DEEPLY affecting is the account scripture gives of the two brothers, the earliest representatives of Adam's race. And it is a solemn consideration for you, dear reader, for your lot must be with one or other. God has told the tale that you may be blessed no less than Abel, and escape the curse which fell on Cain for his unbelief and wickedness.
Cain was not what men call irreligious. He brought of the fruit of the ground as an offering to. Jehovah. Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat. It is in their worship that men most of all betray the ground of their heart. For it is no question of mere sincerity.
Cain's offering was wholly natural. In a sinless paradise it might have been acceptable. But it took no account of the fall, no account of his own sinfulness. The LORD God had said to Adam, Cursed be the ground on thine account; and Cain, who, had often heard the sad sentence, brought of earths, fruit all the same. He thought that Jehovah was altogether such a one as himself, and that the produce of his hands must be acceptable. There was no self-judgment, any more than faith without which it is impossible to please God.
With Abel it was far otherwise. He believed the word of the Lord. He bowed to the just judgment of sin. He was looking for the Seed of the woman, who, bruised ever so keenly, should bruise the serpent's head. He valued and understood the divine mercy, which clothed his parents when fallen with coats of skin, with a covering of their nakedness founded on death. His offering was in accordance with Jehovah's word and action. "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness to his gifts; and through it he being dead yet speaketh." Sinner as he was, he believed in a Deliverer from God, and owned that he could only approach by a sacrifice. He therein confessed sin and death had entered; and that there was no way out of the evil but by a death of God's providing. "And Jehovah looked on Abel and on his offering; and upon Cain and on his offering he did not look.”
How could He? For Cain came before Him just as he was, impenitent and unbelieving; and why not? He could not avoid being a sinful man; he did his best. His gifts showed his work and skill. Of God and his curse, of sin and death, he never thought. He was doing his duty, and God would surely accept it. A self-righteous man, he was as blind about God as about himself; and he proved it by his furious anger, which drew out Jehovah's gracious remonstrance. But Cain had no ear for Him, and vented his spite on his righteous brother, as the world did on Christ.
O my dear reader, how do you stand before that same God, now fully revealed in His Son? And you, are you not discovered in your need and misery, in your sins and ruin? For Christ is the True Light, Who, coming into the world, sheds light on every man. It is not only that man tried by God's law is a convicted transgressor, but that he would not have God come down and dwelling in love among men, but cast Him out and crucified Him. Such is the world's sin, of which you and I are by nature and in spirit and ways a part. If you are indifferent to Wand to Him Who sees and feels it all as it is, you are going in the way Of Cain. Woe unto such, says the Holy Spirit.
Let me beseech you to stop, ere it be too late, and judge yourself in the light of God, Who is longsuffering toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. You have not to bring the sacrifice. God has gone incomparably beyond the words of Abraham: not only has He provided Himself the lamb for a burnt-offering; He has given His Son to be His Lamb. The One Who knew no sin He has made sin for us, that we might become His righteousness in Him. He laid our responsibility, yea, our iniquity, on the Lord, Who suffered for sins, Just for unjust, that He might bring us to God.
Oh I beware, lest you perish everlastingly. If you built a city as Cain did, it would not better your case. If you drowned care and conscience in music and art, in the witty inventions of peace or war, or in poetry and the refinements of life, it would only endanger you more, as we may see in Cain's descendants. The only safety, the only wisdom, the only happiness, is in receiving Jesus, the Savior of sinners. Confess what you are; confess Him, for indeed He is the Lord, Whom God raised from the dead, "and thou shalt be saved.”