It is interesting to know that the world that says, 'Call everyone by their preferred pronoun, otherwise you are not affirming their identity and are offending them', also says, 'It is ok to call God by whatever name we like, and think of him the way we please. It doesn't matter!'. When Bertrand Russell was posed a question of what he would answer if God were to confront him at his death, replied, 'Not enough evidence, God! Not enough evidence'. How presumptuous of us to be able to accept that a man can reject God so much more easily than a God who rejects entry to His dwelling and sends someone to hell. Abortion, even if it is killing is ok if we do it, but if there is a mention in the Bible of God's judgment on a group of unrepentant people, then it is not ok. Why is it that we treat 'God' worse than we would treat the genie in the story of Alladin?
Our first parents - Adam and Eve after sinning, at least had the guilt and the shame to try and cover themselves up with fig leaves. Our present-day culture demands that we run nude shamelessly, shouting, 'I should be accepted as I am.' If as humanity, we ever so graciously think of worshipping God, we feel we have the right to worship Him the way we want, give Him gifts that are lousy, and enter His presence filthy. And if God rejects us, we feel we have the right to be angry. And when God confronts us, we seem to have the nerve to respond with a lie and with arrogance! Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (Gal6:7)
'Why are you angry?' - The question to resentful Cain:
Genesis 4:3-11 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him. Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood.
Cain's downfall probably began with giving God lousy gifts - a distracted prayer, a Sunday attendance, and no desire to know or do what pleases Him. In what areas of your life are you giving God lousy gifts?
Cain further walked in the wrong direction by feeling entitled to be accepted by God, rather than be corrected by Him. Are we angry with God thinking He has not blessed us enough, as much as we think we deserve? Well, friend - that is a dangerous path to walk in!
Cain's downfall continued as he refused to accept the warning from God. When God speaks to us convicting us of a certain sin, let us not think it is ok, or consider postponing handling it. Which sin does God say is crouching at your door?
When Cain was just involved in farming, he never would have presumed to end up as a murderer, that too of his own brother. But each negligence to obedience, each affirmation of pride, bitterness, or jealousy are steps towards our own eternal ruin. Who are you becoming? Look at yourself through the mirror of God's word.
Adam and Eve, Cain's parents thought they could hide from God by hiding behind some bushes. Cain thought he could lie to God's face. The more we move away from God, the more foolish we become. Have you tried to lie to God in your alone time, or presume His all-seeing eye cannot see through your thoughts?
Cain was cursed to be an endless wanderer. So too are many in our culture. Endlessly wandering with nowhere to settle their hearts. If you feel that your heart too is wandering, repent and pray for forgiveness. The God of mercy is still willing to speak to you today.
(A song about Cain by the Genesis Music project)
Link to the previous article: Where are you? Link to the next article: Is it right for you to be angry?
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