Domino Effect

Many rectangular white pieces with specific arrangements of dots on either side of a lateral dark line splitting the domino in half are carefully balanced upright.  One right after another, they stand in a line that curves around and forms an elaborate spiral.  Someone touches the domino at the farthest edge of the spiral.  It rocks back and forth – hesitates – then topples backwards on the next domino, which instantly falls on the next one, and in just seconds, the glorious flash of black and white swirling rapidly towards the center of the spiral reaches its final resting place and all is once again quite and still. This is the domino effect, and it all happened because that one domino fell.

I realized something rather horrifying recently; my decisions affect those around me, sometimes quite radically.  It’s one thing when I suffer the consequences of making a bad (or even just slightly less than optimal) decision, but when innocent bystanders suffer as a result of something I’ve done, or neglected to do, that takes regret to a much more potent level.  It does not necessarily take disobedience to start a domino effect; it can also happen when we delay our obedience.  When Adam and Eve decided to disobey God in the garden and partake of the forbidden fruit, they started the first serious domino effect on mankind.  Because they sinned, we all have a sinful nature and we are in need of a Savior.  We are all guilty before God.  God created everything perfect and declared it good, but when Adam and Eve sinned, they started a tragic domino effect on mankind, causing death, suffering, pain, and (most significantly) separation to enter into the universe.  This is in stark contrast to evolution, which basically says that these things are normal, necessary for upward evolutionary progression (survival of the fittest), and even good.  Just that it allegedly starts with the “Big Bang” tells us that it’s not in agreement with Scriptures.

Our actions, and even our ideas, have consequences.  However, that does not mean that we are always bound to destroying things and causing a bad domino effect, because we can use that same influence for good instead of evil.  Granted, it is much harder to start a forward fall than a backwards one, but with God’s help it is possible.  No matter how far we fall backwards, there is always hope for redemption as long as we live.  It is never easy to get back up when we fall, but with Jesus holding our hand and walking alongside us, we can; like it says in Psalm 37:23-24 “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.”