I love the cool summer nights. Tonight of all nights is especially exquisite--on the fringe of a slowly passing thunderstorm, the night sky is interrupted by the lightning and thunder which has grown from silence to growls. The cool still air is stirred by the breeze and rain falls in giant drops, not hard, but gently. This all followed a spectacular sunset which I hope to explain in picture format later!
There is something indescribable about walking in the cool night after a hot day, in a town which now sleeps for lack of college students. These are the empty streets on which I first learned to drive a manual.
Before this year, I had never really understood or enjoyed the Old Testament as much as the New. But through many lessons learned, I am starting to understand the all the Bible is an exploration of the same God through different media. Much of the New Testament(the Epistles) seems to be inspired men writing down things about God, but I have begun to appreciate that God himself on occasion speaks openly in the Old Testament. It is for this reason that the story of Cain and Able has become one of my favorite stories through which to explore the Gospel and Christian life. If you read through chapter four of Genesis you realize that, though both brothers bring offerings to God, Abel gave the best and first of what he had, while Cain gave whatever was at hand without concern. Cain gave out of obligation and with a selfish heart, and Abel gave his very best out of deep love and regard for God. I want to meet Abel some day, he must have been a truly amazing man.
Cain becomes jealous because God looked with favor on Abel's humility and love for what is good(God alone) which was reflected in his offering. God did not look with favor on Cain's offering because it reflected the pride and arrogance which told him he deserved the best of what he had, not God.
And then God speaks:
"Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it "
God is saying the first wrong is the pride of not giving the best and first of what we have to God, and from that wrong, temptation to sin further flows--and this sin seeks to master us. If you read on sin "gives birth to death" as James says; as Cain takes Abel to a field and murders him. It is a grave reminder that sin is not a trifling matter, it is the destruction of everything good and beautiful and right--and we deceive ourselves if we think that sin will end up anywhere but death--the ultimate destruction of life, good, and relationship.
If you look at John 17 as Jesus prays for all those who will come to know him, God's sign to the world that Christians are "it" is their unity. God's heart is for unity as an expression of his divine intervention in the decay of our relationships--with him, and consequently with one another. This sign exists because he has sincerely "longed to
gather your children together, as a
hen gathers her chicks under her wings". (Matthew 23:37)
This is all a mystery I seek to understand more; that forgiveness isn't the end, it is only the beginning. To truly break free from sin, is to fall into God's arms in absolute surrender.
I'm done sermonetting for now! Work looms on the horizon of tomorrow, the storm has passed, and the night is silent yet again. God bless,
Liam
The above picture was taken by my friend Ian--the setting is a favorite bench which overlooks the rolling hills of the Palouse.
