A few months ago I came across an article by Annelise Corse, an Australian Medical Scientist and lecturer. She asked the question: ‘Can we live forever?’ and then answered this question by saying, ‘Medical science says perhaps.’
Annelise mentions that longevity medical science is an evolving field and that medical researchers are using powerful new technologies to identify, avert and manage aging and diseases traditionally associated with old age. She says that another recent breakthrough in age-reversal occurred in 2014, when scientists from Harvard University and the University of New South Wales discovered genes that fight against the aging process.
I reckon that’s good news! The Bible tells us that the world’s oldest person Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years. I’ll sign up for that any day … in good health that is. If I get to live on this planet for that many years I may be able to at least work through half the projects I’ve lined up on my to-do list.
‘Get rid of the word immortality’
Earlier in the year, Matthew Dunn wrote an article in the Science section of news.com.au titled ‘Researchers believe a biological revolution enabling humans to experience everlasting youthfulness is coming. In the article it states that the first person who will live to be 1,000 years old has already been born and that a biological revolution enabling humans to experience everlasting youthfulness is just around the corner. Aubrey Grey, a Cambridge gerontologist aims to undo the damage done by the wear and tear of life and he firmly believes that getting rid of the word immortality is a step in the right direction.
“The first thing I want to do is get rid of the use of this word immortality, because it’s enormously damaging, it is not just wrong, it is damaging,” he told Motherboard.
“It means zero risk of death from any cause — whereas I just work on one particular cause of death, namely ageing.” Mr de Grey said his research aims to undo the damage done by the wear and tear of life, as opposed to stopping the ageing process altogether.
“If we ask the question: ‘Has the person been born who will be able to escape the ill health of old age indefinitely?’ Then I would say the chances of that are very high,” he said.
And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
ABOUT THIS BLOG – We’re researching the truth of living forever according to GOD’s Holy Word; Sola Scripture. Popular opinion tells us that everyone who ‘believes’ and has ‘faith’ will go to heaven. Is this true? I decided to ask the prophets about the truth of it all.
ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.
ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here. To download a free copy of my Story of Survival click here.
Last post we read how Jesus merely reiterated His Father’s Word. Jesus repeated this many times.
He continuously throughout his ministry let his followers know that he spoke His Father’s Word and didn’t make anything up himself.
What follows is another promise by Jesus. He tells us that anyone that hears and lives according to His teachings and anyone that believes in His Father, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, can lay claim to the promise of eternal life.
That promise of eternal life is just out of this world! Who can wrap their mind around it?
Going to heaven? Sure, when I grew up in a Catholic family we all believed that we’d go to heaven; that is unless we were naughty and then we would end up in hell.
But this is a different thing altogether. This is God’s Word laying it out in detail: Eternal life, everlasting life, living forever … If you want to, you can sign up for it … yeahh! I like it. We’re actually given a choice and this choice is not just for the religious but open to anyone.
Are you comfortable?
I often enough hear people say that heaven … yeah whatever. And I’ve come to understand that this is what some people believe because they enjoy all the comforts that life has to offer and they have no longing for a better place. Why don’t these people long for a better place? Because life is quite enjoyable for them as it is. This reminds me of the following verses,
“There was a certain rich man who clothed himself in purple and fine linen, and who feasted luxuriously every day.At his gate lay a certain poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.Lazarus longed to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Instead, dogs would come and lick his sores.
“The poor man died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.While being tormented in the place of the dead, he looked up and saw Abraham at a distance with Lazarus at his side.He shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I’m suffering in this flame.’
But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received good things, whereas Lazarus received terrible things. Now Lazarus is being comforted and you are in great pain.Moreover, a great crevasse has been fixed between us and you. Those who wish to cross over from here to you cannot. Neither can anyone cross from there to us.’
“The rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, Father, send Lazarus to my father’s house.I have five brothers. He needs to warn them so that they don’t come to this place of agony.’Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. They must listen to them.’
The rich man said, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will change their hearts and lives.’
Abraham said, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, then neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’” Copyright 2011 Common English Bible(CEB)
Listen to Moses and the Prophets
Once more we’re told by Jesus to listen to Moses and the Prophets if we’re interested in the Good Afterlife. By telling this parable, Jesus even prophesied that people who don’t pay attention to what the prophets had to say, won’t pay attention to someone (such as Himself) who was raised from the dead either.
Don’t worry if you’re comfortable in this life, there is nothing wrong with that in itself. Just make sure that you take care of all the people around you as well.
“When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.”
ABOUT THIS BLOG – We’re researching the truth of living forever according to GOD’s Holy Word; Sola Scripture. Popular opinion tells us that everyone who ‘believes’ and has ‘faith’ will go to heaven. Is this true? I decided to ask the prophets about the truth of it all.
ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.
ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here. To download a free copy of my Story of Survival click here.
On this blog we’re looking into what the Bible has to say about living forever. We’ve examined what the prophets in the Jewish Bible have to say about this and now we’re looking in the Gospels for answers.
In the Book of Matthew as quoted above, Jesus promises everlasting life to anyone who has left everything ‘for my name’s sake.’ In the Book of Mark this passage is referred to as ‘for my sake and the Gospel’s’ and in the Book of Luke it is referred to as ‘for the kingdom of God sake.’
What did Jesus mean by that? He meant that the Gospel is more important than family or wealth or nationality. And there will be a reward for those who recognise this and live accordingly.
Keep the commandments, sell everything, give to the poor, follow Jesus
One person asked Jesus what he needed to do to have eternal life. Jesus told this guy to keep the commandments. When this young fellow said that he had kept the commandments, Jesus responded by telling him that to have treasure in heaven he would have to sell everything, give to the poor and follow Jesus. That was more than the young man could bear because he was very rich. So he walked away troubled, feeling unable to leave his riches behind. Jesus then said that it is near impossible for a rich person to enter heaven. When this surprised his disciples He responded with one of my favourite sayings which is that, with GOD nothing shall be impossible. Or rather, with God all things are possible.
We all like quick fixes and many churches preach that the commandments have been done away with and all we have to do is, ‘believe in Jesus and all shall be well.’ As we’ve seen that’s not what Jesus himself has to say about eternal life.
In addition Jesus pointed out that He considers people his family only when they do the will of his Father.
Before I started to read the Bible in earnest I didn’t understand how Scripture, which I thought to be mere text, could be more important than ones loved ones and country. I have since come to understand that Scripture is not mere text, but it is The Holy Word of The Creator of Heaven and Earth and therefore to be taken seriously.
What does the Gospel teach us?
The Gospel tells us to love one and other and to do the right thing by each other. The Gospel is our moral compass for when we’re in doubt as to what action to take. Are we to leave people just because they believe different from how we believe? I don’t think so. We just read that when people ‘are being called,’ such as Elisha the Prophet and the apostles, they are not to look back but keep moving forward. Once we have our hand to the plough, we’re not to look back. Remember Lot’s wife.
Do you feel that you’ve been called? Are only ministers and pastors and priest the ‘called ones?’ Or has anyone who claims to follow Jesus and/or The Father been ‘called?’ Scripture tells us that ‘The Father draws people.’
Regardless if we’re ministers or not, the message for all of us is to live according to the moral guidelines we’re given. And if people make this impossible for us to do, we have to make a choice: will we lower our standards so that we can stay with those we are familiar with; ‘our loved ones?’ or will we continue to live according to our moral guidelines, pray for those who choose to ignore those rules and keep moving toward the light?
Stick with the familiar or keep pressing on for what is right?
This can be a hard choice and there have been many cross roads in my life where I had to make this choice. Sometimes the decision of what road to follow is a minor one, but other times these can be major life decisions. For instance will we stick with an alcoholic partner or cut loose? This probably depends on their attitude. If they are willing to change we can work out a plan and stick to it. What if people merely say that they are wiling to change but continue drowning their sorrows despite our very best efforts? How is this affecting our life and our ability to go out into the world and do good?
What about people with drug problems or mental health problems? What about people who just have mean spirits or are abusive? Swindlers and con artists? What about the charmers and the like who continue leading us up the garden path with empty promises and broken agreements? Are they willing to change their destructive habits or are they attempting to drag us down into it? Does it matter if this happens deliberately or subconsciously?
Can we live the life God meant us to live with the people around us or are these people holding us back when we try to share the Good News? Is our ‘loved one’ making it hard for us to volunteer at the old people’s home or is our ‘loved one’ continuously holding us back when we try to get out there and share our talents with the world? Jesus said,
Are you being persecuted because you live in a country where the predominant religion is not Christian-Judaism? Did you have to leave your home because life was made impossible for you because you read the Bible, go to church and love God’s Word? Then Jesus promise and prophesy is for you.
Jesus’ message is for all of us
Ultimately Jesus’ message is for all of us, religious or not. What are you choosing? Are you choosing a life filled with sharing and caring and giving and loving or will you allow the people around you to drag you down into their arguments and disagreements.
The Gospel’s message is one of love and good deeds. Can you live that life filled with good stuff, if there are foul spirits around you continually getting you sidetracked? I find that it is impossible to pursue ones dreams and aspirations if there are people around you demanding all your attention because they refuse to stay ‘on track’.
Sure pray your heart out for those who choose different standards and morals to live by, but you don’t have to get caught up in other people’s drama’s to the point where you are not able to live the good life God intended for you.
This does not always mean physically leaving your house or family behind although at times it may well mean this. But when you’ve been called and respond to this call you have the willingness to do whatever is required of you according to God’s will. It means a change of heart, you’ve changed where your loyalties are. Are you in or are you out?
Inheriting everlasting life
Jesus mentioned ‘inheriting everlasting life.’ He did so in response to a question from Apostle Peter. Jesus told his disciples that it is near impossible for the rich to enter heaven. So much so that Jesus thought it were easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. His disciples were super amazed at this because they thought that riches equaled favour with God.
Peter wondered how this would work out for the disciples who all had left everything they had, to follow Jesus. And this is where Jesus told them that every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for his name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Everlasting life for the faithful and loyal followers
To obtain everlasting life;
follow the right kind of profit Prophet
This blog is called ‘Live Forever how to.’ I go through the Bible to see where references are made to living for ever, everlasting life and eternal life. It is in the first book of the Gospels, in Chapter 19 of the Book of Matthew that Jesus refers to everlasting life. This is because someone plainly asks him what they need to do if they want to live forever. Jesus answers this person with very clear instructions; Keep the commandments, love one another, sell all your stuff, give to the poor, follow me. Jesus makes it blatantly clear that pursuing and enjoying ordinary riches on it’s own won’t get you there. That’s for sure.
If you want to be considered a candidate for the Good Afterlife, make sure that you follow the right kind of profit Prophet.
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ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.
ABOUT THIS BLOG – We’re researching the truth of living forever according to GOD’s Holy Word; Sola Scripture. Popular opinion tells us that everyone who ‘believes’ and has ‘faith’ will go to heaven. Is this true? I decided to ask the prophets about the truth of it all.
ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here. To download a free copy of my Story of Survival click here.
My last blogpost mentioned: God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This week we’ll see what Jesus has to say about everlasting life in the Gospels.
This morning I listened to a podcast by Nehemia Gordon and Pastor A.J. Bernard. It was lovely to hear a Karaite Jew and Methodist Pastor in agreement about having the same Father walking along together in the journey of life and, for whatever reason, one has met the Son (been revealed to him) and the other one has not (yet?).
No biggie. In the end we’re all children of the same Father and what matters is what’s in our heart and how that manifests in our life. As far as I’m concerned that’s the end of arguments and discussions about different belief systems and world view. There’s a whole bunch of Torah Pearls that Nehemia has created with Methodist Pastor Keith Johnson and they are well worth listening to.
Everlasting Life in the Book of Daniel
Jesus repeatedly said that He came not to speak his own words but the words of His Father, and He always referred to Scripture. What I mean to say here is that Jesus did not make anything up himself. Whatever He spoke about was quoted from the prophets, as mentioned also last week where we quoted from the Book of Daniel,
Yikes, I find that scary. Isn’t the common perception that once we are resurrected, we’ll go to heaven (enter into life) and, regardless of our previous sins, we’ll all look like gorgeous sixteen year olds (minus the acne) and never look back?
Mmm, that is not what Jesus says here. Although some kind of transformation obviously takes place, having been resurrected.
When Jesus met with his Apostles after his crucifixtion we learn that He said to Thomas,
How do I know that Jesus meant it? I know that for sure because in the Book of Matthew, Jesus did not refer to it just once, but he repeated his warning twice to make sure that we would really get it.
What we’ve just established here is that according to Jesus there is hell fire, and that is where you’ll end up if you cause offence. And particularly if you cause offence to a little child or newcomer to the faith.
What does it mean to cause offence?
What does it mean to cause offence? The varying Bible translations have translated as follows, ‘If your hand causes you to stumble,’ ‘If your hand causes you to sin or fall into sin,’ ‘If your hand causes your downfall,’ ‘If your hand causes subverts you,’ ‘If your hand causes you to lose your faith,’ ‘If your hand cause you to fall,’ and finally ‘If your hand scandalises you or serve as a snare to you.’
Don’t do the wrong thing
The first verse in the Gospels that refers to ‘everlasting life (enter into life)’ is immediately followed by a verse which refers to ‘everlasting fire.’
The warnings are very clear and specific. Don’t cause trouble with your hand, foot or eyes. With all your might, restrain yourself and do whatever is necessary to stop offending, even if this causes some kind of hurt or disability in your life. If you don’t restrain yourself and stop yourself from offending others or falling into sin, there’s a really hot place reserved especially for people just like you.
I believe that these verses also throw out of the window the doctrine of ‘once saved, always saved.’
Now what? If I make a blooper, and we all do, then what? Is that the end?
No, that is not the end. Our Father is a forgiving Father. And there are many instances in the Jewish Bible as well as in the Gospels were we are told that, feeling sorry about having made stupid mistakes, accounts for much.
The Book of Luke
In the Book of Luke we’re told that it is impossible to expect never to be offended. All I have to do is make sure that it is not me causing the offence!
This seems like a very hard thing to do. Especially considering that many believers defend their belief with all their might, misguided as we all at times may be. I have, unfortunately, offended people by telling Christian jokes such as the one told by Emo Philips which has been voted the funniest religious joke of all times.
If this joke was offensive to someone why would I give a link to it and refer to it and possibly cause offence again? Because the person who was offended by it, decided because of this joke, not to follow my blog any longer, and therefore won’t read about this again. And the joke simply points out the hypocrisy of certain believers. I posted the joke to say, ‘please don’t push me off the bridge just because I believe differently from how you may believe.’ And guess what? The first person who read the joke, pushed.
Jesus told parables and therefore I believe that it is fine to talk in parables at times to get certain points across. After the warning, about not causing offence, Jesus gives guidelines on how to deal with people who trespass. What does trespass mean? It means doing the wrong thing by people. It means to sin. It means to break God’s law.
If people genuinely feel sorry about doing wrong and genuinely ask for forgiveness, we are to forgive them. How many times? A lot of times. Why?
Because we all make mistakes.
In the end it always comes down to just plain old loving each other. What do you reckon?
Here’s another reminder of what Love is all about. I have a huge soft spot for the Commandments because they spell it out so perfectly.
Next week we’ll have a look at the second time that ‘everlasting life’ is mentioned by Jesus.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG – We’re researching the truth of living forever according to GOD’s Holy Word; Sola Scripture. Popular opinion tells us that everyone who ‘believes’ and has ‘faith’ will go to heaven. Is this true? I decided to ask the prophets about the truth of it all.
ABOUT THE CONTENT – All content on this website is copyrighted and you can read more about this here. Please also read the disclaimer about my authority and qualifications.
ABOUT SCRIPTURE CARDS – If you want to send free Scripture Cards to your friends click here and you you want to buy hard copies of Scripture Cards you can click here. To download a free copy of my Story of Survival click here.
We’re going through the bible to see where the words ‘live for ever’ pop up and in what context. We’re about halfway now.
I don’t know if you noticed but in scripture the words, ‘live for ever,’ are separated by spaces whilst on the banner on this website the last two words in the sentence, ‘live forever’ have no space between them but have been placed together. This was not deliberate but just happened with the designing of the banner. We could have changed it but decided to leave it because ‘forever’ is the more modern spelling and in the end it means the same thing as in, living forever more … eternally.
In our modern language we can spell the words live for ever in quite a few ways. For instance as in, live for ever, live forever, live4eva, even life4eva or liveforeva. No matter how we spell it, the meaning remains the same.
According to our Strong’s Concordance the words ‘for ever‘ such as in Psalm 49:9 translate from Hebrew as follows: נֵ֫צַח – netsach: eminence, enduring, everlastingness, perpetuity. A short definition of this is ‘forever.’
Recapping where in the bible the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned.
This post addresses how many times the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned in scripture and it also recalls the first time that the words ‘live for ever’ were mentioned in the bible by GOD. We learn that if we want to live for ever, we better do as we’re told by our Maker and the Creator of the universe.
The second time the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned in the bible is when Moses calls the heavens and the earth as witnesses to his speech and prophesy which once more tells us that our life depends upon following God’s commandments. And we are to teach our children this wisdom.
The post ‘A greeting fit for royalty’ tells us about all the times that kings in the bible were addressed with the greeting, ‘Live for ever.’ We learn that this practice is still in use today and was used at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II around 60 years ago.
The desperate cry of ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ was used by King David as well as by Jesus after he was crucified. This is the sixth time that the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned. Both Psalm 22 and Jesus crucifixion and resurrection tell us that all those who trust in The LORD will be saved and may live for ever.
This is the seventh time that the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned and this time all people, all inhabitants of the world are addressed. We’re told that eternal life is not for sale, men are like the beasts who perish and riches are temporary and fleeting and mean nothing in the larger scheme of things.
I think that most of us know that in our heart anyway, really. Just a reminder I guess. It’s not as if we can pretend that we didn’t know, is it?
A lawyer asked Jesus, Is it possible to live forever? What do I need to do if I want to live forever? And Jesus answered, What do you think? What does the law tell you?
And the man said, The law tells me to love God with all my heart and soul and strength and mind and to love my neighbour as myself.
And Jesus said, Well done. If you do this, then you shall live.
Who is my neighbour?
Then the lawyer said to Jesus, Who is my neighbour?
And Jesus answered; a person was traveling from a town called Jerusalem to another town called Jericho. And as he was traveling, a bunch of thieves attacked him; they took his clothes and beat him up so bad that he nearly died.
And when this poor man was laying on the road, half dead, a priest saw him there and quickly walked across to the other side of the road pretending not to see the poor man.
A little bit later a minister/pastor (levite) did exactly the same thing. He also saw this poor man who desperately needed help and then this minister also walked over to the other side of the road continuing his journey, without helping the wounded man.
So here were two religious people, possibly leaders of churches and neither one of them helped the person who had been beaten up and robbed by thieves.
But a man called a Samaritan saw the man laying on the road and he felt sorry for him and went over to him. He cleaned up and covered his wounds and put him on his own animal to take him to a motel where the traveler continued to took care of this wounded man.
And the next day when he had to continue his journey the Samaritan went to the person in charge of the motel, gave him some money and said please look after this man. And if you have to spend more money than what I am giving you now, then next time when I visit I will pay this money back to you.
After Jesus told this story He asked the lawyer, There were three people who all passed this poor man on the road which had been beaten up and robbed of everything he had by thieves. Now which of the three do you think was acting like a good neighbour? Was that the priest or the minister who saw the man laying on the road but pretended not to see him and crossed the road so that they wouldn’t need to help him? Or was it the Samaritan who cleaned his wounds and took him to a motel to look after him and make sure that he would recover?
Who was the good neighbour?
And the lawyer who had asked Jesus the question about eternal life answered, The good neighbour was the kind man, the Samaritan, who took care of the poor fellow who had been robbed and beaten up.
And Jesus said, You are absolutely right. Now you go and do the same.
all rights reserved copyright myemmanuel 2014 reprinted with permission Australian version of the Good Samaritan story Luke 10:25-37
For a number of years I’ve struggled with serious health problems. So much so that whenever my daughters phone one of my previous doctors for health advice or a chat, he invariable says, ‘What … is your mum still going? Really? Far out!’ More than six years ago he told me that I was by far the worst patient in his practice and he pretty much begged me to go to hospital so that ‘when’ I died, he would not be investigated. As a family we prayed instead. We love this doctor dearly, he has been very good to us.
What I learned from having health challenges is to never ever give up. And never ever accept a death sentence handed out to you by people in white coats with stethoscopes around their neck. Medico’s overall have treated me very well and been very kind to me but, like all of us, they are mere mortals and their knowledge and expertise is limited. There is only One who knows all.
With My Right Hand Will I Hold Thee
‘With my right hand will I hold thee’, says my favourite author from my favourite book. In against all odds and medical and scientific evidence, ‘With my right hand will I hold thee.’ That’s all that matters to me. That is what keeps me going as well as two smiley faces beaming at me as I’m served my breakfast in bed.
Don’t Give Up
When people give up, everyone loses. Lives are lost and good friends and family members are lost when people give up. Whatever you do, don’t give up!
A transcript of the best advice and most inspiring speech about not giving up is pasted below. If you prefer to listen to it here is the link to do so.
Speech by by Naval Admiral William H. McRaven, ninth commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, at the University-wide Commencement at The University of Texas at Austin a few weeks ago on May 17, 2014 from the University website.
“President Powers, Provost Fenves, Deans, members of the faculty, family and friends and most importantly, the class of 2014. Congratulations on your achievement.
It’s been almost 37 years to the day that I graduated from UT.
I remember a lot of things about that day.
I remember I had throbbing headache from a party the night before. I remember I had a serious girlfriend, whom I later married—that’s important to remember by the way—and I remember that I was getting commissioned in the Navy that day.
But of all the things I remember, I don’t have a clue who the commencement speaker was that evening and I certainly don’t remember anything they said.
So…acknowledging that fact—if I can’t make this commencement speech memorable—I will at least try to make it short.
What Starts here Changes The World
The University’s slogan is,
“What starts here changes the world.”
I have to admit—I kinda like it.
“What starts here changes the world.”
Tonight there are almost 8,000 students graduating from UT.
That great paragon of analytical rigor, Ask.Com says that the average American will meet 10,000 people in their life time.
That’s a lot of folks.
But, if every one of you changed the lives of just ten people—and each one of those folks changed the lives of another ten people—just ten—then in five generations—125 years—the class of 2014 will have changed the lives of 800 million people.
800 million people—think of it—over twice the population of the United States. Go one more generation and you can change the entire population of the world—8 billion people.
Generations are saved by one decision—by one person
If you think it’s hard to change the lives of ten people—change their lives forever—you’re wrong.
I saw it happen every day in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A young Army officer makes a decision to go left instead of right down a road in Baghdad and the ten soldiers in his squad are saved from close-in ambush.
In Kandahar province, Afghanistan, a non-commissioned officer from the Female Engagement Team senses something isn’t right and directs the infantry platoon away from a 500 pound IED, saving the lives of a dozen soldiers.
But, if you think about it, not only were these soldiers saved by the decisions of one person, but their children yet unborn—were also saved. And their children’s children—were saved.
Generations were saved by one decision—by one person.
But changing the world can happen anywhere and anyone can do it.
So, what starts here can indeed change the world, but the question is…what will the world look like after you change it?
Well, I am confident that it will look much, much better, but if you will humor this old sailor for just a moment, I have a few suggestions that may help you on your way to a better a world.
And while these lessons were learned during my time in the military, I can assure you that it matters not whether you ever served a day in uniform.
It matters not your gender, your ethnic or religious background, your orientation, or your social status.
Our struggles in this world are similar and the lessons to overcome those struggles and to move forward—changing ourselves and the world around us—will apply equally to all.
Basic SEAL training in Coronado, California.
I have been a Navy SEAL for 36 years. But it all began when I left UT for Basic SEAL training in Coronado, California.
Basic SEAL training is six months of long torturous runs in the soft sand, midnight swims in the cold water off San Diego, obstacles courses, unending calisthenics, days without sleep and always being cold, wet and miserable.
It is six months of being constantly harassed by professionally trained warriors who seek to find the weak of mind and body and eliminate them from ever becoming a Navy SEAL.
But, the training also seeks to find those students who can lead in an environment of constant stress, chaos, failure and hardships.
To me basic SEAL training was a life time of challenges crammed into six months.
So, here are the ten lesson’s I learned from basic SEAL training that hopefully will be of value to you as you move forward in life.
1. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed
Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors, who at the time were all Vietnam veterans, would show up in my barracks room and the first thing they would inspect was your bed. If you did it right, the corners would be square, the covers pulled tight, the pillow centred just under the headboard and the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the rack — rack — that’s Navy talk for bed.
It was a simple task — mundane at best. But every morning we were required to make our bed to perfection. It seemed a little ridiculous at the time, particularly in light of the fact that were aspiring to be real warriors; tough battle hardened SEALs. But the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over.
If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.
If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.
And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.
2. If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle
During SEAL training the students are broken down into boat crews. Each crew is seven students — three on each side of a small rubber boat and one coxswain to help guide the dingy.
Every day your boat crew forms up on the beach and is instructed to get through the surf zone and paddle several miles down the coast.
In the winter, the surf off San Diego can get to be 8 to 10 feet high and it is exceedingly difficult to paddle through the plunging surf unless everyone digs in. Every paddle must be synchronised to the stroke count of the coxswain. Everyone must exert equal effort or the boat will turn against the wave and be unceremoniously tossed back on the beach. For the boat to make it to its destination, everyone must paddle.
You can’t change the world alone — you will need some help — and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the good will of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide them. If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.
3. If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers
Over a few weeks of difficult training my SEAL class which started with 150 men was down to just 35. There were now six boat crews of seven men each.
I was in the boat with the tall guys, but the best boat crew we had was made up of the little guys — the munchkin crew we called them — no one was over about 5-foot five. The munchkin boat crew had one American Indian, one African American, one Polish American, one Greek American, one Italian American, and two tough kids from the mid-west. They out paddled, outran, and out swam all the other boat crews.
The big men in the other boat crews would always make good natured fun of the tiny little flippers the munchkins put on their tiny little feet prior to every swim. But somehow these little guys, from every corner of the nation and the world, always had the last laugh, swimming faster than everyone and reaching the shore long before the rest of us.
SEAL training was a great equaliser. Nothing mattered but your will to succeed. Not your colour, not your ethnic background, not your education and not your social status. If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.
4. If you want to change the world get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward
Several times a week, the instructors would line up the class and do a uniform inspection. It was exceptionally thorough. Your hat had to be perfectly starched, your uniform immaculately pressed and your belt buckle shiny and void of any smudges.
But it seemed that no matter how much effort you put into starching your hat, or pressing your uniform or polishing your belt buckle — it just wasn’t good enough. The instructors would find something wrong.
For failing the uniform inspection, the student had to run, fully clothed into the surfzone and then, wet from head to toe, roll around on the beach until every part of your body was covered with sand. The effect was known as a “sugar cookie.” You stayed in that uniform the rest of the day — cold, wet and sandy.
There were many a student who just couldn’t accept the fact that all their effort was in vain. That no matter how hard they tried to get the uniform right — it was unappreciated. Those students didn’t make it through training. Those students didn’t understand the purpose of the drill.
You were never going to succeed. You were never going to have a perfect uniform. Sometimes no matter how well you prepare or how well you perform you still end up as a sugar cookie. It’s just the way life is sometimes. If you want to change the world get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.
5. If you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses
Every day during training you were challenged with multiple physical events — long runs, long swims, obstacle courses, hours of callisthenics — something designed to test your mettle. Every event had standards — times you had to meet. If you failed to meet those standards your name was posted on a list and at the end of the day those on the list were invited to — a “circus.”
A circus was two hours of additional callisthenics — designed to wear you down, to break your spirit, to force you to quit. No one wanted a circus. A circus meant that for that day you didn’t measure up. A circus meant more fatigue — and more fatigue meant that the following day would be more difficult — and more circuses were likely.
At some time during SEAL training, everyone — everyone — made the circus list. But an interesting thing happened to those who were constantly on the list. Over time those students who did two hours of extra callisthenics got stronger and stronger. The pain of the circuses built inner strength-built physical resiliency.
Life is filled with circuses. You will fail. You will likely fail often. It will be painful. It will be discouraging. At times it will test you to your very core. But if you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses.
6. If you want to change the world sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first
At least twice a week, the trainees were required to run the obstacle course. The obstacle course contained 25 obstacles including a 10-foot high wall, a 30-foot cargo net, and a barbed wire crawl to name a few.
But the most challenging obstacle was the ‘slide for life’. It had a three level 30 foot tower at one end and a one level tower at the other. In between was a 200-foot long rope. You had to climb the three tiered tower and once at the top, you grabbed the rope, swung underneath the rope and pulled yourself hand over hand until you got to the other end.
The record for the obstacle course had stood for years when my class began training in 1977. The record seemed unbeatable, until one day, a student decided to go down the slide for life — head first. Instead of swinging his body underneath the rope and inching his way down, he bravely mounted the TOP of the rope and thrust himself forward.
It was a dangerous move, seemingly foolish, and fraught with risk. Failure could mean injury and being dropped from the training. Without hesitation the student slid down the rope perilously fast. Instead of several minutes, it only took him half that time and by the end of the course he had broken the record. If you want to change the world sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.
7. If you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks
During the land warfare phase of training, the students are flown out to San Clemente Island which lies off the coast of San Diego. The waters off San Clemente are a breeding ground for the great white sharks. To pass SEAL training there are a series of long swims that must be completed. One is the night swim.
Before the swim the instructors joyfully brief the trainees on all the species of sharks that inhabit the waters off San Clemente. They assure you, however, that no student has ever been eaten by a shark — at least not recently.
But, you are also taught that if a shark begins to circle your position, stand your ground. Do not swim away. Do not act afraid. And if the shark, hungry for a midnight snack, darts towards you, then summon up all your strength and punch him in the snout and he will turn and swim away.
There are a lot of sharks in the world. If you hope to complete the swim you will have to deal with them. So if you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.
8. If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment
As Navy SEALs one of our jobs is to conduct underwater attacks against enemy shipping. We practised this technique extensively during basic training.
The ship attack mission is where a pair of SEAL divers are dropped off outside an enemy harbour and then swims well over two miles — underwater — using nothing but a depth gauge and a compass to get to their target.
During the entire swim, even well below the surface there is some light that comes through. It is comforting to know that there is open water above you. But as you approach the ship, which is tied to a pier, the light begins to fade. The steel structure of the ship blocks the moonlight. It blocks the surrounding street lamps. It blocks all ambient light.
To be successful in your mission, you have to swim under the ship and find the keel — the centre line and the deepest part of the ship. This is your objective. But the keel is also the darkest part of the ship, where you cannot see your hand in front of your face, where the noise from the ship’s machinery is deafening and where it is easy to get disoriented and fail.
Every SEAL knows that under the keel, at the darkest moment of the mission, is the time when you must be calm, composed — when all your tactical skills, your physical power and all your inner strength must be brought to bear. If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment.
9. If you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud
The ninth week of training is referred to as “Hell Week.” It is six days of no sleep, constant physical and mental harassment, and one special day at the Mud Flats.
The Mud Flats are an area between San Diego and Tijuana, where the water runs off and creates the Tijuana slue’s — a swampy patch of terrain where the mud will engulf you.
It is on the Wednesday of Hell Week that you paddle down to the mud flats and spend the next 15 hours trying to survive the freezing cold mud, the howling wind and the incessant pressure to quit from the instructors.
As the sun began to set that Wednesday evening, my training class, having committed some “egregious infraction of the rules” was ordered into the mud. The mud consumed each man till there was nothing visible but our heads. The instructors told us we could leave the mud if only five men would quit. Just five men and we could get out of the oppressive cold.
Looking around the mud flat it was apparent that some students were about to give up. It was still over eight hours till the sun came up … eight more hours of bone chilling cold. The chattering teeth and shivering moans of the trainees were so loud it was hard to hear anything.
And then, one voice began to echo through the night — one voice raised in song.
The song was terribly out of tune, but sung with great enthusiasm. One voice became two and two became three and before long everyone in the class was singing. We knew that if one man could rise above the misery then others could as well.
The instructors threatened us with more time in the mud if we kept up the singing — but the singing persisted. And somehow — the mud seemed a little warmer, the wind a little tamer and the dawn not so far away.
If I have learned anything in my time travelling the world, it is the power of hope. The power of one person — Washington, Lincoln, King, Mandela and even a young girl from Pakistan, Malala — one person can change the world by giving people hope. If you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.
10. If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.
Finally, in SEAL training there is a bell. A brass bell that hangs in the centre of the compound for all the students to see.
All you have to do to quit is ring the bell. Ring the bell and you no longer have to wake up at 5 o’clock. Ring the bell and you no longer have to do the freezing cold swims.
Ring the bell and you no longer have to do the runs, the obstacle course, the PT — and you no longer have to endure the hardships of training. Just ring the bell.
If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.
You can affect the lives of 800 million people in the next century
To the graduating class of 2014, you are moments away from graduating. Moments away from beginning your journey through life. Moments away from starting to change the world — for the better. It will not be easy. But YOU are the class of 2014 — the class that can affect the lives of 800 million people in the next century.
Start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often, but if you take some risks, step up when the times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden and never, ever give up — if you do these things, the next generation and the generations that follow will live in a world far better than the one we have today, and what started here will indeed have changed the world — for the better.”
end of speech.
Wow, some speech. Makes me think that we can all do with a touch of SEAL training in our youth.
Not everyone wants to change the world. I just want to share my story and let my readers know what I discovered about Living Forever. Regardless of what we’re about though, every single decision we make changes something and usually affects other people. So why not change for the better by resolving to never ever give up and inspiring others to do the same.
Below I’ve summed up Admiral William H. McRaven’s speech to print out and hang on my wall.
If you want to change the world … advice from Admiral William McRaven
Start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often, but if you take some risks, step up when the times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden and never, ever give up.
If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.
If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.
If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.
If you want to change the world get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.
If you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses.
If you want to change the world sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.
If you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.
If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment.
If you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.
If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.
Who is it that gets to live forever? Do we even want to live forever? A little while ago Daily Post’s Scott Berkun posed exactly that question, ‘Do you want to live forever?’ and received widely varied responses.
Did you know that Americans Stand a Better Chance To Get to Heaven?
First of all you need to know that Americans stand a better chance than others to get into heaven, it is a mathematical fact and you can read more about that here.
Only Two People Entered the Promised Land
Secondly you need to know that out of the whole Hebrew nation, which 3500 years ago was around one million people, only two out of one million got to enter the promised land. After a long forty year journey through the wilderness, only two.
Why Only Two Out Of A Million?
Why was this? Because these were the only two that obeyed God. Yep. That’s what the bible tells us. Even Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land. Who were the two that were allowed to enter the promised land?
Caleb and Joshua. It is good to keep in mind that the Jewish people are meticulous record keepers. And there you have it, Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun were the only two out of the original tribe which entered the promised land because they were the only two that followed God.
Many seek to enter in.
Many Seek To Enter In. Most people I know expect to go to heaven, just because … They have faith and all that. They reckon they’ll be fine.
This doesn’t correlate with what the Good Book tells us. The bible tells us that two were kicked out of paradise for not obeying God and two out of around one million entered into the promised land because they were the only two who obeyed God.
What are your chances that you’ll end up in heaven?
So, what are your chances that you’ll end up in heaven? Unless you’re an American … the bible tells us that only two out of a nation of around one million people entered the promised land.
Reading the above made me wonder what the parameters are.
Where does the concept of Living For Ever come from?
Around six thousand years ago humanity mucked up big time. Man and wife were enjoying all the perks of paradise when the wife was seduced and tricked by a snake. Her hubby took her word for it, instead of obeying the authority. Both of them busily pointing the finger instead of owning up.
Long story short; thanks guys for all of that, because it meant that humanity was kicked out of the garden. As an aside, it probably wasn’t an apple, more likely a fig that the couple thought irresistible enough to lose paradise over. Yep, just a bite out of a bit of food and they were out on their bum.
Curses and all and out they went
God was clear enough about it; curses and all, and out they went. Guards with flaming swords were put in place to keep away all of those who can’t keep their hands to themselves. To keep out those who blame others for their misfortune. To keep out those who cannot control their primitive urges and those who believe and follow creeps and snake oil merchants over authorities. To keep out those who don’t appreciate their good fortune but instead take what is not theirs to take and entice others to do the same. To keep out those who do not uphold standards but instead take the easy way out and join the disobedient. To keep out those who don’t heed warnings of deadly dangers (sins). I guess you’re getting the drift.
Adam and Eve got the drift too, driven right out of paradise they were.
And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
The above scripture quote is from the first three chapters of the bible. All things considered, humanity did not start out that well. It looked like we were going to be just fine as long as we obeyed and did no sneaky things. It was not to be. A sweet forbidden taste was all it took for the couple to forfeit paradise and be prevented from living for ever.
Dumbo’s.
Adam called his wife the Mother of All Living and we sang a song about it which you can watch here.
The song Mother of All Living by People is Grass lives at itunes.
Other people listed in the bible who lived to a ripe old age were Adam who lived 930 years (Genesis 5:5). Seth lived 912 years (Genesis 5:8). Enosh lived 905 years (Genesis 5:11). Kenan lived 910 years (Genesis 5:14). Mahalalel lived 895 years (Genesis 5:17). Jared lived 962 years (Genesis 5:20). Enoch lived 365 years before God took him (Genesis 5:22–24). Lamech lived 777 years (Genesis 5:21). And Genesis 9:29 records that Noah lived 950 years.
The Holy Word also tells us that, Enoch walked with God,
continuously throughout his ministry let his followers know that he spoke His Father’s Word and didn’t make anything up himself.
Mimi Emmanuel 
