear and a javelin. But I’m coming against you in the name of the Lord who rules over all. He is the God of the armies of Israel. He’s the one you have dared to fight against.’ ”

(1Samuel 17:45) —NIRV

Michelangelo wasn’t originally intended to be the artist of the statue of David. The Overseers of the Office of Works of Florence Cathedral made plans to commission a series of twelve large Old Testament sculptures for the cathedral. In 1410, Donatello made the first of the statues: a figure of Joshua. However, Donatello never ended up making the David statue for this particular project. Donatello had sculpted a statue of David from marble, but it was for a different commission. And as it was, 54 years passed until the statue of David for this particular commission was attempted.

In 1464, the Operai was eager to continue their project and contracted Agostino di Duccio to create the statue of David. However, Agostino only got as far as beginning to shape the feet, legs and torso. For reasons unknown, Agostino’s association with the project ceased when Donatello died in 1466.

About ten years later, in 1475-1476, Antonio Rossellino was commissioned to take up where Agostino had left off. However, Rossellino’s contract was terminated soon thereafter. It didn’t work out. It wasn’t meant to be. Apparently, Rossellino had quit because he rejected the quality of the marble and believed the task to be too difficult to achieve.

The massive block of marble, which was destined to become the Statue of David, sat neglected in the yard of the cathedral workshop for 25 more years while it was exposed to the elements.

Though Leonardo da Vinci and other artists were considered and consulted, it was a 26-year-old man named Michelangelo who convinced the Operai that he deserved the commission. On August 16, 1501, Michelangelo was given the official contract to sculpt David from the massive block of marble. By the time Michelangelo began sculpting the massive block of marble, nearly a century had passed from the time the statue was originally intended to be created.

Michelangelo accepted the challenge that Rossellino rejected; Michelangelo saw the potential in the marble whereas Rossellino saw the problem. And the marble that Michelangelo accepted had 25 years of exposure to the elements — it was worse off than what Rossellino had to work with when he rejected it! Michelangelo looked at the imperfect marble with 25 years of weather covering it, yet he saw a perfect opportunity for possibility!

In June of 1504, the completed Statue of David was installed next to the entrance of the Palazzo Vecchio, replacing Donatello’s bronze sculpture of Judith and Holofernes.

Donatello was one of the greatest sculptors of all time. But Michelangelo did what Donatello never did with marble that no one else was able to manipulate. Michelangelo’s Statue of David replaced Donatello’s sculpture at a prime location!

There are five main points of my message that I pray you will receive, absorb, and put into practice:

(1) Dare to dream.

(2) Do not compare yourself to others.

(3) There are no shortcuts to success.

(4) Finish what you start.

(5) You can sculpt your life.

1. Dare to dream!

Michelangelo knew deep down inside that he was an artist. He became famous and was known for his sculptures, paintings, architecture, and poetry. He did what he loved and he loved what he did. And he did what he loved because he dared to dream. He dared to take the vision he had within him, pull it out and present it to others.

So many of us have people in our lives who try to tell us who to be and what career path to follow. I don’t know this for a fact, but I’m willing to bet that Michelangelo had people in his life who told him what to do and who he should be. But he dared to dream and to be true to himself. He had vision and was courageous enough to follow his dream.

(2) Do not compare yourself to others!

When everyone else was creating images of David standing over Goliath’s head or in mid-sling, Michelangelo chose to portray David in a different and unique manner. Michelangelo’s Statue of David is portrayed in a defining moment of contemplation of one simple decision. The defining moment was when David had decided to face Goliath. Michelangelo was wise enough to know that the first battle begins in the mind. If you lose the mental battle to doubt and fear, you have already lost the war. The victory for David was won once that decision to conquer doubt and fear was made. One simple decision to place trust in GOD! One simple decision to say what Isaiah had also said with courage: “Here I am! Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8).

Michelangelo created his own style in all that he did. And he did so because he didn’t compare himself to others. He didn’t try to copy the style of Donatello or Leonardo. He possessed the focus necessary to remain true to who GOD called him to be. And Michelangelo’s Statue of David replaced Donatello’s sculpture at a prime location! Because Michelangelo was unique, his work was chosen over Donatello’s work! That was a huge accomplishment that never would have happened had Michelangelo compared himself to others and tried to be like other people!

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve, but we serve the same Lord. And there are different ways that God works in people, but it is the same God who works in all of us to do everything. Something from the Spirit can be seen in each person. The Spirit gives this to each one to help others.”

(1 Corinthians 12:4-7) -ERV

(3) There are no shortcuts to success. 

All great achievements require some sort of sacrifice. All great accomplishments involve work and diligence. History reveals to us that Michelangelo convinced the Operai that he was the best person for the commission. History didn’t say that the job or blessing fell into his lap while he was sitting at home playing video games or sleeping in the shade. No. Michelangelo had to go out there and get it. He had to convince people to see in him what he saw in himself — the person GOD knew and created!

And how do you think Michelangelo got so good at what he did? I’m sure that some of it was innate ability, GOD-given talent; however, he also practiced his art and had quite a bit of art experience prior to him convincing the Operai of his ability. After all, from what did the Operai base their decision to acknowledge Michelangelo’s talent? Michelangelo had over a decade of art experience prior to his commission to sculpt David. All of his experiences added up to a reputation-portfolio that exemplified his talent. All of his earlier projects led him to the commission of David. Therefore, do not minimize the small accomplishments of life. Many single steps of progress eventually lead to a journey long traveled and a destiny fulfilled.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”

(Zechariah 4:10) —NLT

And then it took Michelangelo four years to finish the statue! How many naysayers and scoffers do you think Michelangelo had to listen to? After all, two other artists never finished the statue! I bet some scoffers even said that the marble itself was cursed and that no one would ever finish the statue. I bet Michelangelo heard people say, “If you’re not done by now, you should just give up.”

(4) Finish what you start! 

If Michelangelo would have given up and quit (just like the two artists before him), the amazing statue might not have ever been sculpted. Or maybe someone else would have eventually sculpted David from the marble. But the only reason why Michelangelo’s art is famous is because he finished what he started and he never gave up.

How many projects have you started yet never finished? The only way something can ever come from your projects is if you finish them! And if you don’t finish them, GOD will send someone else to finish what you’ve started. Even if the project takes 91 years to complete, GOD will find the right person to complete the project. Even if the project sits abandoned for 25 years, GOD will send the right person to finish the work. And the one who finishes what has been started is the one who gets the reward of seeing how much good can come from the finished product. You will never know how much good you can create in this world unless you finish what you start.

(5) You can sculpt your life!

Do you know how Michelangelo sculpted David from the massive block of marble? He simply removed everything he didn’t believe was David. Everything that was not David ended up being chiseled away and removed.

How can you sculpt your life? Simply remove everything that GOD has not called you to be. GOD has created you for a specific reason and has given you a specific calling. First and foremost, simply chisel away everything that is unholy and sinful. The better aligned you are in GOD’s Word, the better aligned you will be to GOD’s calling for your life. Chisel away the sin and the righteous shape will remain. After the righteous shape has been formed, you only need to sand off the rough edges and polish to a finish. You sculpt your life by the choices and decisions you make. Every choice you make is you chiseling away; every decision you make is you determining how you will end up. What are you chiseling away? Who are you sculpting?

If you have a calling within you from GOD that you have not yet started, today is the day. Start right now. If you have an unfinished project that GOD has called you to complete, dedicate yourself to that project right now. Make a decision right now that you will not give up what GOD has called you to complete. If you need to chisel away bad things or people from your life, make a decision right now that you will start chiseling those bad things or people away. If you want to sculpt yourself into the righteous man or woman whom GOD has called you to be, make a decision right now that you will dedicate your time and energy into sculpting yourself into a righteous man or woman of GOD. What you decide today will determine your tomorrow. You will make a choice today. What will you decide?

Something to ponder: 

Girolamo Savonarola was born in 1452 in Ferrara, Italy. He started training as a physician, but his idealism caused him to drop out and join the Dominican order to fight the evils of the world. He transferred to the Convent of San Marco in Florence in 1482 and rose to the position of prior. By 1491, Savonarola had become a famous preacher. By 1494, he was a spiritual leader. Savonarola used his power and popularity to bring about reform of church and state and became a virtual dictator over Florence. Under his leadership came a startling transformation: Businessmen restored ill-gotten gains; there was much Bible reading; and the churches were crowded. But like most spiritual leaders, he also gained enemies. One of those was Pope Alexander VI.

For years, Savonarola had influenced Florence; in fact, his influence was so great that during the carnival season in 1497, children gathered indecent books and pictures and made a bonfire of them in the main square while singing hymns. However, as time passed, community support for Savonarola’s strict views waned and his power plummeted and the power of the Pope prevailed. Pope Alexander VI, taking advantage of the community’s complacency decided to make the most of the situation by excommunicating Savonarola from the church on the grounds that he had disobeyed the Pope’s commands.

The Pope ordered Florence to silence Savonarola or send him to Rome for trial. The fickle public abandoned Savonarola as the city government changed hands. The new government arrested Savonarola in April of 1498. He was tried for sedition and heresy and was brutally tortured. On May 23, 1498, he was publicly hanged and his body burned.

In the succeeding years, the majority of citizens of Florence went back to their old sinful ways, yet many permanently changed. One of those who were changed was a sculptor named Michelangelo.

Reflection:

• Girolamo Savonarola did not finish what he initially started (becoming a physician) and dropped out of studies. Though he did not finish the endeavor of becoming a physician, he did finish what he needed to accomplish in order to achieve GOD’s calling on his life. Why did Savonarola not finish becoming a physician if it is important to finish what you’ve started?
• What, if anything, did Savonarola chisel away in order to achieve GOD’s calling on his life?
• Savonarola departed Earth in 1498. Michelangelo didn’t even begin sculpting the Statue of David until 1501. Michelangelo departed Earth in 1564. I wrote this article in 2015. Savonarola was not around to see everything Michelangelo accomplished. Michelangelo is not around to read my article.  I have no idea whether you are reading this article or not. Do you believe I will be around to see how this article will affect others? Does it matter? Explain.
• Is it important to always harvest from the seeds you sew? Can you still make a difference by planting seeds if you are not around to see their growth and enjoy the fruits? Explain.
• In what ways did Savonarola plants seeds for Michelangelo? In what ways has Michelangelo planted seeds for others? How many people have gathered from what he has sewn?
• Is it enough to plant seeds? Must you know what happens to the seeds you plant? Is it enough to make your mark in the world? Must you know who sees your mark? Must you know how others respond to your work?
• Who are people telling you to be? Who has GOD called you to be? Is it more important to be who people have told you to be or to be who GOD has called you to be?
• How can you focus on your unique qualities rather than comparing yourself to others?
• There are no shortcuts to success — only steps! What steps need to be accomplished in order for you to achieve your ultimate goal? Have you listed out the steps you believe are necessary? What are you currently doing to accomplish the present step you are on? What are you currently doing to prepare for the next step you need to take?
• Is there something you have started that you need to finish? What is it? Why is it important that you finish it? What is the first step you need to take in order to finish what you’ve started? If you haven’t started something, what can you start?
• How can you sculpt your life? What do you need to chisel away? What does not look like the ultimate end goal?

Reflection and Direction

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If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below:

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“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
(~ Confucius)

A woman once presented this Confucius quote to me in response to a question I posed to many people. Perhaps she was displeased to know that I preached GOD’s Word; perhaps she was annoyed with how often I preached GOD’s Word. Although I am uncertain as to why she chose that particular quote, I feel confident enough to assert that it was an attempt to contend with Christianity (because of other things she had said to me in previous conversations), albeit with good intentions. Regardless of why she chose this specific Confucianism, she chose to use the quote after I had just reminded people (and myself) that we need to examine our beliefs deeply and thoroughly.

In response to the quote she served to me, I volleyed a few more questions; however, instead of speaking to the general audience as I had been doing, I then posed my questions directly to her. She never answered my questions; in fact, she never spoke to me again. She may not have felt as if my questions were important enough to answer; nevertheless, I sought the answers to my own questions in hopes of gaining more wisdom. If questions are asked, answers should be pursued, don’t you agree? Let’s not be lazy in our pursuit for Truth. I pray that you will not only take the time to read my answers to the questions, but to also reflect on the questions and to answer them for yourself with honesty and integrity. If you spend the time to pursue the answers of these three questions, you will probably discover more than you thought you knew. I did. Here are the three questions:

1. Who or what do you reflect and who or what do you reflect on?
2. Who do you imitate?
3. What have you experienced?

There were three questions I posed; therefore, there will be three answers. The first question is in regards to reflection. First, we should understand the definition(s) of reflection:

1. A fixing of the thoughts on something; careful consideration.
2. The act of reflecting or the state of being reflected; something reflected or the image so produced, as by a mirror.
3. An effect produced by an influence.

A mirror reproduces an image of a person as he/she looks into that mirror. That image is an accurate reflection of what that person truly looks like on an exterior level. The truth that is seen from the surface of that mirror only reveals the facsimile it declares because of who that person projects him/herself to be. The human dictates the image that is viewed from the mirror; the mirror only reflects what is already there. If a human desires to wear costumes and makeup to look like a cat, the mirror will reflect that image. If a human physically alters him/herself to look like a cat, the mirror’s reflection only reveals the person’s projected image. Daniel Avner spent years modifying his body with surgeries in order to take on the appearance of a feline. Daniel called himself “Stalking Cat” and told people he was a tiger. Yet despite his projected image of a feline, he was a human male who earned money by being a computer programmer. Ultimately, he died at the age of 54 in an apparent suicide. Think: who/what did Daniel reflect and who/what did he project?

Mirrors are mere reflections of present reality; however, mirrors can also be tools of direction. When mirrors are strategically placed together with specific intent, they can be used for something powerful (such as a telescope) that allows us to possess vision — even if what we see seems unreachable and unattainable. The point I’m making here is that there are two different aspects of reflection:

1. We reflect on or about something; whatever we reflect on or about ends up growing within us. The nature/quality/character of this type of reflection is internal; we reflect on and absorb in.
2. We reflect an idea or concept onto something or into our environment; the idea or concept we allow to grow within us is the idea or concept we will eventually reflect/project. The nature/quality/character of this type of reflection is external; we reflect something and project it elsewhere.

The two different aspects of reflection are of utmost importance because the projected image (imitation) is dictated by whomever or whatever is being reflected that becomes absorbed within. What we reflect determines the direction of where we project. In Daniel Avner’s case, he reflected on a native american concept of an animal spirit and then he projected this image out for others to see. However, Daniel escaped reality rather than allowing Truth to guide him.

Some people declare that advertisements seen in magazines, on billboards, or even in television commercials are mere reflections of who we are as a collective people. On the other hand, some people contend that advertisements influence our decisions and provide direction for our lives — even if those pre-determined goals are unachievable. Advertising cannot, however, be labeled as one or the other because it is in fact both. Just as a mirror serves to provide reflection and direction, advertising reflects who we already are and caters to our desires, but it also influences people and gives them new direction in life.

“Some have enjoyed making fun of the Bible. For example, Samuel Rolles Driver (an archaeologist, a linguist, an anthropologist, and somewhat of a paleontologist) picked up the Bible, read it, and ridiculed it, saying, ‘It is impossible that Moses could have written the first five books of the Bible.’ Driver continued, ‘It is impossible that Moses could have written the first five books of the Bible because men didn’t even know how to write when the Pentateuch was written.’ Well, it looked bad for the Bible for a while, until over in northern Egypt they unearthed some clay tablets: the Tel-El-Armana tablets. These tablets were letters from people in Palestine to people in Egypt that were written centuries before Moses ever lived. Not only did they know how to write, they even had a post office!”
(Howell Ferguson, Bells, Tennessee)

The origin of advertisements dates back a long time ago; the origin of the written language dates back a long time ago — neither advertisements nor written language are new concepts that have just begun to affect people on Earth. Letters and wall posters made of papyrus were used to advertise in Egypt, Ancient Rome, and in Ancient Greece. Commercial messages and political campaign displays have been found even in the ruins of Pompeii and ancient Arabia.

Advertisements have been around for so long because its origin stems from the peoples’ needs to prosper in a world dominated by economies which thrived on business. The concept of supply and demand has been around for a long time. Advertising began as a tool of awareness — it helped sellers find buyers, and it helped buyers to find what they needed.  It was a tool of necessity.

Advertising may have begun as a tool of awareness and necessity, but it has gone through a lot of changes throughout the years to become what it is now in this present day. Advertising is still a tool of awareness; however, only a small portion of that awareness is now of necessity while the greater portion of that awareness is now of desire or lust. Back in the days of Ancient Rome or Greece, there wasn’t much to be had in excess for the common people as we have in our present time. We currently have more wants than needs in our spoiled and greedy United States nation; consequently, the majority of advertisements cater to our wants and not so much to our needs.

It is nearly impossible to escape advertising in this present time in which we live. Jean Kilbourne, in “Beauty… and the Beast of Advertising,” states, “We are each exposed to over 2,000 ads a day, constituting perhaps the most powerful educational force in society.”

The people who work for the companies that create the advertisements we see are not employed because of their elegance and charm; indeed, they’re not even employed solely because of their artistic abilities — they are employed because they are smart enough to understand what we as a people want in our society today. Presently, we have grown to expect results for what we want, when we want it, and with people to kiss our butts while they give it to us. Our nation (United States of America) is spoiled and sometimes downright ungrateful. What we as a people want involves sex, money, and material objects. The advertising companies use what we already lust after in order to sell their products. By associating something that we already desire (such as sex) in with their advertisements, we are more inclined to desire their product because it fits our fantasies. If you don’t believe me, let’s examine some advertisements together. Pay close attention to the images and the words used.

Analyze the lies:
Men: “Gorgeous women want men who drink beer. The more beer you drink, the more attractive you become. Real men drink beer!”
Females: “Do you want men to like you? You must drink beer, be naked, or both.”

Analyze the lies:
Men: “If you use Axe, gorgeous women will find you irresistible and they will desire to have sex with you. You’re welcome.”
Females: “You obviously want to have sex with guys and now we’ve given them a reason to bathe so they will at least smell good when you do have sex with them. Because you should have sex with them. Because you want to. Also, guys like to get “dirty” and want to use whip cream on your body. Unless you do things like this, guys probably won’t like you. You should probably do whatever it takes to look like this woman and do the things she does if you want a guy to like you.”

Analyze the lies:
The message of this ad is the same as the message of the Axe ad. Take notice of where the female is sitting and how she is sitting. A rocket, positioned directly above the male’s penis, is traveling straight towards the female’s vagina; moreover, the male is quite happy about it. He appears to be pressing a key as if to press the launch button. With this fragrance, you will have “lift off!” Being though this is a fragrance for both men and women, this ad implies that the scent of Candies is irresistible to all and will entice someone to have sex with you. “If you don’t put the scent of Candies on yourself, how will you ever have sex with attractive people?”

Analyze the lies:
“The famous Kim Kardashian approved of this shoe?! And if it’s not enough that a celebrity would be promoting this shoe, it was also seen in the Big Game commercial! This shoe is already popular! Hurry! If you want to be popular, you need to go get this shoe! Losers have crappy shoes! Who cares what it costs?! Go get this shoe!”

Analyze the lies:
“You don’t need to know the benefits of drinking water! All you need to know is that Tom Brady has this water and you need to have it too! Do you want to be awesome like Tom Brady? It’s called “smart” water for a reason! Because you’re smart if you drink this water! People who don’t want to be like Tom Brady and drink this water are dumb and probably not cool like Tom Brady is. Don’t be a dumb loser, drink this water!”

Advertising is so prevalent in the world of our present time that it has become our lives to a certain extent. Companies know what we want and they use that knowledge to their advantage. We determine what goes inside advertisements by what we collectively decide to place our focus on. As of right now, our nation’s focus is on sex, money, and material objects; therefore, advertisements will emphasize sex, money, and material objects in order to sell their products to the general public. Advertisements cater to our desires; therefore, advertisements mirror (reflect) us. Our thoughts and fantasies are copied from our minds and pasted into magazines, newspapers, billboards, television commercials, movie theatre promotions, and even in the lyrics of the songs that play on the radio. These pasted projections called ‘advertisements’ are extremely effective because we basically sell them to ourselves.

What’s worse is the invasive advertisements that inundate us via social media — I can’t even scroll through my newsfeeds without seeing a multitude of these pasted projections. And when I disregard the advertisement, I am asked why I chose to disregard it and a list of reasons populates. By informing the agencies of my likes and dislikes, the advertisements continue, but the type of advertisement changes to better suite my desires. But that’s why I select, “It’s not relevant” every time, regardless of what it is. I don’t want advertisements to reflect my wants. I don’t need to be tempted with my wants.

Advertisements may be mirrors that reflect our desires, but advertisements, like real mirrors, can also serve as tools of direction once placed strategically with specific intent. Because the people who run the advertisement businesses already know what we desire and already cater to those desires, it is rather easy to manipulate an ad in order to influence our decisions. Jean Kilbourne, in “Jesus is a Brand of Jeans,” states, “Only eight percent of an ad’s message is received by the conscious mind. The rest is worked and re-worked deep within, in the recesses of the brain.”

A lot of money and effort is put into psychological research to find out what we like, what we don’t like, what triggers certain emotions, what colors please us, etc…. Saberi Roy, in “The Psychology of Advertising,” states, “The principles of advertising are largely based on cognitive psychology and the psychological processes of attention, perception, association and memory to bring out the complete impact or uses of a product or ‘brand’.”

Advertising is a two-faced associate that surrounds us in our daily lives. It is the ‘friend’ that will agree with you and tell you what you want to hear, but it is also a manipulative back-stabber who convinces you to do something you wouldn’t otherwise do. It can be good, it can be bad; it can be helpful, it can be misleading. Advertising is the Sour Patch Kids candy of the business realm because it is both sour and sweet. Advertising cannot be labeled as just one or the other though, because it is in fact both. Just like the Sour Patch Kids candy, you can’t have it unless both the sour and the sweet are present. Advertising is a mirror that reflects our desires and also a telescope which allows us to fixate our sights on the unreachable or unattainable.

But going back to the beginning of this article, we can see that Confucius’ logic was good, but it was incomplete. One cannot obtain wisdom unless what we reflect on is true, noble, right, honest, pure, lovely, beautiful, fair, commendable, admirable, respectful, honorable, good and righteous — only then can our reflection produce projection that’s pointed in the right direction. Who or what you reflect and reflect on determines your direction. If one reflects on lies and evil, they will be directed toward Hell.

Examine everything you know. How did you acquire that information? We received everything we know from whatever we took from someone else or gathered from investigating natural laws. The majority of all we know is extracted ‘whats’ from a ‘who’ or multiple ‘whos.’ Think! How do you now decide to view and interpret what you will see and hear? Do advertisements affect people around you? What are you reflecting on? Have your decisions been influenced by others around you? What clothes do you wear? Why do you wear those clothes? Is it the brand you like? Why that brand? Is it because of the way it looks? What is appealing about it? Or do you like it simply because others find it appealing? Do you only wear what you wear so you will be accepted and fit in? If you’re goal is to fit in, then you would be like a puzzle piece to a puzzle; therefore, what is the big picture of that puzzle? Why do you desire to belong in that specific puzzle? What do you place your focus on? What you choose to place your focus on (what you reflect on) directly correlates with the path you will travel in life. The way you live reflects what is in your heart. What you allow into your life (into your mind and into your heart — into your belief system) will direct your path. Be careful and selective as to what you allow within — you will project all that you reflect and accept as truth.

So, what do I reflect on? I reflect on GOD’s Word; I reflect on Truth:

“As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”
(Proverbs 27:19) –NIV

“Happy are those who don’t listen to the wicked, who don’t go where sinners go, who don’t do what evil people do. They love the Lord’s teachings, and they think about [reflect on] those teachings day and night.”
(Psalm 1:1-2) –NCV

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord. I will remember your ancient miracles. I will reflect on all your actions and think about what you have done.”
(Psalm 77:11-12) –GW

“I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.”
(Psalm 119:15) –NLT

“Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!”
(Psalm 119:5) –NLT

“Live as citizens who reflect the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come to see you or whether I stay away, I’ll hear all about you. I’ll hear that you are firmly united in spirit, united in fighting for the faith that the Good News brings.”
(Philippians 1:27) –GW

“And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.”
(Titus 2:7) –NLT

So, what do I reflect? GOD’s Word. Who do I reflect? Christ Jesus. GOD is perfect love and Holy; therefore, I reflect on love and Holiness.

“Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the first-born Son, superior to all created things.”
(Colossians 1:15) –GNT

“He reflects the brightness of God’s glory and is the exact likeness of God’s own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word. After achieving forgiveness for the sins of all human beings, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.”
(Hebrews 1:3) –GNT

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
(2Corinthians 3:18) –NLT

Do you understand? My reflection has direction — I am pointed towards Holiness [which encompasses all good qualities]. I reflect Christ Jesus (to the best of my ability) and Jesus is the image of GOD-Almighty, and GOD is Holy.

But once again, we find that Confucius’ logic is incomplete — one cannot obtain wisdom by imitation unless one imitates someone worthy of being imitated. The person you choose to imitate is of utmost importance. For example, if one imitates Richard Ramirez (the serial killer, ‘Night Stalker’), that person would break into homes and murder people in their sleep, rape women, steal, etc. The decision to imitate that particular person would not produce wisdom and would lead someone to Hell. Examine the featured image of this article and understand this truth: children are imitating their parents, teachers, and everyone they see and hear who is of any influence.

So, who do I imitate? Who is worthy of being imitated? Jesus. Not only does Confucius’ logic prove to be incomplete yet again, but this time it is inaccurate — imitation is definitely not easiest. Jesus loved everyone — including His enemies! Jesus forgave everyone — even those who betrayed, mocked, beat, and crucified Him! Jesus healed people and produced miracles! Jesus never sinned! Don’t try to tell me that imitating all that Jesus accomplished is ‘easiest,’ because it is extremely challenging (and dare I say, impossible). After all, Jesus sacrificed Himself to save everyone from their sins. Jesus is the One and only person who was/is worthy of imitation.

At the risk of angering the Confucius cohorts, I will again declare that Confucius’ logic is inaccurate. To state that acquiring wisdom by experience is bitterest is only true some of the time, not all of the time. We learned from Aristotle that there are three formal causes and unique features that belong to every syllogism:

1. A universal proposition is the major premise on top.
2. An affirmative proposition is the minor premise in the middle.
3. The figure is figure one.

Example:

1. All experiences that lead to gaining wisdom are bitterest.
2. All acts of consummating a marriage by the first marital sexual intercourse are experiences.
3. Therefore, all experiences of consummating a marriage by the first marital sexual intercourse are bitterest.

Clearly, the logic is invalid — nego. That syllogism appears to be in the correct format, but it simply lacks Truth and can therefore be refuted. There are many people who have waited until marriage to have sex; moreover, the experience was joyful and pleasant for both the male and the female. In addition, the experience led them to the wisdom of knowing that saving sex until marriage is good.

[Read my other article, “Sex Matters“]

So, what have I experienced? I have experienced the suffocating sensation of self-absorption. As having once been an atheist, I have experienced a life ‘without GOD.’ On November 09, 2000 — only eight days after I turned 18 years old — I experienced a void within myself as I wrote out my suicide letter. I later became too sad to go through with my suicide and simply didn’t do anything. On November 03, 2003, I experienced devastation and despair which brought me to my lowest point. I have experienced what it felt like to lack identity, to be ignorant, insolent, intoxicated, insecure, inferior, invisible, imbalanced, immature, immoral, impetuous, infinitesimal, incompetent, and incomplete. I have experienced what this world has to offer; however, none of the worldly things I have experienced have interlocked with me and made me complete. In fact, everything from this world that I had attempted to interlock with only acted as a weight that held me down.

In contrast, I have also experienced GOD’s forgiveness, compassion, mercy, grace, and the blessings of miracles. I have experienced what it felt like to have darkness dwell within me and then to have the Light fill me, to be outside and then to be let inside, to be asleep and then to be awake, to be blind and then to see, and also to be dead inside and then to be fully alive. I have experienced an overwhelming feeling of love and a sense of gratitude.

My experiences of life and love are mainly good; moreover, the majority of all wisdom I have learned came from the good experiences. Until I reflected on what was good, I did not project what was good, I did not imitate the good, and I did not learn the wisdom that can only be found by reflecting on what is good and imitating what is good.

I pray that you will spend some time to answer the following questions in detail — even if only for yourself:

1. Who or what do you reflect and who or what do you reflect on?
2. Who do you imitate?
3. What have you experienced?
4. If you wake up in the morning, is it not evident that your purpose in life hasn’t yet been fulfilled? And if you suppose you have fulfilled your purpose in life, what then would be the purpose for that day for which you awakened?
5. If you proclaim to know everything, what can you possibly learn?

I challenge you to examine yourself! Do a thorough scan of your beliefs. Don’t allow a lie to lead you to Hell. Use your filtering system! If you mirror anyone, then mirror the Truth, reality, and love of Christ. Jesus is the only One worthy of imitation. If we spend our time and energy trying to impress other humans by imitating other humans, we will all end up as unoriginal copies of a copy, eventually faded and forgotten. You don’t need to be who the world says you should be. But you should be all that you were created to be.

“Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete.”
(Romans 12:2) -Voice

[Read my other article, “Why I Am A Christian“]