We are the result of the decisions that we make.
Of course there are many aspects of our lives
which are beyond our control.
We cannot choose the circumstances of our birth,
the genetics we inherit or the random
events which inevitably affect us.
No matter where you started, no matter
what external forces may have altered your path,
you have made decision after decision after decision
which has led to who you are today.
No doubt there are some decisions
you would like to have back.
Some of which looked perfectly reasonable at the time,
yet hindsight reveals our missteps.
I don't think I'm the only one who has ever made
a bad decision, knowing that it likely wasn't the best
decision available-only to be proven correct.
If not yourself, you've likely witnessed others
making obviously poor decisions,
yet they go ahead with it anyways.
What causes someone to take up smoking,
to blow their life savings or to drop out of school?
What causes us to make poor choices?
Stay tuned as we examine How to make better decisions!
What was the first sound you heard this morning?
Perhaps it was birds outside your window,
a crying toddler or, for most, the aggressive
"Beep beeping" of an alarm.
Whatever the noise, it marked your first decision
of the day.
Get up, or hit snooze and crawl
back under the covers.
Our first decision of the day,
and how many make a choice that they ultimately believe
to be against their best interest?
But that is only the first of what some sources
estimate to be 35,000 decisions the average
person makes each and every day.
Some of these decisions have relatively little effect:
should I wear a blue shirt, or the white one?
When should I get into the left lane to prepare to turn?
Do I eat my eggs first, or my toast?
Others decisions can carry a little more weight
and greatly affect how we spend our time.
Exercising, studying, spending time
with our children and loved ones.
We have to recognize that these are not things
that just happen automatically, these are things
which we must decide to do and prioritize if we want to succeed
in doing them.
Deciding to skip exercising for one day
likely isn't going to carry devastating
consequences, but making that same decision
every day can.
Foregoing a healthy lunch in favour of what might
be a better tasting one might not have a big effect,
until you keep compounding that decision every day.
Splurging when out shopping or staying up late
to watch a movie are similar, they can be fine
decisions occasionally, but can become harmful
if we find ourselves choosing them too often.
When faced with unexpected circumstances we can make
decisions in a moment of poor self-control
which can have devastating effects
on the rest of our lives.
Quitting a job, walking out on a marriage
or resorting to violence are decisions people
often-not always, but often-make out of anger
rather than actually thinking them through.
Then there are some of life's most important
choices including whom to marry, where to live,
what type of job to pursue.
How many nights sleep have been lost either agonizing
over having to make such a decision, or agonizing
over having made the decision poorly?
Improving at making each of these types
of decisions involves the same concept.
We have to determine what is most important to us.
We have to establish a hierarchy of goals
and ideals that define who we want to be.
I say hierarchy because we have to determine several
factors which are going to guide us in our decision making.
We then have to order them in terms of importance,
thus a hierarchy.
Before examining the life of a famous Canadian
who knew what was important to him and made wise
decisions pursuing his dreams and becoming
tremendously successful, I'd like to offer you
the opportunity to order our free booklet
"What Is a True Christian?"
Christianity to so many in our world today has earned
a bad name.
Many feel it exudes self-righteousness
or that it embraces emotional sentimentality.
In a world of religious deception, they,
along with most of what the world calls Christianity,
have not understood what it was intended to be.
In reality it is about making right decisions!
At the age of 9, Chris Hadfield decided
that he would one day become an astronaut.
How many young boys and girls at one point
wanted more than anything to travel to space?
Hadfield fulfilled his dream and even became
the Commander of the International Space Station.
What enabled him to succeed while for so many,
the thought of space travel never moved beyond
a childhood dream?
First, he recognized that being an astronaut
was not something that he could roll out of bed
in his mid-thirties and "just do."
It would be something that he would have to take
into account in every major decision
leading up to that time.
BusinessInsider details what came next:
Laying out such a plan was the easy part.
Over the course of the next 27 years
he repeatedly made good decisions prioritizing
his studies, sticking to his plan, working long hours
in a challenging field, before achieving his dream
of breaching earth's atmosphere.
Part of what makes him such a positive example
of good decision making is that getting to space
was not the only goal he based his decisions on.
Notice that he recognized that the odds were terrible,
Canada didn't even have a space program
when he laid out his plan, but he also gauged every major
decision on achieving his goal
of learning things that would lead to positive
opportunities and be fulfilling to him,
as well as his goal of becoming a better person.
How much better would our lives be if we gauged
every major decision against this criterion-
will this make me a better person?
Not "will this make me look like a better person,"
or "will this make me feel better about myself."
But "will this make me a better person."
If you could ask 20 people what being a better person
means you might get 20 different answers
and unfortunately it is becoming harder and harder
to find common ground on the question of morality.
But one trait that most of us have in common
is that we fall short of what our ideal
of a "good person" should be.
I say this not out of ridicule or with the intent
of eliciting feelings of guilt,
but as a reminder that "doing better" is a common goal
that we should all be striving for and we should
all be using at the top of our decision making hierarchy,
making it the highest level deciding
factor for every decision.
Career and family goals, lifelong dreams
and other directives would then make up a secondary level
in our hierarchy, before proceeding to short term goals.
Of course, when we look at this highest level
of becoming a better person, we have to understand
that morality is not subjective.
If you want to learn a proven moral code
which has been tested for millennia,
take us up on this offer and order your copy of
"What Is a True Christian?"
Even if you think you know that this book is going to say,
I challenge you to order it and read it for yourself.
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised
by what you read.
Welcome back, I'm glad you've made the decision
to join me today.
Every day we make thousands of decisions.
I'm not here to tell you that everyone needs
to be agonized over, there is such a thing
as analysis paralysis.
Learning how to identify which decisions are important,
and then choosing wisely is a life-long
task that begins with deciding what values
and goals you have and establishing a hierarchy
against which you'll assess life's
important decisions.
Once you've determined what your priorities are,
then things get really difficult.
Staying with a particular plan and deciding to follow
through is far easier said than done.
Especially when tired, or when circumstances
are less than ideal, or when we just feel like we'd rather
be doing something else.
How do we make the decision to stick with our plan?
How do we prevent ourselves from making
decisions that we know are not in our best interest?
Let's examine three keys to following
through on good decisions, the first is to:
Develop Self-Control
We briefly discussed the all too common reality
of knowing what is best for us, and yet choosing
something else instead.
The solution to this challenge is developing
self-control, otherwise known as discipline.
One of life's greatest challenges is learning
how to tell yourself "no!"
Self-control means establishing boundaries
for what we view as permissible
and impermissible, and then abiding
by those boundaries.
Many portray restrictions as infringing
on their ability to do what they want,
rather than realizing that restrictions act to prevent
those things which we know to be harmful.
Jocko Willink, a former Navy Seal commander
and author of "Discipline Equals Freedom:
Field Manual" was recently interviewed for Forbes.com.
He had this to say about the correlation between
discipline and freedom:
This was certainly true for Chris Hadfield.
He had the discipline to educate himself
and choose the hard path in training to become an astronaut.
He was rewarded with the freedom of travelling to space.
Writing for Psychology Today, Susan McQuillan
described it this way:
In order to develop self-control we have to examine
ourselves and identify those areas
where we currently lack self-control.
We can then target improving those weaknesses.
The first key to following through on good decisions is to:
Develop Self Control
The second is to:
Put yourself in a position to succeed
Ever notice that seemingly small bad decisions
can quickly cascade and lead to bigger bad decisions
down the road?
While we must avoid the temptation of blaming
every bad decision we make on our circumstances
or environment, we must also learn to recognize
situations where we frequently fail,
and actively seek to avoid or diminish those situations.
Research has shown the immense negative impact
that sleep-deprivation can have on our ability
to make good decisions:
If we find that we constantly make bad choices
with alcohol, we can minimize our risk
by avoiding situations which would normally lead to drinking.
Likewise, maintaining good physical and mental health
can aid in making sure we are in the best possible
situation to make a decision.
It is easier to stick with a plan
when we are feeling strong.
This key will help with more than just sticking
with a decision, it also carries principles
that will help you to make the right decisions
in the first place.
Part of putting yourself in a position to succeed
is recognizing when you are not, when it would be best
to put off a decision
until you are in a better frame of mind.
This includes the need to educating yourself.
If you are making a decision on something
such as an important purchase like a home or a car,
switching careers or asking someone to marry
you-seek counsel!
Ask for the advice of people who you have seen
make good decisions, research your various options
and ensure you have the information
necessary for a final decision.
Our second key to following through on good decisions is to:
Put Yourself in a Position to Succeed
Our third key is:
Never lose sight of the goal
One can have all the tools in the world lined
up perfectly to make the best decisions imaginable,
but forgetting the goal behind the good decisions
is a sure-fire way to make poor choices.
What if, after deciding at 9 years old
that he would one day be an astronaut,
Chris Hadfield never again looked up at a night sky
dreaming of taking off beyond the atmosphere?
If you want to put yourself in a position
to succeed and develop the self-control necessary
to make and follow through on good decisions,
you must maintain sight of the goal.
What good is the hierarchy of goals discussed
in the first portion of this program if we lose sight
of those goals.
Take the time to review your priorities,
and to remind yourself why you chose them in the first place.
Maintain focus in order to keep yourself motivated.
Our third key for following through on good
decisions is to:
Never lose sight of the goal
In last portion of today's program, I'd like to share
with you what I consider to be the highest priority
that I take into account when making decisions.
I hope you'll take the time to call in and receive
your free copy of today's featured offer:
"What Is a True Christian?"
The term Christianity means so many things
to different people that it has generally lost its meaning.
This booklet reveals that the Bible
and true Christianity guides an individual to make
decisions that will always lead to better results
today and forever.
Welcome back, on today's edition of Tomorrow's World
we're talking about decisions,
and how to make-and follow through on- good ones.
At the beginning of the program we read a quote
from Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield who described
the goals he set in order to realize his dream
of travelling to space.
While he recognized that the odds were not in his favour,
he was also pursuing a bigger goal
which he felt the steps necessary to becoming
an astronaut would help him with.
He wanted to become a better person!
Before the break I mentioned that I would share
with you the priority in my life
which I try-to varying degrees of success-to base
my decisions on.
Like Hadfield, I want to be a better person.
However, that can be a very abstract goal.
In order to strive to be a better person,
I try to emulate instruction of the individual
Who for centuries has been the One Who defines morality.
While people may give all kinds of different
definitions of Christianity, it truly boils
down to this: following the teachings
and example of Jesus Christ.
It is not something which takes only a few hours
during a service once a week, or for a few moments
in prayer before drifting off to sleep.
The Christianity of the Bible is a way of life.
It impacts every decision made.
It is the ultimate key in making good decisions.
The book of Deuteronomy outlines the biblical
purpose for God's law:
A vital purpose of God's law is to help us make
better decisions.
I'm sure we lost some viewers at the mere mention
of Christianity or at the thought
of upholding Jesus Christ as the ultimate role model.
Perhaps even you bristled at hearing those statements.
Allow me to make the case for the morality taught
in the Bible.
You've likely heard of what is often referred
to as the Jefferson Bible.
It is a copy of the New Testament put together
by Thomas Jefferson which removed many
of the miraculous occurrences found in the text.
Many point to this as an example of the Founding Fathers
of the United States not being truly
religious individuals.
That's a debate for another day.
Few realize that what was left was a condensed moral
guidebook which would be handed out to new members
of congress for decades.
It helps when you consider Jefferson's intended title
for this his second compilation
of biblical passages:
Writing to John Adams, Jefferson described
the morals taught by Jesus as:
Between 1904 and 1957 every new member of congress
was given a copy of the Jefferson Bible.
The thinking was, that no matter the individual's
thoughts on the divinity of Christ or on the miraculous
instances recorded in scripture,
the morals and guiding principles found
in it were morals and principles which would lead
a congressman to make wise decisions.
When we think of someone who is known for making
good decisions, we often use that term, wise.
King Solomon recognized the connection
between God's way of life and wisdom.
In the free booklet we are offering today,
"What Is a True Christian?"
the late Dr. Roderick C. Meredith outlines the morality,
the way of life,
required by anyone wishing to truly
take up the title of Christian.
Does that not sound like an individual
who is making positive decisions which benefit,
not only himself, but all those around him.
The very purpose of the laws outlined in the Bible,
the way of life we call Christianity,
is to grow in character-to become a better person.
If there is a higher priority
we could use in our decision making,
I certainly can't find it.
Godly morals and principles lead to making better decisions
across all aspects of life.
To grow in the character of God,
to reflect His ideals, is to become the optimal person
that we could possibly aspire to.
It is not easy, few things in life that are worthwhile are.
But if you want to learn more
about the Christianity described in the Bible,
be sure to call and ask for your free copy of
"What Is a True Christian?"
You'll be happy that you did.
From all of us here at Tomorrow's World,
thank you for tuning in.
We hope you've enjoyed the program and that you've found
it to be profitable.
Tune in next time as Gerald Weston, Stuart Wachowicz
and I will continue to bring
the wonderful news of Tomorrow's World.
To learn more about today's topic,
visit www.TWCanada.org
Welcome to Tomorrow's World Answers where we answer
your questions, straight from the Bible.
Any reading of the Old Testament would reveal
the importance placed on animal sacrifices.
Yet very few today practice such a custom.
Does the Bible indicate that animal sacrifices
have been done away with and are no longer necessary?
The question as to whether animal sacrifices were done
away at the sacrifice of Christ is a topic
about which there is much confusion, often stemming
from the assumption that Christ's death ended
the need for animal sacrifices.
The above assumption is correct, as the blood
of ritually slain animals cannot pay the ultimate
penalty of our sin.
Paul was inspired to state that clearly
when he wrote to the Hebrews:
Only the sacrifice of Christ can pay the penalty
of sin which is eternal death.
(Rom 6:23) While this is true, we see Paul,
after the death and resurrection of Christ, and after Paul
was deeply converted and teaching the Gospel,
entering the Temple to offer a sacrifice.
We read of this incident in the Book of Acts:
We read earlier in verse 24 that Paul and the men
with him had taken a Nazirite vow, which was spoken
of in the law of God in the book of Numbers the 6th chapter
This was a vow to strengthen one's humility
and which involved a number of things
but also required a sacrifice whenever the vow ended.
We see here that Paul, while a converted
Christian was still at times honouring the Temple service.
How do we reconcile these two positions?
1 John 3:4 defines sin as the "transgression of the law" .
Clearly the keeping of the Law, even those parts
which were of a sacrificial nature,
would not be a sin, as long as it was done in the manner
prescribed, at the Temple.
Jesus knew and prophesied that the Temple
would not continue to exist (Matt 24:2).
The Temple was destroyed in AD 70 at the fall
of Jerusalem to Rome, and the Temple service
has not been re-established to this day.
Hence sacrifices can no longer be made,
as they require the Temple and an ordained
and purified priesthood.
Today Christians do not offer sacrifices,
for the reason that they cannot, and furthermore
that sacrifices cannot forgive sin.
Even in the Old Testament God alluded to the fact
that the most important sacrifice we can give to God
is a converted heart.
In the coming rule of Christ and His resurrected
saints on the earth for a thousand years (Rev 20:4),
we learn that physical sacrifices
will be restored throughout that period.
The prophet Ezekiel was inspired to include
several chapters to describe the structure
and operation of the Temple in this millennial period
beginning in chapter 40.
People often wonder why God would restore
sacrifices when a perfect sacrifice (that of Christ)
has already been given.
These sacrifices spoken of in Ezekiel
cannot take away sin, but as Paul explains they act
as a teacher, to help us understand the cost of sin.
Sin costs, it carries with it a terrible price.
In truth the blood of our Savior is the highest
price possible, and that is what it cost to forgive us,
if we are repentant and seek forgiveness.
Having to sacrifice a bull without blemish
is an expensive lesson, costing several thousand dollars today.
Yet in the Temple period of the past and again
as people in the millennium learn of God's truth,
this will be a reminder of the price of sin.
In addition, sacrifices will provide
an opportunity to thank God and praise Him.
To submit a question for the show, email us at
TWAnswers@tomorrowsworld.org.
Be sure to watch us online at TWCanada.org
or by searching Tomorrow's World Answers on YouTube.