Inertia: State of Motion
Every body perseveres in its state of being at rest or of moving uniformly straight ahead, except insofar as it is compelled to change its state by forces impressed. [Cohen & Whitman 1999 translation]
Definition: "… a body at rest will remain at rest and a body moving with constant velocity will continue to do so, unless disturbed by an unbalanced force"
We learned this scientific principle from Sir Isaac Newton when we were in elementary school and throughout. Let me illustrate…
The challenge I present to you today isn’t about scientific inertia, but rather spiritual inertia…and although today it is geared toward our young people, this principle relates to all of us.
George Barna Study
Specifically, 61 percent of today’s young adults, who, as teenagers, were churched at one point, are now spiritually disengaged. Spiritual disengagement is identified as being inactive when it comes to church attendance, Bible reading, or prayer. Only 20 percent of twentysomethings have maintained spiritual activity consistent with that of their high school experiences, the study revealed.
So what do we do? How do we apply the laws of motion and inertia to our spiritual life?
Every person – young and old alike – have a choice to make; to stay as a “body at rest” or a “body moving with constant motion”.
Romans 12:1-16
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Paul spells it out here for us. He may have never understood Newton’s first law of motion, but he obviously understood the importance of spiritually being in a state of constant motion.
1. You Belong! (v3-8)
Video: March of the Unqualified (1:35)
We are all part of the body – YOU BELONG!
You may not feel gifted or qualified, but you are.
No matter what your age or abilities, you are an important and essential part of this body, and without you WE – the Church – are incomplete.
Stay connected with church
Be responsible with your knowledge and abilities
YOU BELONG & God wants to use you.
2. Stay Balanced! (v9)
“Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
For some of you, life is going to start coming at you a little bit faster than usual. You’ll have a bit more independence – freedom, but realize that it comes with a price. Responsibility.
It is now YOUR responsibility to stay balanced in your life at every level: physically, financially, and spiritually.
Now more than ever, you need to stay focused and keep your relationship with God as your number one priority.
Paul spoke to the Galatians church about this very thing.
Galatians 5:13-25
13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Stay balanced!
The process of sanctification – separated from sin, devoted to God!
3. Keep Your Spiritual Fervor! (v11)
11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
“Never be lacking in zeal”
Another translation put it “not slothful in business”.
Paul addresses this in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10
He was talking to people who were loafing and unwilling to work when he said,
“If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
Colossians 3:23-24
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Be diligently occupied – not idle or lazy
“Keep your spiritual fervor”
People are passionate about many things.
- The Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals (sports)
- Their jobs…extra hours…getting a pay raise or promotion
- Grades…scholarships…acceptance to that certain school
- Relationships…
- Car…possessions
But let’s be honest, passion fade away.
In fact, many times our passions are conditional.
Example: The Steelers
Passions also have a tendency to change with our age, our emotions, our physical abilities and condition.
I think Paul understood that about passions.
They were living a revolutionary day – things were changing as much then are they are now here for us.
- political climate and the expansion of the Roman empire
- religious and cultural shifts, science and psychology were on the rise
- their world was getting seemingly smaller with the growth of travel & development of roads and “highways”
When things change, passion have a tendency to change with them.
Seniors, your life right now is all about change.
- you’re moving away from mom and dad for the first time
- you’re freedoms and responsibilities have changed
- your hours…work, school, social life
- relationships…
In the midst of all that change, don’t let your passion for God fade – don’t allow it to be dismantled by distractions or laziness.
Stay passionate for the things of God and keep busy with the gifts of God.
You Belong…to the body and the body belongs to you…stay connected.
Stay Balanced…remember what you’ve been taught…prioritize…live holy
Keep your Spiritual Fervor…passionate about the things of God…passionate about serving God.
Closing:
Graduates, we’re proud of you. You’ve accomplished so much and you’ve come so far. This may be the closing of one chapter, but it’s also the beginning of another.
It all comes back to inertia – your state of motion.
Stand Together…close your eyes, bow your heads
Illustration: learning how to ride a bike
How’s your inertia? Are you standing still, a body at rest? Or are you a body in motion because of the constant influence of God in your life?
No matter who you are or what your age…YOU BELONG…God loves you and we love you…you need to stay connected and involved…in a state of motion.
No matter how long you’ve been a Christian…you need to STAY BALANCED…you need to prioritize and live holy, sanctified, set apart…in a state of motion daily growing closed to God.
No matter what are changing circumstances might be…you need to KEEP YOUR SPIRITUAL FERVOR…stay passionate about the things of God and passionate about serving Him in the church and in your world.
