The Laws of Change

The spring holy days remind us that we must change. But change doesn’t just happen. Let’s look at some scientific principles to learn more about how we can change our lives.

Change is hard because it does not come naturally. But even though it is hard, it is necessary because Christianity is all about changing through repentance and overcoming. Have you ever considered that the science of physics is almost all about the process of change? We can actually learn principles about changing our life by understanding the laws of physics!

Newton’s first law: the law of inertia

The physical law of inertia states that a body at rest or in motion tends to continue its present course unless it is pushed or pulled hard enough to exceed all opposing forces.

As already stated, change is unnatural. We naturally want to continue the easy direction that we are heading in life. We will not change without a force to prompt and propel us. Change is not passive—we must initiate it. If an object is stationary, it has to be pushed. We are instructed to “stir up the gift of God which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6).

The Holy Spirit helps us to grow and change, but we must make active use of it for that to happen.

Newton’s second law: the law of constant acceleration

This law states in part that a body will accelerate in the direction of the net force on it. The greater the force, the greater the acceleration.

If we are going the wrong direction in some aspect of our lives, we need an even greater and consistent force to change that direction. That change of direction must come through studying God’s Word to learn God’s “ways” and “paths” (Psalm 25:4). We can’t know the spiritual direction to accelerate unless we are consistently reading the Bible.

Newton’s third law: the law of conservation of momentum

Imagine that you are trying to destroy a wall with your bare fists. Newton’s third law explains that each time you punch against the wall, you will feel the wall “punch back”—an equal, but opposite force shooting into your arm—until you finally break through!

We will experience resistance as we strive to change and overcome. But we must not allow resistance to cause us to give up! We have to take the approach of the apostle Paul, who found himself “warring against … the law of sin” (Romans 7:23). We must resist the momentum of sin!

What actually happens when we decide to change?

The answer, shockingly, is “Nothing!” Simply deciding to change is not enough. Something else needs to happen.

Think about another scientific concept: chemical kinetics. Here is the definition: “For elements or compounds to undergo chemical change and react to produce new compounds or elements, they must possess enough energy to break existing chemical bonds and form new ones. The amount of energy needed for a chemical reaction is known as activation energy” (The New York Public Library Science Desk Reference, p. 246).

Chemical kinetics includes the use of catalysts—substances that control the rates of chemical reactions that may include enzymes, other chemicals and temperature factors. To bring about change in our lives, we likewise need to add external elements: changing our environment, bringing in outside help and turning up the heat on ourselves!

Add zeal!

As God’s people approach the spring holy days, we collectively focus on repentance and change. We analyze our lives for faults and then recommit ourselves to growing and overcoming. In the same way that there are laws of science at work in the physical world, there are laws involved in changing our lives.

In order for us to change, we need the “activation energy” of the Holy Spirit working in our lives combined with personal zeal to change.

Paul tells us that part of the process of overcoming and changing is having “diligence,” “indignation,” “vehement desire” and “zeal” (2 Corinthians 7:11). This is the activation energy we need in our lives to change.

Zeal is a concept found throughout the Bible (Isaiah 9:7; John 2:17). The Greek word translated “zeal” is related to zeo, which means “fervent heat”—like a boiling liquid or glowing solid (Strong’s Greek Dictionary). It is the prod—the catalyst and the outside force—needed to bring change to our lives, and we need to pray for it.

The more we pray for zeal with Christlike purpose, not just for ourselves but to please our Father and to prepare to serve in His Kingdom, the hotter that fire will get and the more change we will accomplish!

Read more about change in the new booklet Change Your Life!