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Cain Is Able
Cain Is Able
"If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it" (Genesis 4:7).
While Cain is not Abel, he was able – able to chose how to act. He had the option of doing good or NOT doing good. He did NOT have to do this deed. He COULD have acted differently. He could have chosen to do good. But, he didn’t.
The choice is complicated by the problem of sin, desire, and temptation. Even as his parents were tempted, so now is he. Sin is pictured as a crouching animal, waiting to attack. Reminds me of 1 Peter 5:8: “ Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
God encouraged Cain to do good! “You must master it.” He was NOT a slave to such sin. He could have overcome. This reminds me of 1 Peter 5:9 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
The apostle John mentions this story in his first letter: 11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous.” (1John 3:11-12).
Cain failed. Cain was able but didn’t! Don’t be like Cain. Resist the devil and the temptation to do evil. Stand firm in your faith.
Hugh DeLong
