Knock Knock

In the beginning... Okay, name that intro! I'm sure you've heard those words many times in the story of creation, but I recently decided to read through Genesis. As usual, God used the Word to teach me about life through a story I've heard a thousand times.

"“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. No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.” (NLT)

In Genesis 4:6-12, God warns Cane (Adam and Eves first son, brother to Abel) that he needs to get control over his sinful desires or it will take over. And sure enough his rage/jealousy/resentment caused him to kill his own brother even after God warned him to get control over his anger. Then he is sent away by God and condemned to be alone and without. What a consquence for acting out his anguish in sin!

Just like Cain's, sin is constantly knocking at the door of our lives, trying to tempt us to open up. We have to make a choice to between shutting sin out or allowing it to invade and take over. It's a hard task to "become sins master."

With God's guiding hand, it is possible! Even though Cain was unable to overcome his sinful nature, we can learn from his mistake and turn to God for help when life's stresses bring us to the brink of sinning.

Next time sin is knocking at your life's door, call on God, he can put a lock on that door and keep sin out if we give him control.

Prayer:

Thank you Lord for showing me through Cain, the consequences of not actively pursuing you. Please help me to not let sin creep too closely. Let me resist temptation. Be my keeper and my light. I love you and honor you. Thank you for using your Word to inspire my everyday life. Amen.