The Second Law of Thermal Dynamics and Entropy, (disclaimer I am not in any way, form, or fashion claiming to be a physicist) states that in nature things do not tend to increase or improve they only over time decrease or devalue. Think about a rock wall for example, when our ancestors built walls around their property the rocks and mortar that were used were sturdy and firm. Over time, left to the elements of wind, extreme temperatures, and various forms of precipitation that rock wall slowly erodes and at some point, left to its own care, falls into disarray. That principle transfers into just about everything in life. If you buy a new car, the value depreciates as soon as you drive it off the lot. When we plant flowers the seeds begin the process of growing, yet all the time the plant is decreasing in its lifespan. Ouch, I need to be careful with this one, it could drop into some depressing thoughts if you were to dwell on it too hard. The concept to take away from today's message is that an object left to its own accord will not improve over time, it will only topple into a lesser state of being. Build a fire and let it burn without adding more wood to the pile and eventually it will burn out. If this is true in nature, what about our faith based relationship with God?
Just as in any relationship the law of entropy has that same impact. Entropy states that things do not decrease they only increase which kind of sounded backwards to me at first, but think about it this way. Back to our example of the rock wall diminishing, the impact of the forces of nature on the rock wall continue to increase over time causing more damage to the wall's sturdiness. The wall doesn't get stronger due to the forces of nature. In much the same way, our earthly relationships do not tend to just get better over time. If we do not make a concerted effort to maintain and improve our relationships they will crumble and fall into disarray in much the same way as our rock wall example. Relationship building requires a maintenance contract, remember "for better or for worse, in sickness and in health" those commitments were provided to assure that we understood that there would be work to be done as this relationship moves forward beginning day one. It isn't just in the marriage relationship where this holds true. You can apply the law of diminishing effect to your friendships, workplace colleagues, and yes it certainly does apply to our relationship with God.
In I Thessalonians 2:13 Paul shared this encouraging message to the church there, "Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe." When we accept Christ as our Savior, our relationship can start the process of entropy if left to its own accord. As Paul states the Word of God continues to work in those who believe, but faith without works is dead or falling into a state of entropy (see James 2:14-17). The good news here is that if we trust and believe, we will continue to grow in Christ, we will strive to know Him better, to serve Him deeper, and to love Him with all of our heart, mind, and soul (Matthew 22:37).
In nature, the Second Law of Thermal Dynamics applies aptly, in the realm of God the same law does not apply. We have a choice, we can form a relationship and then allow the world to steal away the joy that we first found through our relationship with God, or we can enter our relationship with a common understanding that we must continually learn and grow into the servant God has purposed us to be. Our relationship with God does not have to ever be diminishing, we are in charge of that piece of the puzzle. It is our charge to improve our understanding of God's Word and then apply it constantly and consistently to our everyday lives and the relationships we have with those we know here on this rock and more importantly our relationship with the author of our faith.
Be encouraged, you are not in this alone!
Coach Carter
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