NASA scientists often talk about something called "escape velocity"- In layman's terms it is the speed an object needs to be traveling at to overcome the force of gravity. If we can make an object go fast enough, (without causing it to burn up due to heat friction), it can escape the influence of gravity on the earth.
Now what does this have to do with following Jesus- Well are you tired of certain besetting sins in your life? We "psyche ourselves up" to escape from a pattern of sin (let's pretend it is anger- something I don't struggle with...or am I adding deception as another problem ugghhh). We use lots of energy to avoid sinning with anger. The heat and pressure increases on our life...and then... uggghhhh; we the "gravity" or craving of sin gets to us and we crash- and we are still stuck in the same base problem. (Sort of frustrating... and I am now really angry about it.)
So what's the issue? The problem is not about trying harder, but its about recieving more! Assuming that we are exerting emotional and psychological energy (our human will) to resist sin, The issue becomes receiving God's grace. Grace is the free gift of power from God. It is grace that gives us the ability to go faster and escape the "gravity of sin".
In general, the power is manifested in the inner man to handle life with joy and victory. 2 Peter 1:3-4 tells us, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them, you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. However, the same paradigm also works for manifesting God's grace in the physical realm (prophecy, miraculous healings, and other miracles in the natural realm).
In this passage is a promise from heaven that God will empower us to escape the grip of sin- as we set our hearts to love Jesus and His righteousness. Things such as fasting, prayer, serving, giving, avoiding offense (a grace killer) and pursuing righteousness position our life to recieve more of God's grace safely-without "burning up". When a whole community practices this out of a heart of love for Jesus, a corporate grace is released that transcends anything we could do individually.
Q: Are you ready to launch out for righteousness and escape the gravity of sin?
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