Devotion by Mike Geiger originally published: November 29, 2013 on www.whataboutjesus.com
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Romans 5:12-14
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
Person of Influence
Lists have been compiled of people who have had great influence in the lives of human history. Included on those lists are people like Isaac Asimov for his advancements in science, or Albert Einstein for his theories in the field of physics, or Johannes Gutenberg who aided rapid dissemination of information through his invention of the printing press. Who would you add to this list?
Influential people have revolutionized societies, cultures and countries through the thought process they proposed or the invention they introduced. Yet despite the amazing list of people you might find in these lists, none has universally affected every person of the world. Just by the fact that they appeared at a point in history negates their ability to influence all of history.
Except one.
One man and his actions affected every human being after him, in fact the whole world. The man? Adam. The action? Breaking the law of God. When Adam received the invitation from his wife Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (see full story in Genesis 3), the consequence was death would come to Adam and “in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” No matter what the invention, thought, or new land discovered, no one man has had such profound and dire consequences on the human race.
You included? Yes, you too.
We may find ourselves not wanting to admit it or trying to avoid the thought that we too are sinful, but we too are sinful and live under its consequence. Every news report of death reminds us of this reality. Every funeral you attend is a reminder of the consequence of breaking the law of God. Death came to all people, you and me included, because all sinned…yes, you too…and me as well.
Influential people saw a problem and sought to change it. Asimov took the unknowns of the universe and proposed theories to explain them. Gutenberg took the time consuming task of hand copying books and created the printing press. Who is the person of influence to change the death grip of sin in our lives and that of the world?
Jesus Christ.
Prayer: As death reminds me of sin in the world and my life, lead me to Jesus and the influence of his love, grace and forgiveness. AMEN.