Wednesday, January 9, 2013

First Lesson




I know I am moved to write a lot of lessons, but I was wondering if You ever considered what was the first lesson ever given by God?
It is recorded in Genesis 4 and is the same lesson each one of us has to choose…..and in choosing we either have life or death.

It begins with the first 2 humans born of Adam and Eve, the brothers Cain and Abel.

Cain was farmer and Abel was a herdsman. It is recorded that as God blessed them in their work each brought an offering before God of the increase.
God, in turn, delights in the offering of Abel, the firstlings of the flock and the fat portions…..but He has no respect or regard in Cain’s first fruits of the ground.

Upon first looking at this recording it seems quite unfair and unjust to be happy with one offering and not the other…..but if You will read later in the Bible concerning Saul, the Prophet Samuel says to a rebellious Saul, “To harken and obey is better than the fat of rams.”
The Holy Spirit is saying through Samuel that what is in the heart as obedience is better than any rich or choice offering. Therein lies the heart of the matter of the difference of Cain and Abel.

Abel brought an offering in humility to God. One in which Abel knew that the things he had were the direct result of God’s empowerment to prosper. Abel also knew that he had to trust of God for his salvation.
Abel trusted in the Lord….a gift called GRACE.

Cain on the other hand came to God thinking he was doing God a favor in honoring God with a portion of what Cain had accomplished on his own. His heart was saying that he had done all of this and God will be grateful to him for what he gave.
If You do not recognize this…..it is the same as the Pharisees in trusting in the laws and in good works alone to save them. Cain believed he could save himself.

The first lesson from God follows as Cain is sitting their extremely angry at this wrong done to him by God. (in his view) He is sad, depressed, dejected……he is pouting and looks it.
God speaks to Him lovingly in His lesson. He says, “Cain, if You choose the right way and live by it, will You not then be accepted? But if You continue on existing and doing things the wrong way, then sin will crouch at the door of Your heart and leap in. Sin’s desire is to control and have You, but You MUST master it Cain.”

But, Cain does not follow the direction of God. He hardens his heart to God. He broods and that anger becomes hatred and the first murder in history occurs as Cain lures Abel to the fields and murders him.

That lesson which God gave is as relevant as it was 6,000 years ago for each of us as we grow in the grace of the Lord each day. It is all about DECIDING on how to live or die in this life.
It is the blueprint for Life and peace here. If people choose to follow all the Commandments of God as the path for their lives…..and believe that salvation only comes from God then God will fellowship….receive, accept, be united to each of us.
But if people choose to trust in their own goodness, not accept direction from God, not forgive people, not make things right with others….but harbor resentments. God will not accept them, because it is not the right way……that is the way of rejecting God.
God and His Way are not separated. It is no accident that Jesus declares Himself the Way, the Truth and the Life. Each name is same lesson.

This is the first lesson in the Bible, but it is also the last every Christian ever learns. Because, true obedience in every facet of our lives is the only acceptable sacrifice to God.
And once we become that reflection of God’s Way…..then the sin which separates us is overcome in Jesus, because He is the Way.

God watch over each of You.