I Repent

There is no limit to the evildoings of an unregenerated heart

The starkness of the image above of Cain about to beat Abel with a rock is as stark as one can muster of the battle that rages within each and every one of us.

Genesis 4:7-8 AMP  If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it."  (8)  Cain talked with Abel his brother [about what God had said]. And when they were [alone, working] in the field, Cain attacked Abel his brother and killed him. [1Jn_3:12]

I have recently completed a series of essays on the Truth in Genesis 1-11.

This series has been a watershed moment for me. As I have written, so has God imparted more truth to me. As an Ambassador for Christ, I speak with all the authority of my master.

Isaiah 5:20 ESV  Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Romans 1:18-32 ESV  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  (19)  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  (20)  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.  (21)  For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  (22)  Claiming to be wise, they became fools,  (23)  and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.  (24)  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,  (25)  because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.  (26)  For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;  (27)  and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.  (28)  And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.  (29)  They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,  (30)  slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,  (31)  foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.  (32)  Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

The commandments of Jesus are simple:

Matthew 22:34-40 ESV  But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.  (35)  And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.  (36)  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  (37)  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  (38)  This is the great and first commandment.  (39)  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  (40)  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

The first commandment is pre-eminent over the second, i.e. the second becomes a result of the first, not the other way around as the “God is love” crowd proclaims from the rooftops.

The account of the lives of Cain and Abel has struck me like a searing hot iron on butter. I have melted to my core.

What is it about the truth of this narrative that has melted me and drawn me closer to Jesus?

As a churchgoer for over 35 years now, I am represented by Cain. I am of God, but God does not control all my behavior. I still eat from the Tree of Knowledge in the middle of the garden.

The Tree of Knowledge is subtle….

Satan is delighted that I attend church if he still has my core. The more people I can infect with his doubts and ambiguity.

Only I know if God has my core…..

What is my first response to adversity?

Do I push through knowing God has it, or do I melt in fear of outcomes?

Cain’s offering to God was what he could conveniently pick with no thought as to the spiritual demonstration his actions were taking. Abel on the other hand gave his first and best. This angered Cain as God recognized the nature of Abel’s offering, that Abel knew the spiritual significance of his offering, and disregarded his own.

Cain’s mind was owned by Satan, Abel’s by God.

Abel’s recognition of God cost him his life.

Am I ready to recognize God in my driver's seat?

Am I ready to sacrifice my life for the cause of Christ?

Courage in the face of evil is effective faith.

Saying I have faith does not cut it.

I must BE faithful!

God has already done all He can ever do for me…..

It is for me to overcome sin crouching at my door…….

I put my eyes up and my shoulders back, and shout from the hilltops by my daily actions that I am a disciple of Jesus.

Heavenly Father, I repent of my unbelief, heal me, make me white. AMEN

Will you join me?

Courage demands action!

Your indwelt spiritual slave to Jesus (Gal 2:20)