Forks in the Road

After presenting his offering to the Lord, Cain was angry over the Lord’s disapproval (Genesis 3:3-5). In His interactions with Cain, the Lord provided four things that we often experience in our lives as well: Opportunity, Warnings, Punishment, and Grace.

1. Opportunity. Both Cain and Abel presented offerings to the Lord (Genesis 3:3-4). Abel’s offering was well received as his offering was of the firstlings of his flock and its fat. Cain’s offering did not represent his ‘first fruits.’

The Lord saw that Cain was angry over His disapproval and asked why he angry. He asked Cain a rhetorical question that if he does well, ‘would he not be accepted?’ This was his opportunity.

Each of us has an opportunity to live and do things that are acceptable to God. We have His Word and Holy Spirit to guide us (Psalm 119:105; John 14:26, 16:13) and local laws (where applicable) to frame our conduct each day. Regardless of the situation we are presented, we have an opportunity.

2. Warning. The Lord tells Cain that if he does not do well, sin is crouching at the door, but he must rule over it. Though Cain has the opportunity to do well, the opportunity to do wrong is also before him. Rather than repent and present an acceptable offering, he considered murder as a viable solution.

Everyday you receive many opportunities to do well, but may also find sin crouching at your door to think, say, or do something sinful. Though sin is crouching at your door, there is a means of escape. You do not have to sin. Like the opportunity given to Cain, you too can rule over sin:

James 4:7-8 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Submitting to the Lord is an acknowledgement that He is sovereign, lord over your life, His way is right, and you are willing to think, speak, and act in accordance to His standard.

3. Punishment. For killing his brother Cain was:

a. cursed from the earth. It would no longer yield her strength through his work.

b. a fugitive. A fugitive is someone who has escaped from a place or is in hiding, especially to avoid arrest or persecution. If you watch crime shows, it depicts fugitives moving from place to place, unsettled, and never at peace.

c. a vagabond. A vagabond is someone who wanders from place to place without a home or job.

d. removed from God’s presence (Genesis 4:14).

The wages for sin is death (Romans 6:23). Through sin comes an eternal death (separation from God), but there comes the ‘death’ of many other things along the way: our health, physical freedom, peace of mind, joy, happiness, relationships, finances, family, etc.

Cain took his brother’s life and considered his punishment greater than he could bear (Genesis 4:13). He did not show any remorse for what he had done. He only thought of himself.

Among other things, sin is a selfish, reckless act that only considers itself regardless of the consequences to others, including the person carrying out its actions. Repentance and a contrite heart can change that (Psalm 51).

4. Grace. Even though Cain was guilty of murder and punished, God showed him grace. When Cain said, “my punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me” (Genesis 4:13-14).

Though Cain killed his brother, he was concerned over who would kill him. In response, the Lord placed a mark on Cain so that all would know that vengeance for taking Cain’s life would be sevenfold (Genesis 4:15).

Even in the midst of our sin, the Lord is gracious to us. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” He extends His grace to you in spite of your sinful condition, acts, and punishment. The Lord shows you grace where you would not deserve it otherwise. It is the expanse of His love for His creation:

Ezekiel 18:32 – For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

However, we should not use the Lord’s love and grace as a reason to continue to sin:

Romans 6:1-2 – What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Heed the Lord’s warnings and use the opportunities you have to do good. Don’t allow sin to have its way in your life. Rule over it. Submit to God.

^{Photo courtesy of flickr.com/jrproductions2012}