Day 1 - A Call to Advance

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that a closed system will always move toward a state of maximum disorder and total energy loss. The implication of the law in the understanding of nature is that there had to be a point in history past when the universe came to exist. An eternally existing (or static) universe would have run out of energy long ago.

A simple way to test the law is to set a steaming hot cup of coffee on a table. It is not long until all the energy (heat) in the cup is lost, and the temperature in the cup is the same as that outside the cup. What would it take to avoid this result? You would need to continually apply heat to the cup to ensure that the desired temperature is maintained. The status quo is not sufficient to avoid energy loss.

There is a parallel spiritual law which we can call the Law of Spiritual Regression. The law could be stated like this: The experience of a man will be one of maximum disorder and total energy loss unless there is a constant input of outside energy. Unless spiritual heat is applied to the life of a man, the temperature within will match that without.

Christ speaks to this condition in the book of Revelation when He warns: “I know your works, that you are neither cold not hot…because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16). The one whose spiritual temperature has matched that of the world is entirely undesirable to the Lord. The lesson to us is this: spiritual lukewarmness is the inevitable result of status quo spirituality.

We can renew spiritual vitality by an advance in those areas of our spiritual life where contentment has taken root. Identify what is about to die in you, draw a line to mark the starting point of your spiritual advance, take some concrete steps to renew life, and your spiritual temperature will begin to rise.

Question for Reflection: Has your spiritual temperature become similar to the world around you? If so, what concrete step can you take to reverse the course?

Scripture reading: Revelation 3:1-22, Matthew 24:12

- Lucas Aufenkamp, ND Men Director