A Declaration of Faith

What does it mean when someone says, “I believe in God?”

Well, there are at least two ways one may interpret this saying. One is that the person in question is making a declaration that they believe God exists; they are confident that there is a being or power ascribed as God, and that he dwells “out there” somewhere. This first declaration leaves a little something to be desired.

Connecting the Dots

Have you ever played Connect the Dots? The game is simple. A picture is defined by a series of so many dots, numbered 1 through however many are needed to complete the picture in question. What the person playing the game must do is use a pencil or pen to draw a line from 1 to 2, then from 2 to 3, and so on. Upon connecting the final line segment the picture is complete and you can see what the dots portray.

Raising Cain, Part 3

6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

God is not posing a question of concern presently, but an inquiry as to whether or not Cain has the right to be angry. Is his anger justifiable? Anger is not a sin, but permitting anger to tempt you toward gratifying it is, Ephesians 4:26-27. As Paul states, to follow sin on this course is an open door to give the Devil a foothold in your life. To paraphrase a little God might have been asking Cain, “Do you have any genuine right to be wroth about this?”

Raising Cain, Part 2

Without further ado, let us examine the several verses in question and discern what we can learn from Cain.

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD, Genesis 4:1.

Cain, so far as the Biblical record is concerned, was the very first human being ever born. He was the first to come out of the womb; the first person to be created by sexual union. Adam was formed from the dust, and Eve from Adam’s rib. Both were created mature (so far as we know) so they did not know the travails of infancy and childhood as every generation after them would. They did not know experientially what awaited them.

Raising Cain, Part 1

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 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. 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, Genesis 4:5-8.