The Domino Effect is the cumulative effect produced when one event sets off a chain of similar events. This term is best known as a mechanical effect and is used as an analogy to a falling row of dominoes.
The Domino Effect can easily be visualized by placing a row of dominoes upright, each separated by a small space. When you push the first domino, the next domino in line will be knocked down, and so on.
Playing with dominoes is so exciting. Setting them up on a table or floor, and then seeing if they will fall in the order that you desire, is amazing. Dominoes teaches us about process, sequence, and the way things work. You learn from dominoes, that you have to have a starting point. You don't start in the middle. You have to have enough space between each domino to cause an effective chain of reaction. Dominoes teaches us about cause and effect and about the impact of a chain of events.
In essence, the domino effect begins with one domino, that has an impact on another, so that the original domino, not only impacts one other domino, but it impacts ALL of the other dominoes as well.
Case in point, the first Domino Effect ever, Adam and Eve. When God placed Adam and Eve in the garden, He gave them crystal clear instructions. He told Adam, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17). So when the serpent approached Eve, he asked her, "Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden?" Eve explained to him that God had commanded them that they may eat from any tree in the garden, but not from the tree in the center of the garden (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil). "God said that we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die." The serpent responded, "You will not surely die...For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4-5).
The serpent got Eve to concentrate on the pleasures of the eye, "the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye." Then the serpent glamorized what would happen if she ate it, "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Eve took some fruit and ate it and then gave some to Adam and he ate it. Eating the forbidden fruit was a domino effect, because there were some dire consequences for them and some dire consequences that affected everything and everyone. Their disobedience affected all humanity and all creation.
When Adam disobeyed God, Adam brought sin and death to all people. The result of his sin separated them from God and eventually death, sickness, and destruction to all creation. But just as one man brought sin into the world, because of God's grace, He provided us with a gift of grace, through one Man, Jesus Christ. We have death through Adam and life through Christ: "But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not noke the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:15-17).
Praise God for Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. When Adam and Eve set this chain reaction of dominoes into motion, Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25)
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:11)
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and find pasture...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:9)
"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." (John 6:51)
The Domino Effect is very real. One decision triggers other decisions and choices, which will result in going down a particular pathway based on your original decision. That's why you want the dominoes that fall in your life to be in line with what God wants best for you. God knows how one domino leads to another domino, and the choices we make could be a blessing or a curse. That is why being obedient and committed to Jesus is critical.
The Bible makes it crystal clear about explaining the cause and effects of choices we make in life. There are warnings throughout the entire Bible about the consequences of sin and its domino effect it will have on us. The Bible also explains how the domino effect of obedience can lead to blessings in this life and eternity.
Every decision or choice we make is very important, because each decision will almost have an inescapable consequence, because it may affect your destiny in life and eternity. Everything we do in life should start with God and the Word of God. If you desire to please and glorify God, make your decisions based on the Bible. Allow your life to reflect the image of Christ and obey His commands. Remember, God is using you as an instrument to reach others for Him. What a Domino Effect!
"There is one body and one Spirit; just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:4-6).