Mar 26, 2008

"If Thou Doest Well, Shalt Thou Not Be Accepted?"


"And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. and the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell."
Genesis 4:3-5

Cain worked with the ground and it became his life. He wanted to sacrifice to God and he faltered in giving God what was pleasing to his own flesh. So he offered the fruit of the ground and the product of mans' labor, thinking it was fitting for the Holy God. Cain soon found he was desperately mistaken. God did not want the fruits of his labor. Instead, God wanted a true sacrifice, the offering of a pure lamb. This, of course, is a picture of the ultimate sacrifice made by the very Son of God, Jesus. As Jesus was offered as the first born of Jehovah, so did Abel offer his firstlings in faith. This was pleasing to God because this was the method he ordained for the time. And thus, God showed Abel favor in his offering, but he gave none to Cain.

"And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him."
Genesis 4:6-7

It is interesting to consider the mercy of God in this instance. Cain offered of his own desires and of his own works, the works of which God did not approve for sacrifice, yet the Almighty God did not instantly slay him. He had surely disobeyed God, and graciously God showed mercy and long suffering. He reminded Cain of his wrothfullness and how his countenance had fallen. Surprisingly, he continued by telling him that if he did well, Cain would surely be accepted. However, if he did not that which was good, that is, the thing that displeased God, sin would surely follow. Cain was also reminded that this had no weight on his carnal position because Abel still desired for Cain, and Cain still had rule over his younger brother. But to hear the reproof of God and not understand is no new thing. For as God gave Cain instructions by which God would be pleased, Cain knew it not.

"And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not hence forth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. and Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear."
Genesis 4:8-13

We see that Cain slew his brother in the field and went about as if nothing of the sort had happened. Then came the wrath of God. Cain took no part of the will of God, to offer a pleasing sacrifice to the Living God. He still relied upon his own understanding and his own imagination and sin came through the door. Amazing that God spoke of this and Cains' heart had hardened so that he did not understand it. We see the sins of Cain, and his disobedience. What was the result? The very thing that pleased Cain was turned away from him. No longer could he work with the ground and bring forth fruit of his own labor. And above all else, he was cast from the sight of God. Just as his father had been turned from Jehovah and taken from Eden, so had Cain been cast from the sight of God and refused the garden of his pleasure. Oh, how accurate was Cains' statement, "My punishment is greater than I can bear." Cain viewed it, as all carnal men do, as a grievous thing toward his flesh, having no consideration about being cast from the sight of God. How, oh how, could we bear it if we were to be turned from our Saviour, never to be in his favor again?

Now consider our estate. Do we from time to time bring our own desires to the table of God expecting him to be pleased? I speak to the saved, and also the damned. The damned concerning salvation. Do you trust completely in the finished sacrifice of Jesus through faith and that nothing you have done nor can do will ever match it or work in it's stead? That although God is turned from you now, should you be washed in his righteousness and be an heir of salvation he will never leave you nor forsake you. I speak to the saved concerning faith. Do we rely completely upon God in everything? In worship, prayer, labor, and life are we truly walking in faith? He will never leave, nor forsake us. Even though the world itself stand at our door, he is there in our stead. Consider it, do we incorporate our own inventions and claim them to be those from God, or are we after the heart of God, delighting in his statutes?

Mar 18, 2008

Fear the Lord?

"Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield." Psalm 115:11
My mind struggles at the sound of someone claiming not to fear God. Not the statement of boasting made by the prideful heathen, rather the utterings that imply, "God is love so there is nothing to fear," made ignorantly by professing saints. My unrest is not in, "God is love," for that is undeniable truth not fully expressed in words. No, I grieve at the thought of no fear toward Almighty God.
Consider the statement, "I do not fear God." To say as much is equal to the worm faced in defiance against the lion and pressing to battle. (Are we not worms in sin set at nought against the Lion of the tribe of Judah before salvation?) Now, one might dismiss that statement as erroneous, but search the scriptures. Count the times a man defied and was swiftly punished. Are we to discount the instant death of Uzzah who only tried to keep the Ark of the Covenant from falling off the cart? (II Samuel 6) Are we to overlook the miserable end of King Saul, who defied the commands of God and for such lost his kingdom, sanity, and life? Does the doctrine of love require that these be forgotten? Nay! it is by these that we begin to understand the perfect love of the Father. Far too often our words have been, "God loves you," towards the vilest of sinners. Who am I to give God's love to those who do what he hates? It is not mine to give, for it is only he that can give. I give the account of his gracious Salvation, planting and watering the seeds. It is God who gives mercy to whom he will.
It is imperative to understand that God's love does not cancel his wrath and anger. Oh, how God loved Israel and would have gathered her together as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings. Yet time after time his anger was kindled against them and he punished them. Why did such occur? Because Israel did not fear God. You will not read far into the Old Testament without seeing this. Indeed God is love, and indeed there is something to fear.
Consider the children. If you rebuke not the youngster he continues in his folly, sinning rampantly, shaming his parents. Yet, amazingly, if loving reproof is applied love grows the more. They obey when fear of reproof is present. There is a fear of failing and displeasing the parent in their disobedience. Require the child to complete a chore and if the rod has been applied he will straightly comply. I speak not of abuse for here is the difference. When rebuke is given in love, wisdom goes forth. The child learns of the mistake and the consequences thereof. If the rod goes forth in abuse, nothing is gained and the child learns further to hate and disobey.
Many associate the fear of God with a terrible trembling, and rightfully so, however the reverencing fear as toward a father or king is absent and forgotten.
The fear of God is the love of God. The two cannot be separated. If I love God, I fear him and follow his commandments. Faithfully, I fear the Lord and in turn he is my help and shield.
Be not afraid to fear the Lord, for the Lord himself calls for it. To the heirs of salvation he is a loving father, and righteous king. To the unrepentant sinner, you are his enemy.

Mar 11, 2008

Reflections Upon Psalm 106


"Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance. We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea." Psalm 106:4-7

O! how often do we admit our iniquities against the living God? If we were to examine ourselves we would be forced, if righteously examined, to confess that our sins match those of Israel. Though they were redeemed from Egypt and the bondage thereof, they "were defiled with their own works, and went awhoring with their own inventions." Perhaps we sin not in the same letter, but I find that all our sin is a reflection of selfishness and discontentment. Discontentment because of selfishness. Why do we lie? Because we are discontent with the truth and we desire to selfishly preserve our state! Judge it and you will see it applies. Why do we set up false gods (including ideals)? Because we thrive in being pleased and are not satisfied by who the true God really is. I speak as of a man yet in his sins, however "what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."

Further along, "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord..." (from Romans 7)

This from the pen of a man who many have set equal with God himself! No doubt, he was not nor ever claimed to be, (but in the folly of men many have made him an idol) but these words were written by a godly man, under the inspiration of God,who had long since had the cloak of Jesus' righteousness applied in his stead. Yet, sin dwelt in him. Though the blood of Christ be shed our flesh was conceived in sin and must die to sin. It is no wonder why Jesus preached that salvation was a birth of the spirit, for this body will not be made righteous till it enter into glory.

"Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known." Psalm 106:8

This in no way made Israel perfect nor blameless, for we know that Israel continued to sin against God by desiring their own agenda, and wanting more when God had surely provided more than adequate. Time after time, the anger and wrath of the Living God was kindled against his own people.

"They despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word: but murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord. Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:" and they, "were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them....Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went awhoring with their own inventions. Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people..."

But let the saints of God know his Word.

"Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry: And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies."

Though we trespass every hour, yet shall we confess our sins and cry unto God and he will remember his covenant. How merciful is our God! That he "commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord." Psalm 106:47-48