WHICH WAY ARE YOU GOING?
“And
Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I
have gotten a man from the LORD.
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep,
but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came
to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering
unto the LORD. And
Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat
thereof. And the LORD
had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his
offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his
countenance fell.” -GENESIS
4:1-5 [KJV]
We
live in a most religious world. In every county, country and culture;
among all people, without exception there is some form of religion.
Did you know that all religions can be summed into two groups? The
way of Cain or the way of Abel.
Cain represents the way that seems right unto men [PROVERBS 14:12], the way of the flesh, works, self-righteousness, self-glory, do the best you can and God will be satisfied. Cain approached God with the best efforts of all his labors, "the fruit of the ground" and God had no respect unto him or his offering. It is recorded in the scriptures, "Woe unto them that have gone the way of Cain" [JUDE 24].
Abel represents the way that God has established throughout scripture to show mercy to undeserving sinners. It is the way of free grace [ROMANS 3:24], the way of effectual Substitution by a blood offering [II CORINTHIANS 5:21], the way of faith [HEBREWS 11:4]. Clearly, Abel and his offering is a picture of the only Way of Salvation in and through the Lord Jesus Christ [ACTS 4:12]. The Lord called Abel a righteous man [MATTHEW 23:35].
Now, which way are you going? I know that all of us by nature are going the way of Cain, because that is what comes to us naturally. It seems rather logical and reasonable to approach God on the basis of our works. However, our best efforts will never satisfy God's offended justice [PSALM 39:5; LUKE 16:15]. God has singled out these two brothers to teach us the way of God's salvation through faith alone [HEBREWS 12:2], Christ alone [JOHN 14:6], through grace alone [II TIMOTHY 1:9], through the blood alone [I PETER 1:18-20], and to plainly condemn the way of works [ROMANS 9:13-15; TITUS 3:5].
Cain represents the way that seems right unto men [PROVERBS 14:12], the way of the flesh, works, self-righteousness, self-glory, do the best you can and God will be satisfied. Cain approached God with the best efforts of all his labors, "the fruit of the ground" and God had no respect unto him or his offering. It is recorded in the scriptures, "Woe unto them that have gone the way of Cain" [JUDE 24].
Abel represents the way that God has established throughout scripture to show mercy to undeserving sinners. It is the way of free grace [ROMANS 3:24], the way of effectual Substitution by a blood offering [II CORINTHIANS 5:21], the way of faith [HEBREWS 11:4]. Clearly, Abel and his offering is a picture of the only Way of Salvation in and through the Lord Jesus Christ [ACTS 4:12]. The Lord called Abel a righteous man [MATTHEW 23:35].
Now, which way are you going? I know that all of us by nature are going the way of Cain, because that is what comes to us naturally. It seems rather logical and reasonable to approach God on the basis of our works. However, our best efforts will never satisfy God's offended justice [PSALM 39:5; LUKE 16:15]. God has singled out these two brothers to teach us the way of God's salvation through faith alone [HEBREWS 12:2], Christ alone [JOHN 14:6], through grace alone [II TIMOTHY 1:9], through the blood alone [I PETER 1:18-20], and to plainly condemn the way of works [ROMANS 9:13-15; TITUS 3:5].
I
pray that God will give us much grace to follow the example of Abel
and to seek salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord said, "Come
unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly
in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls"
[MATTHEW
11:28].
-Gospel report by preacher Tom Harding
Zebulon
Grace church of Pikeville, Kentucky USA
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