From the time we are born until we die, we make literally tens of thousands of choices. Every choice contributes in a positive or negative way to our character.
Character is the sum total of my values and thought patterns accumulated throughout life. By definition “the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.” At every stage of life develops our mind and forms our character. Much of this development is sin based, and something that leads us away from God. That is a problem for us and Him if we are planning to live with Him in heaven.
It is our choices of what to put in our mind that determines character. Since thought processes are used in making every choice, we will find why change is so hard when you try to align your thinking with God. The best comparison I know to help us understand this choice process in the brain is to compare it to a computer.
Computers run on bytes of information.
A bit is the smallest unit of data on a computer; each bit has a single value of either 1 or 0.
Byte – In most computer systems, a byte is a unit of data that is eight binary digits long. A byte is the unit most computers use to represent a character such as a letter, number or symbol.
Megabyte = One million bytes.
Gigabyte = One billion bytes.
Terabyte = 1,000 gigabytes (1012bytes)
One text character contains one byte of information. A typical typed page without any images contains about two kilobytes, or 1,024 bytes of information. A megabyte, therefore, can support about 500 typed pages. About 100,000 trees made into paper would be needed to print out a Terabyte of data. That is 500 million pages, and would be over 20 miles high.
We can now carry with us everything stored on a computer hard drive. World’s Largest-Capacity USB 3.0 Flash Drive = 2 terabytes.
The human brain by comparison contains roughly 100 billion neurons. Each of these neurons seems capable of making around 1,000 connections, representing about 1,000 potential synapses, which largely do the work of data storage. Multiply each of these 100 billion neurons by the approximately 1,000 connections it can make, and you get 100 trillion data points, or about 100 terabytes of information. 100,000,000,000,000.
So, we will never fill up our mind. But from the time we are born, we start accumulating data, and all of it is stored in our mind. THIS DATA BECOMES THE BASIS FOR ALL OUR DECISIONS OR CHOICES IN LIFE.
Fundamentals of Education 425 – We are God’s workmanship, and His word declares that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” He has prepared this living habitation for the mind; it is “curiously wrought,” a temple which the Lord himself has fitted up for the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. The mind controls the whole man. All our actions, good or bad, have their source in the mind. It is the mind that worships God, and allies us to heavenly beings. Yet many spend all their lives without becoming intelligent in regard to the casket that contains this treasure.
QUESTION: WITH ALL THIS INPUT OF INFORMATION INTO OUR MINDS, HOW CAN WE SORT THROUGH IT ALL TO MAKE DAILY CHOICES FOR GOD AND HEAVEN?
In Heavenly Places 337 – It is impossible for any of us by our own power or our own efforts to work this change in ourselves. It is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, which Jesus said He would send into the world, that changes our character into the image of Christ; and when this is accomplished, we reflect as in a mirror the glory of the Lord. That is, the character of the one who thus beholds Christ is so like His that one looking at him sees Christ’s own character shining out as from a mirror. Imperceptibly to ourselves, we are changed day by day from our ways and will into the ways and will of Christ, into the loveliness of His character.
Ye Shall Receive Power 126 – The truth is efficient, and through obedience its power changes the mind into the image of Jesus. It is the truth as it is in Jesus that quickens the conscience and transforms the mind; for it is accompanied to the heart by the Holy Spirit. There are many, who, lacking spiritual discernment, take the bare letter of the Word, and find that unaccompanied by the Spirit of God, it quickens not the soul, it sanctifies not the heart. One may be able to quote from the Old and the New Testament, may be familiar with the commands and promises of the Word of God; but unless the Holy Spirit sends the truth home to the heart, enlightening the mind with divine light, no soul falls upon the Rock and is broken; for it is the divine agency that connects the soul with God.
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students 427 – What book can compare with the Bible? An understanding of its teachings is essential for every child and youth, and for those of mature age; for it is the word of God, given to guide the human family to heaven. In the world today there are gods many and doctrines many. Without an understanding of the Scriptures it is impossible for the youth to understand what is truth, or to discern between the sacred and the common.
The Ministry of Healing, 458 -The reason why the youth, and even those of mature years, are so easily led into temptation and sin is that they do not study the Word of God and meditate upon it as they should. The lack of firm, decided willpower, which is manifest in life and character, results from neglect of the sacred instruction of God’s Word. They do not by earnest effort direct the mind to that which would inspire pure, holy thought and divert it from that which is impure and untrue.
Adventist Home 16 – The traits of character you cherish in life will not be changed by death or by the resurrection. You will come up from the grave with the same disposition you manifested in your home and in society. Jesus does not change the character at His coming. The work of transformation must be done now. Our daily lives are determining our destiny.
A New Life 45 – After the union with Christ has been formed, it can be preserved only by earnest prayer and untiring effort. We must resist, we must deny, we must conquer self. Through the grace of Christ, by courage, by faith, by watchfulness, we may gain the victory.
Amazing Grace 203 – None but He who has created man can effect a change in the human heart…. The human judgment and ideas of the most experienced are liable to be imperfect and faulty, and the frail instrument, subject to his own hereditary traits of character, has need to submit to the sanctification of the Holy Spirit every day, else self will gather the reins and want to drive.
In Heavenly Places 290 – We should remember that all make mistakes; even men and women who have had years of experience sometimes err. But God does not cast them off because of their errors; to every erring son and daughter of Adam He gives the privilege of another trial. The true follower of Jesus manifests a Christlike spirit toward his erring brother. . . Every human being is subject to temptation and in need of brotherly interest and sympathy. The exercise of mercy in our daily relations with one another is one of the most effective means of attaining perfection of character, for only those who walk with Christ can be truly merciful.