Newton's Law Of Motion

I remember it like it was just yesterday. There I was, sat in one of my first physics lessons, wondering if I would ever be able to make any sense of the complicated jargon the grumpy old physics teacher was about to blurt out.

'In this lesson and the next few lessons, we shall be studying Newton's laws of motion. We shall be looking at the first law today.' He said in his deep and authoritative voice that made him one of the most dreaded teachers in my secondary school.

"Newton's first law of motion states that 'Every body remains in a state of rest or uniform motion (constant velocity) unless it is acted upon by an external unbalanced force.'" Said the physics teacher.

'Interesting', I thought.

'Everyone, eyes on this piece of chalk. Watch as I illustrate the first law of motion.'

He placed a piece of chalk on the desk in front of him, then did nothing. We all watched for what seemed like an eternity (it was only about ten seconds) after which, he tapped it lightly and it rolled off the desk and onto the floor. We all looked at him quizzically as if to say 'was that supposed to be a magic trick?' Yeah, it's pretty hard to impress teenagers isn't it?

Now as I think back on that lesson, I realise Newton's law of motion does not just apply to objects but also to us humans. A person will carry on doing what they are doing, or carry on doing nothing unless they are influenced by a force.
The interesting thing is God already knew that man would need a push in order to fulfil purpose, hence when he first made man, he gave him a push by saying 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.' Genesis 1: 28

Failing that instruction, man would have just sat there wondering 'what do I do now?' God made it quite clear that his intentions for us were that we be productive.

He is so keen on productivity that after Jesus resurrected and before his ascension, he gave his disciples a push. 'And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.' Mark 16:15. Failing this, the disciples could have just sat there saying 'what next?'

God's expectation of us is that we be multipliers. He does not expect us to be inert as a piece of chalk on a desk. So, to help us have a constant push and a driving force, (seeing as we will sometimes get tired), he has given us his Spirit. 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth' Acts 1:8 NLT

Isn't it exciting to know that God has not just given us a push by telling us what to do, but he's also given us his Spirit to help us do it? Halleluyah!

My prayer for this generation is that God will help us understand that his expectation of us is productivity, that we will realise that the Holy Spirit is always there to help and that we will go out there and tell someone about the love of Jesus.

May God's force be with you.