I remember when my boys were young. I would catch them in a moment where they were faced with a decision. They had to decide if they would choose to be obedient to what we had told them to do or give in to the temptation to disobey. Just like with us, there were moments when I saw them choose to disobey. As a mom, I needed to give them consequences or go with the sin, so they may learn that disobedience comes at a cost. I never liked having to do it. My heart wanted to bless them but sin always comes with consequences.

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him^.  Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know, ” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.  Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.  When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you.  You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”  Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear.  Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over. ” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Genesis 4:8-16 (NIV)

Like my children, Cain had a decision to make. He chose to disobey and sin in his anger and jealousy. He chose revenge. He chose to deceive his brother, Abel. Abel must have trusted him if he went out in the fields with him. He betrayed Abel.  He lied to God when He confronted Him. When God gave Him his consequences, instead of remorse or repentance, he went into self-pity. The ultimate consequence was being hidden from God’s presence.

If we don't acknowledge our sin and repent, the ultimate consequence is separation from God. Share on X

^” However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you: You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out. The Lord will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him. ^”  Deuteronomy 28:15-20 (NIV)

Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brothers were righteous. Share on X

I am sad that Cain chose to sin and inevitability he close to serve satan. This is the choice that lies before all of us. Will we choose to sin which leads to a hardened heart, separation from God and death, OR will we choose to acknowledge our sin, repent and turn away from sin and towards God which leads to life? I pray we ALL choose to walk away from sin and towards God today and every day.