Chronic Inertia

Light at the end of the tunnel . . .

 

Pessimist [pe-sə-ˈmis-t]:  a person who habitually sees or anticipates the worst.

 

A pessimist is one who adheres to the state of mind in which one expects undesirable outcomes or believes that the evil or hardships in life outweigh the good.  Here are some statements a pessimist might say:

 

• When you see a light at the end of the tunnel, it's usually the headlight of an oncoming train.
• Forest say's that life's like a box a chocolates, but it's actually more like a package from the Unabomber . . . you never know what you're gonna' get.
• Is the cup half-empty or half-full?  It's doesn't matter, either way whatever's inside is evaporating.
• If you wash your car . . . it will rain (or a bird will poop on it).
• The trouble with the "rat race" is that even if you win, you're still a rat.

 

The reason why we find these statements, and many like them, humorous is because of the bit of truth we find in each one.

 

I have one more to share with you.  A pessimist once described the Christian experience as "an initial spasm followed by a chronic inertia."

 

Now, if you're like me . . . you're wondering what that means.  When I first came across this statement I looked up some terms to better understand.  "Initial" means:  of or pertaining to the beginning.  "Spasm" means:  a sudden, brief spell of energy, feeling, or excitement.  "Chronic" means:  constant, habitual, long in duration.  "Inertia" means:  a condition of inactivity, sluggishness, laziness, or stagnation.

 

Apply all diligence

What this pessimist is saying is that the Christian experience begins with a sudden expression of excitement and feeling and is followed by a long duration of inactivity and stagnation.  And, like those previous statements, there's just enough truth in there, not to be humorous, but to convict . . . to make me step back and take a look at my Christian experience to examine whether or not this describes my life.

 

As people see your walk with the Lord . . . and my walk with the Lord . . . would they call it an initial spasm followed by a chronic inertia?

 

Unfortunately, there are a lot of half-hearted Christians in the Kingdom living a life of chronic inertia.  O sure, they got to Sunday morning worship and maybe in Sunday School . . . and, if their "really" committed, they'll even show up on Wednesday night Bible Study. But really that's the extent of their Christian experience . . . never really accomplishing anything of Kingdom significance, but content which where they are.  Many have accepted the grace of God with fervency only to stagnate into complacency and mediocrity.

 

Where are you in your relationship with God?

 

Are you content/satisfied in the area of your Christian growth?

 

If you are, that means you're not growing; that you've entered a state of chronic inertia.

 

GROW UP TO MATURITY



The call from Scripture to continually grow with respect to walking with the Lord; to mature in our faith . . . no longer being a babe, but growing up to maturity.  The Book of Ephesians tells us we are to "attain . . . to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  We are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by every wind of doctrine . . . we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ." [Ephesians 4:13-15]

 

Elsewhere, Peter admonishes his readers (and us) to continue to grow in their faith by continuing to add to their faith particular virtues.  Obviously this is not an exhaustive listing of Christian character, but is instruction for us as we strive to mature into the godly man or woman that our faith demands.

 

"Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence,

in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence,

Knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control;

and in your self-control, perseverance; and in your perseverance,

godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness;

and in your brotherly kindness, love." [II Peter 1:5-7]

 

Because of our new birth to a living hope [I Peter 1:3] (BTW:  things that are living . . . grow) and the precious and magnificent promises [II Peter 1:3-4] that come with it, we are not to sit back and rest content with "faith" alone.  For we know that "faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." [James 2:17]

 

God's grace demands AND enables, effort on our part to grow and mature in our faith!  Remember Ephesians 4 . . . we are to attain "to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ."

 

To this end we are to apply "all diligence."  It's like saying, "with all that you've got" or "with every ounce of determination you can muster" . . . not in our own strength, but empowered by God!

 

It is the fruit, or the result, of walking by the Spirit in meaningful relationship with God through Christ Jesus.

 

So add to your FAITH . . .

 

           - Moral Excellence (Virtue)

 

                     - Knowledge

 

                               - Self-Control

 

                                         - Perseverance

 

                                                   - Godliness

 

                                                             - Brotherly Kindness

 

                                                                       - Love

 

"For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sings." [II Peter 1:8-9]

 

 

Worship Minister, Gateway Christian Church, www.gcch3.com