Who were the first children? The fourth chapter of Genesis tells us about them. Can you find out their names? They were called Cain and Abel, and were the children of Adam and Eve.
When they grew up, Cain became a farmer and grew fruit of different kinds. Abel became a shepherd, and had numbers of sheep and lambs.
Both Cain and Abel had sinful hearts, like boys and girls today, and needed to be saved just as we all do. One day they brought presents or sacrifices to God. Cain brought fruit which he had grown. Abel brought a little lamb which he killed.
Cain does not seem to have felt that he was a sinner, needing to have Another die for him. He thought the result of his own labor would be enough. In his offering there was no owning that he was a sinner and deserved to die. His own name “Cain” was written on his offering, so to speak. Now Cain’s name called for God’s judgment because Cain was a sinner. And our names, however pretty they may sound, call for judgment too. God did not accept Cain’s sacrifice. He could not take any pleasure in it, for there was nothing in it to speak of Jesus, His Son.
Many people today think if they are real good, God will accept them on account of their good works but He says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).
It is only those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Saviour that He will save and take to heaven to live with Him.
Abel believed that he was a sinner needing a Saviour; he knew that he deserved to die. The offering he brought said, “I am a sinner and I ought to die, but this lamb dies for me.”
What word was written on that offering, do you think? Not “Abel,” I judge. No! I think that the word “Christ” was to be seen there.
Now since then Christ has died for us so that we might be saved. He is the Lamb of God, the One who God had said should come.
Abel by his sacrifice talks to us today. What does he say?
“Sinner, trust in Jesus. Do not trust in anything that you can do. No works of yours can be pleasing to God until you are saved through Jesus. His blood alone can cleanse away your sins, and make you right in the sight of God.”
ML 11/29/1931