It’s Creeping At The Door
“Be careful, SIN is creeping at your door”
For as long as I can remember, those words, spoken to Cain more years ago than I can count have been a part of my life. You know the story, Both Cain and his brother Abel bring an offering to God, God looks at Abel’s offering and accepts it. Cain’s, He rejects. Cain wants to be accepted by God just the way he is. He wants God’s favor. He wants God’s approval but, he doesn’t want to worship God the way God has demanded. Cain is angry. The bible says his countenance had fallen. And God does something wonderful for Cain even though Cain is to blame for the way he’s feeling. God lovingly, gently, and mercifully warns him and encourages him to turn away from sin and its destruction to do what is right.
[So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”]
Tragically, the next time The Lord would speak to Cain would be to confront him for killing his brother Abel.
So what’s the point? Are we to learn not to kill your brother? Are we turn Ables murder into some ignorant facebook meme about rocks and gun control? Should we spend ages of worthless speculation regarding the mark that God puts on the man? Perhaps, the moral of the scripture here is that God simply hates offerings of produce… FOOLISHNESS! (well mostly… You really shouldn’t kill your brother)
The point is deeper than the elements of the offering, though they were critical in obeying God’s demand. God gets to the point. He starts on the surface and in 43 words (in the NKJV) He digs down to the foundation of the matter and uncovers the problem for Cain. “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?” God calls Cain to step outside of the anger, the depression, the frustration, the failure, the jealousy…all that he may be feeling, and to take a hard look at himself. Why was he angry?
I believe James 4 has the best look at it.
[“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.”]
Cain wanted God’s approval. He didn’t have it because he didn’t obey God. He coveted the approval God had given to his brother Abel so ignoring the warning of God, Cain rose up against his brother and killed him. It only takes an afternoon without a naptime to really see what James describes come pouring out of even the sweetest of toddlers. It’s easily observed in us as teens, young adults, middle-aged folks, and old people. We are a babyish fit throwing people, who brood with resentment and fume with anger. This sin of wanting what we don’t have follows us around our whole lives. But where does it come from? Well, I believe that it comes from the same place in us that it did for Cain. It comes from a heart that does not treasure Christ above all things. That kind of heart simply can’t be bothered to submit itself to the commands of The Lord, and it sees even its acts of worship as loathsome tasks and heavy burdens, rather than gladsome and joyous, undeserved privilege. Cain’s view of God was too small. God wasn’t deserving of love and honor and adoration. God wasn’t deserving of the best. God wasn’t deserving of the reverence and fear that should accompany obedient and careful worship.
And Cain’s not the only one who feels that way…
To the Priests of Israel in the book of Malachi, God says:
[“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name.]
Again and again, those who should know better hold a view of God too small to give to Him the glory due
His name all while His word and works cry out to them “COME, TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD” “HE IS GREAT” HE IS WORTHY” …
[Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?ps113]
Today are you depressed? Today are you angry without cause, discontent, frustrated, striving? Do you desire what you can’t obtain and covet what isn’t yours? Are you weary in doing good? Do you find no pleasure in God? Be careful, sin is a cunningly destructive foe lying just outside the door, waiting to destroy you in ways you never thought were possible. Perhaps, it already has one foot inside.
Turn away from it and cling to Christ! Wage war upon it in your heart as the villain it is! Give up no more ground to it on the battlefield.
But whatever you do, DO NOT EXPECT GOD TO EXCEPT YOUR HALF HEARTED, SLAPPED TOGETHER, DISOBEDIENT WORSHIP! HE WON’T DO IT!
And friend, it is loving towards you that He does not accept it. It is good that God requires you to obey Him. It is fatherly that He chastise and correct His own. If you do good, will you not be accepted? Is He not a good God who will accept the worship of those who worship Him rightly? He is!
God does not owe you a pat on the back, or a reward for your mundane spiritual efforts regardless of how emotional you feel in your worship. In fact, He doesn’t owe you anything other than judgment for your sin, and even that, He has placed on His only begotten Son, Jesus that all those who believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Set aside the worldly passions that are at war within you. Put away your discontentment. RULE OVER THE SIN OUTSIDE THE YOUR DOOR! And come have the joy and freedom that belong to them who would walk with The Lord Jesus obediently and treasure Him above all things.
