Your Perceptions and Your Realities

The so-called "realities" of your life come from your perceptions. Enjoyment comes from the thinking mind, connected to the body. 

The human brain is composed of neurons or nerve cells that transmit information and messages; they’re the building blocks of the brain for the efficient functioning of the thinking mind.

Neurons are responsible for all human behaviors in the form of perceptions, which then trigger a mental process in the thinking mind that may result in an action or an emotion. If the process becomes instinctive, then the output in the form of actions or emotions is also automatic and predictable. That’s how attitudes and habits are formed, including the fight-or-flight response to any dangerous situation. This automatic or spontaneous mental process is often not “by choice” but “by instinct."

This “learned” and “acquired” mental process is often responsible for thinking and actions, as well as for beliefs and emotions. So, it’s important for the thinking mind to do the following: recognizing the instinctive or automatic mental process; challenging its reality or validity to see through the myths or even the deceptions behind; and then changing the mental process by taking appropriate actions accordingly.

The Bottom Line

Living in wisdom is the capability of the thinking mind to recognize the deceptions behind the so-called “realities” perceived and processed by the thinking mind, that is, the capability to separate the sheep from the goats.

Living by faith, you get your spiritual wisdom from God to perceive the differences between sheep and goats, that is, the differences between realities and half-truths.

Perceiving and Processing

The thinking mind processes all life experiences, which then become thoughts and memories, and ultimately the raw materials of the thinking process by the thinking mind.

According to James Allen, author of As A Man Thinketh, humans are “makers of themselves” and the human mind is the “master-weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance.” That is, humans may have become who they are and what they’ve now become by way of their own thinking over the years.

So, life is all about mind over matter. Harnessing mind power is understanding the exact functioning of the thinking mind and how it may positively or negatively affect the thinking process, and then learning some strategies to fully utilize the mind power to live in wisdom.

Life Experiences

An individual’s life experiences are unique in that they’re the byproducts of all the happenings in the lifespan of that individual. Those life experiences are determined by two pivotal players: choices and circumstances.

Choices, resulting in actions or inactions, bring about consequences as well as circumstances affecting life in general and in specific.

Circumstances can come from self-inflicting internal circumstances or from those uncontrollable external circumstances.

An Illustration

A person had to complete a project and submit a report on that project. That person had sufficient time to do what he or she was supposed to do, but that person chose to procrastinate until the last minute. An unforeseeable event happened and made it impossible for that person to finish the work on time, thus creating a “self-inflicting” circumstance of anxiety, frustration, and undue stress that might affect the subsequent choices of that person.

Of course, sometimes personal choices may not be able to alter the uncontrollable external circumstances, but they may still play a primary role in the reactions and adaptations to those external circumstances beyond their control. For example, in the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011, the Japanese people demonstrated their remarkable resilience in their reactions and adaptations to the uncontrollable external circumstances inflicted on them by nature.

The Bottom Line

Living is all about choices and consequences from those choices, and that has much to do with causes and results—they often become the components of life experiences.

Living by faith: you often make the right choices with your own accountability to the consequences through God’s Helper, the Holy Spirit.

Stephen Lau

Your Salvation

Your salvation comes from your belief in God.  Salvation is what God brings to everyone in this world according to His perfect plan and purpose. God desires that all people not only know what Jesus did on earth but also have the forgiveness Christ earned on the Cross.

The Redemption

“Redemption” refers to undoing the effects of sin for all mankind. The word itself means to “buy back.” Redemption centers on God, who saves His chosen ones from sin, evil, trouble, bondage, and even death. Redemption is an act of God's grace, by which He rescues and restores His people. Redemption is all-inclusive.

“¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Christianity is different from other religions in the world—Christians can be good and forgiven; their salvvation is a gift from God.

On the Cross, the world, the flesh, and the devil did their worst, and Jesus was apparently defeated. But God raised His Son from death. The love and justice of God not only had been satisfied but also reconciled by the perfect sacrifice of Jesus.

Jesus’ death on the Cross and His resurrection guarantee that sin can be forgiven, and death defeated. Yes, the war between good and evil will go on, but humans are already given the Helper to fight in the war to gain their salvation and redemption.

The Helper

Given that faith, trust, and obedience are difficult to come by and they’re often unsustainable, how can humans detach themselves from their flesh?

So, God has provided the Helper. Before His departure, Jesus said He would let the Holy Spirit take over.

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Who’s the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is a Person—as Personal as God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit has been there since the beginning of creation “moving over the water.” In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit inspired all the prophets of Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary to become a human living on earth for some years. Throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, the Holy Spirit was with Him.

The Helper can help humans in different ways throughout their lifespans, including the following:  

He’ll convict but not condemn humans of all their wrongdoings. In other words, the Holy Spirit will restore them, but He’ll not defeat them. “When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.” John 16:8

He’ll guide humans along their life journeys, always giving humans the wisdom to do what’s right and to avoid what’s wrong. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” John 16:13

He’ll teach humans about what they can learn from God, and not from others. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

 He’ll make humans obey God. “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” Romans 7:6

Living by faith: As a believer, you will earn your salvation because Jesus died on the cross. Your salvation is a "free gift", but you need to accept it.

Stephen Lau

   

God's Free Gifts

God has given humans these free gifts: understanding, joy, and hope.

Understanding    

Understanding is spiritual wisdom, which gives humans an awareness of the true self, with its mental connection to God and to other human beings. This self-awareness, an inner longing to have a better relationship with God and with others, requires quality time, deliberate effort, and right doing. Understanding is everything in everyday life and living. But is understanding readily accessible and attainable? Yes!

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

Joy

Joy comes from not feeling hopeless. 

Hope

Hopefulness is hope out of hopelessness. God's presence provides humans with patience and perseverance to wait for their hopefulness. 

Free Will

God’s free gifts come with free will—which means humans have their freedom of choice to receive or to refuse the free gifts from God. Their freedom is based on their faith, trust, and obedience.

Faith

Faith is belief in the existence and the presence of God. Believing in God means obeying His Commandments with accountability. Faith is evidenced in all human actions: yes, actions speak louder than words.

Trust

Trusting God means believing in the veracity of His Word.

“so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire 

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

Trusting God is letting go of control of anything and everything happening in this world, including the destinies of all humans.

“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations.

I will be exalted in the earth.’” Psalm 46:10

Obedience

Obedience is doing the right and the righteous things in everyday life. This daily task is the most difficult, if not impossible. Why? It’s because all humans are in their flesh with their inclination and their propensity to choose their wrongdoings, due to the sins of man in the flesh.

According to the Scripture, Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God began humans’ departure from God’s way to begin their own way of sin and brokenness.

^“16 And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; ¹⁷ but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’” Genesis 2: 16-17

But it must be noted that "moral evil" from the freedom to choose did not come from God. Quite the contrary, the goodness of God is to make humans’ wrongs right again someday in Jesus’ Salvation.

The Bottom Line

Have you received the free gifts of understanding, joy, and hope from God? Or have you rejected those gifts due to your preference for "not" choosing faith, trust, and obedience?  

Living by faith: God gives all believers His "free gifts", but the freedom to accept or reject them is up to individuals.  

Stephen Lau

Transformation

Transformation is change from the inside out.    

The spirit has the power to transform any individual into a better being.

At some point in life, an individual may begin to feel and sense his or her incompleteness, limitations, loneliness, and disillusions about human vanity. That inner longing for change may begin the process of transformation.

So, what is transformation?

Change is external, while transformation is internal. Change may have negative connotation—getting rid of something undesirable to receive the desirable. Transformation is enhancement of something good, which is already inside that individual—rediscovering something that has somehow become invisible to the naked eye.

So, transformation can make any individual more spiritual, that is, having a better relationship with God, which requires quality time, deliberate effort, and right doing with accountability.  

Have You Become More Spiritual?

Living in this secular world, have you been doing some, if not all, of the following in your daily life?

Strengthening your faith in God with trust and obedience—trust to show your humility and submission; obedience to show your endurance and perseverance.

Reading His Word every day, meditating and remembering some of it

Praying throughout the day

Living in His Presence 

Connecting with others to spread His wisdom.

Have you become more spiritual with each day passing?

Hopefully, spirituality has transformed you before your arrival at your final destination. 

Living by faith: Transformation is becoming a believer with faith, trust, and obedience.

Stephen Lau

The Seven Deadly Sins

The Sin of Pride

Pride is the deadliest sin against God and is the root of all human evils. The antidote to pride is humility—God is above, and humans are below.

Throughout your lifespan, had you shown your faith, trust, and obedience to God, instead of your way or no way? 

The Sin of Envy

Envy is the sin of comparing self with others with discontent and dissatisfaction.

Have you ever shown your contentment and gratitude with what you have already received from God? Have you been counting your blessings or your frustrations throughout your life.

The Sin of Lust

Lust is the sin of desiring for sex, for wealth, and for power to “control” others.

In different phases of your life, have you tried to control others, instead of letting God control your destiny?

The Sin of Wrath

Wrath is the sin of committing conflict and hostility with others. The antidote to wrath is peace and forgiveness.

Have you forgiven your enemies, or those who have abused you.

The Sin of Greed

Greed is the sin of wanting more, and much more of anything and everything in life. The antidote to greed is, paradoxically, generosity and giving away.

Have you let go of what you have possessed, and have given it away to share with others?

The Sin of Gluttony

Gluttony is the sin of over-indulgence in anything and everything. The antidote to gluttony is moderation and self-control.

Have you lived a life of modesty with little or no attachments?

The Sin of Sloth

Sloth is the sin of not doing what God has destined humans to do. The antidote to sloth is obedience.

Had you done or not done what God had destined you to do?

The Bottom Line

All humans, with no exception, have committed some, if not all, of the Seven Deadly Sins at some points in their lives. In other words, all have shown no accountability to God. So, all will be judged in the days to come.

Living by faith: God will give a true believer remorse, repentance, and salvation even though he or she has committed the Seven Deadly Sins.

Stephen Lau

Your Final Destination

What is your final destination? Your exit from this world is concurrently your arrival at your destination.

So, what will happen next?

Nothing! The death of both your body and your soul will continue at your destination until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Then, what does the Bible say about: What happens when you die?

The right and the righteous do not go to heaven, nor do the evil and the wicked end up in hell. All humans, with their bodies and their souls, die without any consciousness. It’s an erroneous misinterpretation of the Bible that leads many to believe that the good will “immediately” go to Paradise to be with God.

“When Jesus said to the thief crucified on the cross alongside with Him: ‘Truly, I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” Luke 23:43 

The actual Greek text of the above had NO comma: which means: “today I tell you”, and NOT “today you will be with Me in Paradise.” So, Jesus did not mean that the thief would be with Him in Paradise "on that same day" of crucifixion.

Even according to the gospel of John, souls don’t go to heaven right away when the bodies die.

“No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.” John 3:13

So, when do the right and the righteous ones go to heaven?

According to the Bible, all the dead—the good and the bad, the right as well as the unrighteous—will remain dead until their resurrection on Jesus’ Second Coming. But when? Nobody knows, except God the Father. All the resurrected will then be judged according to their deeds on earth.

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“Those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.” John 5:29

Living by faith: Believe in God, who will deliver you from your death to give you eternal life when the Final Judgment comes.

Stephen Lau

  

A Fast Lifestyle

A fast lifestyle is often focusing on excitement, extravaganza, and risk-taking. This mindset is based on doing more and much more, such as daily multi-tasking, constantly going forward, always moving from one place to another, and even eating fast. Fast living has little or no consideration of the consequences.  

Yes, a fast lifestyle may give you only instant pleasure and intense excitement, but it is also stressful and even dangerous, such as car racing, car speeding, and reckless driving.

Freedom

A fast lifestyle is often “not thinking through before acting or doing.” You have your freedom not to choose it. Instead, always give yourself your freedom to slow down to reflect on your “being”—who you truly are—and why you have your non-stop “doing” to get what you want from your life. 

Bondage  

A fast lifestyle often involves drug dealing, gang banging, and even prostituting. Do not let yourself be shackled to your bondage of a life of crimes and violence.

The bottom line

Your lifespan may cover decades, during which many things, both positive and negative, might have happened to you that require your changes—changing you into a better person doing all the right things instead of the wrong things. Yes, you have your freedom to change what can be changed, as well as your freedom to wait with your patience and your perseverance for the outcome of your changes.

Living by faith: A fast lifestyle is not right for a believer, who should spend more time in prayers and reading the Words of God. Yes, God's presence is everything in your everyday life and living.

Stephen Lau

yourself be shackled to your bondage of a life of crimes and violence.

    

The bottom line

 

     Your consolidation phase spans over decades, during which many things, both positive and negative, might have happened in your life that require your changes—changing you into a better person doing all the right things instead of the wrong things. Yes, you have your freedom to change what can be changed, as well as your freedom to wait with your patience and your perseverance for the outcome of your changes.