Devotional Romans 5:12

Can one man make a difference? Human history shouts in the affirmative. One man, one woman, one child can have an enormous impact, either for good or evil. Adam, by eating of the fruit which God had forbidden, plunged himself and all his posterity into sin. And the inevitable result of sin was death.

The world is full of “if onlys”. If only Adam had not eaten of that fruit! If only the people had listened to Noah’s preaching! If only Moses had not lost his temper! If only Peter had stood up for Jesus!

On the other hand, the world is full of “what ifs”. What if Abraham had not faithfully followed God’s command? What if David had not stood up to Goliath? What if Paul had not written to the churches?

May your life be empty of the “if onlys” that come from disobeying the clear instructions of God in his Word. May history be filled with the “what ifs” of your faithful acts of obedience to God.

One Man entered history 2,000 years ago and lived a life free of “if onlys” so that we might live lives free of regret and full of joy, in his service and to his credit. Jesus unwound the “if onlys” of Adam’s sin and its effects and wove them into a magnificent tapestry of grace, to the glory of his name.