Chain Reaction
Dr. Richard M. Robinson

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they
that love it shall eat the fruit thereof" (Proverbs 18:21).

You've heard it said: "Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a destiny." A person's destiny begins with a single thought! But only because that thought created momentum for a whole set of thoughts, creating a chain reaction in the mind. That was a Paul's point in Romans 7:5, where he says, "For when we were in the flesh, THE MOTIONS OF SINS, which were by the law, did work in our members TO BRING FORTH FRUIT unto death."

Notice that Paul is not blaming the law for this domino effect of sin, but it begins from being "in the flesh." The word "flesh" is the Greek word sarx, which means, "meat stripped of the skin." In the New Testament this word has a theological meaning for the old, fallen nature that resides mysteriously within our bodies, down below the surface of our personalities. Sin is not just "skin deep"--it is part of who we are by nature.

Verse 5 next declares the chain reaction of sin by speaking of it in the plural sense — "the motions of sins." And the latter phrase — "did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death" — continues the same idea. "Work" refers to continual sinful thoughts leading to "fruit," which is continual sinful actions. It is declared to go and on in endless cycles or waves. Where does it end? This verse says that this carnal chain reaction ends only in death.

Verse 5 declares that sinning in this body can't go on forever. The word "fruit" speaks of fertility for sinning. But this fertility leads to futility and ends in a fatality! What happens in agriculture illustrates what happens in our bodies. If a land produces rich harvests without being occasionally "rested" to replenish the nutrients in the soil, it will kill the soil, which will kill the crops, which will ultimately kill those who live off the land. This sets in motion a chain reaction of consequences because a chain reaction of slow, steady exhaustion of the soil's fertility was first set in motion.

People are just like that. Our fallen nature is like rich soil for growing a crop of sin. Proverbs 24:9 says that, "The thought of foolishness is sin..." That's where all sin begins—as one little seed-thought planted in a fertile mind. The rest of the verse describes the fruit, in this case, the fruit of the lips grown from little, secret seed-thoughts: "and the scorner is an abomination to men." Scornful thoughts leads to scornful speech. Such a person uses his intellect to grow scorn. But just like in agriculture, this cannot go on forever. Harvesting sin will exhaust the body, including the mind where it all started. Scorners grow old and tired, because sin gradually robs them of their ability to produce such fruit.
Scorning has its roots in hatred, and hatred is corrosive and poisonous to the soul. Like all habitual sinners, scorners get old before their time. That's why it says in Psalm 34:12-14, "What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." These verses warn that hateful, critical thoughts create a chain reaction of hateful, critical actions which promote and even accelerate death—emotionally, intellectually, and finally physically.

It is God's law of the universe that an evil tongue shortens the days of our lives by shortening life in our days. But notice that Proverbs 15:4 declares that the tongue can create a totally opposite chain reaction: "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life..." Notice that it said "tree" not "fruit." The tree produces the fruit, which contain the seeds to grow more trees and more fruit in a chain reaction of influence spanning whole generations! The tongue is a small trigger that has led to the greatest chain reactions in history. As it says in Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

Mark well those words "eat the fruit thereof." That refers to the chain reaction, either for good or evil. We do eat our own words. Sometimes it takes the form of "humble pie." But we always believe the words we say to ourselves. Remember what Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:6? "The husbandman that laboureth must be FIRST PARTAKER OF THE FRUITS." He must feed himself before he feeds others, and he will feed others the same thing he feeds himself. Whatever you believe in your heart, whatever you literally say to yourself privately you will ultimately say to others publicly. As Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matt. 12:34).

For example, if you secretly tell yourself that you can't afford to tithe because you have too many expenses, even though God promises miraculously and providentially meet all your needs, you will eventually feed that message to your family and friends. If you secretly tell yourself that you cannot be a witness for Jesus Christ, even though God promises to you his presence and power, you will spoon feed that message through your attitude and actions to your family and friends. What you feed to yourself, you will eventually feed to others. If you lie to yourself, you will lie to others. If you entertain doubts, you will promote doubting. If you feed on covetousness, you will give others a diet of it. You cannot stop the chain reaction of consequences from thinking wrong.

Now think of the positive kind of chain reaction. Turn to Revelation chapter 14. After speaking of the doom of the unsaved masses--a chain reaction of sin that ends in Hell—which itself is a place where a chain reaction of eternal consequences continues forever. John next records the good chain reaction of saints. Notice verses 12,13: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (v.12). Is there a chain reaction from keeping God's commandments and exercising faith in the Lord Jesus? Let's see. "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from hencforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM." "Rest from their labours" refers to having died on the earth.

But notice that, "their works do follow them." Their works are pictured as remaining on earth "alive and well." Their works—everything from the blessed memory of their lives to the actual things they left on this earth—have continued a force for ministry even after they themselves are gone. They created a spiritual movement, a chain reaction from generation to generation, till the end of time when all holy influences from all holy lives end at the Judgment Seat of Christ!

There is no calculating in this life the impact of a Christian who lives for God. Only eternity will tell the whole story. That's what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:5, "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." I believe that God purposely withholds the knowledge of most of the good and the evil that we do. If we cannot discover it, certainly no one else can—only God knows. And for good reason. If we could see the chain reactions we are causing for evil, we would sink into despair. And if we could see the chain reactions we cause for truth and righteousness, we would be severely tempted to pride.

Remember this, the real movers and shakers in the world are not presently recognized, not even by themselves. We are all in for a shock when we get to Heaven! When it comes to a powerful influence for God, those we thought were first, will be last, and those we considered last shall be seen to be first. Those who obeyed God's Word when others broke it, those who made sacrifices when others were selfish, those who prayed when others slept, those who faithfully witnessed while others stayed home, those who went to church every time the doors were open—all these will finally step to the front of the line in Heaven's rankings. Why? Because they were a more spiritually solid, weighty pebble dropped in life's ocean. The rings of their influence spread across many years and even reached the shores of Heaven! Their works do follow them.

A chain reaction begins with a single thought, which leads to a single action. You can start a chain reaction right now. In fact, you already have! Whatever you do or don't do is not done in a vacuum. You are making waves whether you like it or not, whether you believe it or not. The chain reaction cannot be stopped, nor can it be controlled. But, thank God, it can be chosen! The decision is yours. Will you choose the right chain reaction?