The Power of Inertia

I remember well sitting in science class in high school and learning about inertia.  The law of inertia states that objects will remain in their current state of motion unless acted upon by an outside force.  In other words, a ball will stay where it is on the ground unless someone kicks it, throws it, or it rolls downhill (acted upon by gravity). 

I have recently realized the power of this physical law on the spiritual lives of Christians.  I have often wondered why it is that some people can go to church for months, years, decades and remain basically the same.  I have often wondered why others can come to church and be radically altered in a short while.  I have wondered how two hundred or two thousand people can hear the same message, read the same passage of Scripture, sing the same song, pray the same prayer- and yet have exceedingly different results. 

The law of spiritual inertia says two things:  1) you will stay exactly where you are (that's the natural default mode of humanity.  Don't change.  Resist change.  Stay where you are.  It's safe, it's comfortable, it's familiar) unless 2) you are acted upon by an outside force.  The outside force that acts upon us is the very Spirit of God.  Because the default mode of people is spiritual stagnation and complacency, it takes an active effort on the part of the believer to allow the Spirit of God to move us.  It takes intentional surrender and intentional action to break out of the current state of motion you are in.  The default mode of humanity is NOT the pursuit of God and His purpose for you.  The default mode is inaction.  Laziness.  Spiritual apathy. 

I believe it is important for pastors to understand the spiritual law of inertia.  Our congregations, barring intentional surrender to the outside action of the Holy Spirit, are complying with the law of inertia, remaining where they are, who they are, and being totally okay with it.   I believe it is important for every Christian to realize that once the Spirit acts upon you and moves you, you develop momentum, and that momentum keeps you moving forward.

However, the Spirit of God isn't the only outside force acting upon you.  Why, when you kick or throw a ball, does it eventually stop?  Another force is at work known as friction.  Friction stops forward motion and returns an object to a standstill.  If you develop momentum in your Christian life, being acted upon by the Spirit of God, you will encounter friction.  Friction from other believers, friction from the unbelieving world, friction from just about anywhere you can imagine.  This world fears someone with spiritual momentum.  It fears anything different, anything unique, anything that is revolutionary. 

Today, allow yourself to be acted upon by the outside force of the Spirit of God.  There is probably a great deal more in life that God wants for you than you are currently living.  Go for it.