"The Dominos Are Standing"

 

“The Dominos Are Standing”

 

The Guinness Book recognizes the record for the most dominos falling in a circular arrangement as 89,995, done by a group in Abn Dhabi, UAE, in 2018. However, this feat pales in comparison to the individual standard of 321,197 toppled by Lin Yang in China in 2011 or that accomplished by Weijur Domino Productions in the Netherlands in 2009 at a whopping 4,491,863. Seeing these “achievements” makes one wonder if some people have too much time on their hands.

These game tiles standing in a row has given rise to the term “Domino Effect”, defined by Wikipedia as “the cumulative effect produced when one event sets off a chain of similar events”. Usually we think of this phenomenon in the negative, paraphrased by “Murphy’s Law #1241”: “Anything that can go wrong will!” And once the process starts it can be very difficult to stop.

In 1 Corinthians 15 the Apostle Paul addresses the fact and impact of Christ’s resurrection in great detail. In verses 12-19 he explains the “Domino Effect” if this great truth isn’t so, Summarized, if His resurrection has been confirmed by witnesses (see v.5-8) how can the concept of resurrection be denied (v.12, Domino #1)? And if there’s no such thing, Christ didn’t rise and His body is still in a Middle East grave (v.13, Domino #2), Further, if Christ isn’t alive our faith is useless (v.14, Domino #3), And if this is the case we’re believing and testifying to a lie (v.15, Domino #4). Consequently if it’s a lie Jesus didn’t rise (v.16, Domino #5). And if such is the case we are hopelessly lost in our sins (v.17, Domino #6) and the readers’ loved ones who had died have no hope (v.18, Domino #7). Finally, if this present life is all there is we’re to be pitied for believing there’s something more and far better (v.19, Domino #8).

But then Paul shouts triumphantly (or writes in bold letters), “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead….” (1 Corinthians 15:20, emphasis added). Volumes have been written showing the certainty of this greatest truth of our Christian faith. All attempts at explaining it away pose more questions than answers so there’s no reason to deny its reality. The dominos are still standing—and always will! Hallelujah! And Happy Resurrection Day!

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan