“My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.” (Proverbs 3:1-2 NKJV)
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)
“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” (Psalm 118:17 NKJV)
It’s time to begin answering Question # 2…
… ”Eric, is your life expectancy based on your experience (personal and perceived), or is your life experience flowing from your expectancy?”
This is where the rubber meets the road. How I answer this question may be the most important element in determining my life trajectory this side of Paradise. As I have shared on a number of occasions…
…What I experience in life is primarily the result of the choices I make and the actions I take (I will reap what I sow – I have the power to choose life or death).
…The choices that I make and the actions that I take are greatly impacted by the words that I speak (the power of life and death are in my tongue – I will have what I say).
…The words that I speak are shaped and directed by the thoughts that I ponder and focus attention to (out of the abundance of my heart my mouth speaks – as I think I am).
…The thoughts that dominate my mind come from both the experiences (facts) of life (mine and others) and the “Truth” that is deposited in my heart (spirit) and mind (soul) by the Holy Spirit and the Word (Scripture), and will determine what I expect out of life moving forward.
Think about this cycle for a minute.
Let’s apply this to my expectation of aging and death. If I base my expectation of what my future holds for me in the area of aging on the predominant experience of others then I am going to expect to begin losing my physical and mental capacities with each passing moment. As I begin to experience what I have seen in others, this expectation will strengthen and begin moving from the conscious level of my thinking to my subconscious. Once this happens I will begin interpreting anything that hints at being age related as “natural” and “normal” when I experience it. Finally, as this cycle continues I conclude that my thinking was correct and I no longer question those things which I now accept as “natural,” “normal,” and/or “common.” The “experiential facts” of my life become my “truth.”
Have you ever noticed how when a 20 year old appears to be forgetful we consider it a focus or distraction issue, but the same thing at 70 automatically jumps to fears of early signs of Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease? When an older driver makes a mistake behind the wheel, talk starts to buzz about who is going to take away his license (even though he may be driving safer than many younger drivers). A younger driver in the same situation is just reminded to focus. Why? Because “experiential facts” show us that if I live long enough my body and mind will wear out.
This subconscious (automatic) expectation is even more pronounced when it comes to death. Because the “average lifespan” is between 70 and 80 there is the temptation to hold a very different view of how I approach lack of health and death as I get older than I did when I was younger. Typically, when I was younger I was encouraged to stand against sickness and death. As I get older I am hearing more and more messages encouraging me to “make peace” with it and prepare to die. Why? Because our expectation of these things is based on the “experiential fact” that “everyone gets sick and dies.” I am told that death is unavoidable and imminent. After all, “everyone dies.” That statement might sound accurate and rational but it is simply not true.
There are almost infinite examples of this cycle that I could write about. It is the common approach to life. If I let it, much of life will become “self fulfilled prophecy” as I think, speak, and act on what I subconsciously expect. The more that I go through this cycle the more convinced I become that the “facts” that are commonly proven through experience are the “truth.” I then (most times without even knowing it) go to my “Standard of Truth” (Scripture) and read in my predetermined expectations and foregone conclusions. The fact of the matter is that many “facts” turn out not to be the “truth.”
This is a good place to stop and give thought to…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 424: Grace Expectations – Life Expectancy Kingdom Style: Part 6