Read Time: 14 minutes
We may like to think that life is random. Pure chance. Everything is a “coincidence.” Fact is, it’s not. And that’s the scriptural truth, grounded in centuries of evidence.
The very first verse of the Bible speaks against coincidence or randomness. Our God is one of order, structure and intentionality. “He saw that it was good.” In other words, fit for His purpose.
And not to go too deep too fast, but Einstein proved through his research in Brownian motion that even microscopic particles move in a measurable and probabilistic pattern!
If we know enough of the variables around a sporting event, we are able to predict the outcome with high precision. Look no further than the lines that Vegas sportsbooks publish.
You may be asking at this point. Where are we going with this…?
As always, glad you asked. 🙂
Life is a system, one full of inputs, processes and outputs. We exist because God willed it and He expects us to bear fruit like any other biological system. There are levels to this of course, but God even gave us an instruction manual to the system when He gave us His Word. And He gave us the solution when He gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross to cover for our sins. This is also part of the systemic design for reconciliation back to Him!
“And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation, which is that God in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is making his appeal through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, “Be reconciled to God! God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God’s righteousness.””
2 Corinthians (2 Co) 5:18-21 CJB
And this system is not to be confused with the artificial systems or even simple computer processes for that matter. Those are just replicas, algorithms, devoid of any power in and of themselves. Man made, like the idols of the Ancient Times.
But we can derive some spiritual insights from engineering first principles because our God is omnipotent and the ultimate engineer!!
So where do we start? Again, glad you asked. The first principles or primary components of any system are its inputs, processes and outputs. If the goal is reconciliation and righteousness, we can then examine the correct inputs and processes which realize that output.
In fact, there is a nice process engineering exercise called SIPOC (Suppliers – Inputs – Process – Outputs – Customers), which can serve as an appropriate starting point for mapping. This can be done for any process, but below we will start to use it for godly purposes!
INPUTS
Typically I would start with the end in mind but for sake of flow and this exercise, let’s focus on what are the right inputs to achieve reconciliation and righteousness. And bear in mind, what we are really aiming for is spiritual sanctification through transformation.
“In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed.”
Romans (Rom) 12:2 CJB
With all that in mind (third time for effect/emphasis), hopefully you all have heard the phrase “Garbage In, Garbage Out.” In fact, they also reiterated I this in my masters class a few weeks ago.
Needless to say, this is a cliche on the power of inputs – both positive and negative – to impact the output or results in any given process.
One of the most common examples is what you consume. For example, if you consume junk food, your body will process that junk food and more than likely convert it to fat and additional pounds.
On the contrary, if you feed your body with whole foods, fruits and vegetables, you will be amazed how our bodies are built in order to convert these foods in energy and actually contribute to fat loss in many cases.
Point being, we are wholly and holy made, created in such a magnificent way that if we consume godly inputs, we will naturally convert those inputs into something amazing, through spiritual transformation.
Five examples of godly inputs are:
- Scripture (God’s Word) most important
- Prayer (Conversations with God)
- Fellowship (Conversations with others about God and His Word)
- Nature (Experiencing God’s Creation)
- Worship Music (One of God’s Love Languages)
Focusing on the positive, these are just some of the easiest examples. I’m sure you could also come up with many others. Just one example of counterproductive inputs are mass media. Did you know that the term media comes from the Latin plural of medium? And the Bible specifically requires us to avoid mediums or soothsayers. Obviously this is more related to a particular type of individual, but as discussed, there are no coincidences in our world or God’s Word!
There are also many levels and dimensions to inputs. As always in God’s word, you can go several levels deep into the scriptural analysis. One example are the clean and unclean foods laid out in Leviticus. While our society eats many of these unclean foods, there is undoubtedly an underlying spiritual reason these are classified as unclean. Likewise, we can be aware of all of the unclean inputs across several dimensions, not just food.
There is a verse that discusses that only what comes out of a man defiles him (see below). We will discuss this more about outputs. But here is some food for thought… 🙂 Just because our body is able to handle, digest, or FILTER something, does it mean it is a godly input? I would also encourage all my readers as always to read the full Chapter and context (i.e. get ALL the input!). And read both of these verses together (and read the full chapters)…
“Then Yeshua called the crowd again and began saying to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand. There is nothing outside the man that can make him unholy by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of the man that makes the man unholy.””
Mark 7:14-15 TLV
““Everything is permitted”—but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permitted”—but not everything builds up.”
1 Corinthians 10:23 TLV
Ultimately, by focusing on the inputs that we process, we are cutting out the weeds from the root. We are cutting out harmful activities and habits from the seed before they become full grown trees. And most importantly, we are planting positive seeds which will grow and transform into beautiful trees, bearing fruit for years to come!
“My son, pay attention to what I am saying; incline your ear to my words. Don’t let them out of your sight, keep them deep in your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to their whole being. Above everything else, guard your heart; for it is the source of life’s consequences. Keep crooked speech out of your mouth, banish deceit from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze on what lies in front of you. Level the path for your feet, let all your ways be properly prepared; then deviate neither right nor left; and keep your foot far from evil.”
Mishlei (Pro) 4:20-27 CJB
“Their delight is in Adonai’s Torah; on his Torah they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams — they bear their fruit in season, their leaves never wither, everything they do succeeds.”
Tehillim (Psa) 1:2-3 CJB
PROCESS
Inputs don’t automatically turn into outputs or produce results. It is the process surrounding these inputs that matters. Sticking with the biological metaphor, some of these processes are virtually unseen. By the same logic our neurological systems process various sensory inputs simultaneously. This is the spiritual equivalent of digestion.
In other words, the transformation really begins internally before we even start to see it externally – how cool is that! But remember, first the physical, then the spiritual. Even the first verse is about physical creation – “God created the heavens and the earth”!
“So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.”
1 Corinthians 15:45-46 TLV
I read this as “start with the basics and in the natural, here and now, physical world.” For any process, we need clear standard work. The header on this documentation is the purpose, the raison d’être, if you will…the reason for existence.
God put us on this earth for a purpose. And in our high level personal operating system, this is step one. It’s also seemingly the most alluring, most questioned, doubted, et cetera, et cetera. I’ve written several pieces on purpose, which you can find at the bottom of this post, so for now, let’s continue.
Next critical step in this process of constructing a process is to define the inputs and outputs. As aforementioned, there is a fun tool in lean management called a SIPOC exercise, which stands for Suppliers – Inputs – Process – Outputs – Customers. This is also helpful to brainstorm the inputs and outputs. It’s also the reason we are focused on the inputs and outputs today. Plus, in theory, for your life, the suppliers and customers fit somewhere between you and God…I’ll let you figure that one out.
This also speaks to the ownership or roles and responsibilities. You will always have some interdependencies with others, but this is why it is important to focus on what is in your control. And this is typically more than we are led to believe. We are able to control our reactions, our attitudes, and our conduct. This is enough to craft a personal operating system and live a godly life.
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV
It is also critical to develop performance metrics and tracking mechanisms as we have discussed in other posts. But in the first stage, just focus on the inputs and outputs.
This section is intentionally vague. There is no one-size-fits-all for a process to convert godly inputs into results and fruits. There is however an instruction manual and each person has to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. And in all honesty, that involves a lot of trial and error (and prayer).
I’ve tried many different processes that have failed to convert from the inputs into outputs. This is why the feedback loop and tracking elements are so important. It is like a pilot flying a route; there is a constant need for course correction.
So with that, here’s my recommendation of a rough plan of attack (i.e. process framework) to get started:
- Say a prayer and have a conversation with God (Seek First always).
- Finish reading this article.
- Lay out your inputs, outputs
- Try your best to build a SIMPLE sub-process that will convert ONE input to ONE output.
- Pray again.
- Refine your process using metrics.
- Act, rinse and repeat.
This is an ongoing cycle, with constant prayers and life refinement. The process of spiritual transformation is a process in and of itself. If you need further advice and inspiration, I highly recommend to check out the other posts related to this topic.
I pray that you gain some spiritual inspiration to just get started. Sometimes that is the hardest part…
“Therefore, my loved ones, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence—work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For the One working in you is God—both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you might be blameless and innocent, children of God in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. Among them you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that I may boast in the day of Messiah that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and the service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. The same way, you also—rejoice and share your joy with me!”
Philippians 2:12-18 TLV
OUTPUT
In spiritual terms, outputs would be synonymous to (or at least paralleled with) fruits. Probably the most well known verse about fruits is the following:
“You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes aren’t gathered from thorn bushes or figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but the rotten tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.”
Matthew 7:16-20 TLV
This is even followed with another verse about reaching the kingdom of God. Whoa!
That being said, do we know what fruit really embodies. Hint: it is not just children!
Read the verses below to gain some more insight here:
““I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He trims so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. The branch cannot itself produce fruit, unless it abides on the vine. Likewise, you cannot produce fruit unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for apart from Me, you can do nothing.”
John 15:1-5 TLV
“Sow for yourselves righteousness. Reap in accord with covenant love. Break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek Adonai, until He comes and showers righteousness on you.”
Hosea 10:12 TLV
“For the whole Torah can be summed up in a single saying: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Messiah have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Ruach, let us also walk by the Ruach.”
Galatians 5:14, 22-25 TLV
All of these are tied to “fruit of the spirit” or spiritual fruit that we produce. And without physical fruit, we would grasp to understand the concept. These types of fruit are invisible, because they stem from within. We can’t decide on what fruit we bear, but we can decide on the inputs and the process that we produce them.
God tell us if we focus on the seeds of righteousness – that is love for one another and HIS WORD – then we will bear tremendous and abundant fruit…even beyond our wildest imaginations.
So as we construct this system, try not to focus on the outputs. These are just a reflection of your actions, habits, and character. Results follow the work. Trace back the results into your process and you will be amazed at the power of course correction.
Stephen Covey, acclaimed author and speaker once remarked “Private victory precedes public victory.” I think that is more relevant here than we can even fathom.
Likewise, when we focus on one piece of scripture or one single result or event, we miss the big picture. Read the verse below once more:
“Then Yeshua called the people to him again and said, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand this! There is nothing outside a person which, by going into him, can make him unclean. Rather, it is the things that come out of a person which make a person unclean!””
Mark (Mrk) 7:14-15 CJB
When you read this by itself, it seems like inputs don’t matter. Or the process doesn’t matter. YES, that’s right.
But wait, how can that be? After all that we just spoke about?
It IS results that matter, it is our behavior and obedience that matter. It is our love and righteousness that matters! But in order to produce these results, we must ultimately be focused on the inputs and processes that produce them!
When viewed in the big picture, Yeshua is teaching them a lesson that they are focusing on the wrong thing. They are placing traditions above love and the Word of God. Their inputs and processes (and priorities) were all wrong. So they weren’t producing the results. And that which comes from the heart is a result of a godly process.
Yeshua effectively got right to the point – you are not producing fruit or godly results. In other words, go back to your inputs and processes! Let’s read this one again too:
“You will recognize them by their fruit. Can people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every healthy tree produces good fruit, but a poor tree produces bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, or a poor tree good fruit. Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire! So you will recognize them by their fruit.”
Mattityahu (Mat) 7:16-20 CJB
All of this life is a system. We may not understand all of the interdependencies or variables, but our God is good and one of order. He knows the end from the beginning and all of the possible paths and processes to realize His will. Let it be done on earth as it is in heaven!
Takeaways to make a way (Practical Advice)
- Our God is one of order not one of randomness.
- The first act we read in the Word is creation with intentionality and purpose.
- There is a complex engineered design behind our world and our life system.
- His Word is a lamp to our feet and will light our paths.
- Garbage In, Garbage Out is key when it comes to inputs. Replace this with godly in, godly out!
- Focusing on what we can control is important; let God do the rest.
- Just because something is permissible does not make it godly and good – i.e. fit for His glory and His purpose for you.
- Continuously refine your process; if you are not getting the outputs desired, check the inputs and test each change.
Further Study with your Buddy
For further knowledge and understanding of godly habits, read The Chukat Concept: Engraving wisdom to form godly habits that change your life
To go deeper on spiritual alignment, read: Aligning our Life to God’s Will: Five Key Practices for Winning at Life Planning & Productivity (the godly way)
To find more ways for putting God first in your daily cycles, read: SEEK FIRST the Kingdom of God (Developing a Mindset & a Time Unexpected)
Questions for Reflection…
- When is the last time you talked to God about your life (and listened)?
- Have you ever prayed about process? How about your life goals or purpose?
- What is one input you can eliminate to produce better (more godly) results?
- What do you think of when you hear the term “bear fruit”?
- What does a godly life look like to you?
- How can you improve your process to achieve better results?
- What processes do you have in your life, perhaps without realizing them?
Feel free to drop a comment below!
godlyyy 