Ripple Effect

The ripple effect describes how small changes or actions can have far-reaching consequences over time. It illustrates the interconnectedness of our actions and their potential to influence far beyond their initial impact.

On the entry wall of our family office building, we have an oil painting that includes the result that is caused by dropping a small pebble into the water and watching the ripple effect of that small rock spread throughout the lake.

Jesus has been likened unto a rock, the rock of ages. When that rock entered humanity, it broke the surface of the world causing a tremendous ongoing ripple effect.

For the first time since Adam, this rock tore through man’s sin nature and began to impart righteousness to all who through faith encountered Him.  We don’t have specific words to this effect in the Bible, but it is apparent that this ripple effect became prevalent in Jesus’ own ministry. The disciple John seems to have had the closest relationship with Jesus. John’s wave of influence spread to Peter and James (John’s brother), as the three of them formed an inner circle within the twelve. Next was the larger circle of twelve disciples who traveled and ministered with Jesus for three years. They then formed the core of the larger post-Resurrection group of 120 who gathered in Jerusalem to await the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:1-8, 15). As a result of the “pebble” Peter tossed from the pulpit into the sea of Jews gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost, the waves of the Spirit washed over 3,000 souls, a number which shortly grew to 5,000 men and undoubtedly many more women and children; (Acts 2:41, 4:4). The rest, as they say, is History. Following Jesus’ own instructions in Acts 1:8, the waves of the Gospel then left Jerusalem and washed over all Judea and Samaria, then Damascus and Antioch (modern Syria), Galatia (Asia Minor), Macedonia (Greece), Rome (Italy), and from there possibly into Spain and Europe; Romans 15:24, 28 — at the hands of the Apostle Paul.

The ripple effect of the Gospel of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus that eventually has come all the way through more than 2000 years has accelerated. God has raised up ministries totally focused on sharing the Gospel worldwide through technology and language translations. The Gospel message has been embraced by hundreds of millions of people.

You and I are beneficiaries of the ripple effect of the Gospel. Those of us over whom the waves of the grace of God have washed are responsible for “dropping our own pebbles” by sharing the Gospel and causing the ripple effect to continue in our own small or large “lakes”.

“Dropping our own pebbles” by our personal witness is how God allows us supernaturally to be involved in His redemption process. We are not asked by God to use our human power to put the hard sell on someone for Jesus. We are asked by God not to be salespersons but to be satisfied customers. God is the only salesman needed. In John 6:44 Jesus says that no man can come to me except the Father draws him. In John 16:8 Jesus says that the Holy Spirit is the one that convinces each one of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. In 1 Cor. 3:6-7 Paul states that I have planted, Apollos watered but God gave the increase. So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the increase.

In commanding that we be a witness of Jesus wherever we are, God only expects us to toss a small pebble and allow His power to cause the ripple effect. However, God’s power becomes available in our witnessing only when we toss a small pebble. He definitely wants us involved.

God uses people strategically, even the ones that you may think you have little in common with and are not naturally drawn towards. God’s grace is at work, see it, agree with it, be transformed by it, and allow God to use you in a way “to drop your personal pebbles” that cause ripples of the truth of Jesus the Christ across the lives of others. When the truth and life of Jesus Christ are experienced by one person it transforms their life to such an extent that a ripple effect touches others.