Sin Lies At The Door

I've been thinking about this verse alot lately. In the light of yesterdays post I will now pen some thoughts that will hopefully help others.



Gen 4:6-7 - So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire [is] for you, but you should rule over it."



The verse my title comes from is out of the story of Cain and Abel. Cain and Abel brought an offering to the Lord. Abel's offering was the first fruit of his flock, a lamb and Cain who was a farmer brought some fruit from his crops. God accepted Abel's offering and rejected Cains. Cain became angry and His countenance fell or he was walking around with his head down and his face showed that he was angry. He was angry that God rejected his offering. What was this offering all about. I think if you look at what has transpired in the garden after Adam and Eve had sinned and disobeyed God we will get a better understanding of what this offering was all about. An offering in the old testament always represented a sacrifice. All throughout the Old Testament we see people bringing offerings to the Lord. This is a major theme throughout the Old Testament and giving offerings to God is a major tenant in all religions especially in the Jewish religion. Why was Cain and Abel bringing an offering to the Lord. I believe they were doing what they were taught by their parents and were continuing what God had started after Adam and Eve had sinned in the Garden. Gen3:21 Also for Adam and his wife God made tunics of skin and clothed them. God had to kill an innocent victim, an animal, so that He could take it's skin in order to clothe Adam and Eve. Before they sinned they were naked and unashamed. Their countenance was up and not fallen. They walked in purity with and before God. Sin caused their countenance to fall and they hid themselves from the presence of God. Notice the parallel actions between Cain and Adam and Eve. Sin separates us from God. God rejects sin and He will reject the sinner that will not bring the acceptable offering. This is why mankind is getting more angry every day. It's they are b ringing the wrong offering and sin is dominating their lives. Have you ever been around an angry man. Well I can tell you He's been rejected by God and the only remedy is far him or her to being an acceptable offering that God will accept. God brought the first offering for sin in the Bible and He would bring the last His son Jesus Christ. The sin offering would become a normal part of everyday life for the seeker of God. Something very important should be noted here. God could have made tunics from the plants that he had created but He chose an animal most probably a lamb. God provided an acceptable offering for man to bring in order to have his sin clothed. Also it should be noted that the thing that Adam tried to cover his nakedness (sin) with was a fig leaf. This should give more light as to what Cain was doing in his offering and what God rejected it. His offering represented the fig leaves and represents man attempt to cover his or her sin in another way besides God way. The fig leaves represent religion. Religion covers and it looks righteous but it has no power to change the inside of man or his heart. This was actually the first act of self righteousness, mans attempt to be made right before God. He wanted God to accept Him on his terms and God want meet man on hos terms. Abel brought an offering that God accepted because he brought a lamb that had to be killed and it's fat was burned which was pleasing to the Lord. God has provided an offering for sin. It's the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. All the offerings in the Old Testament would point to Christ the passover lamb. The Lamb that God would provide as an offering to take away the power of Sin in the world. It not only covers the Sin in our lives but it cleanses us from the effects of Sin in our lives.



Cains offering of self righteousness will not make him righteous and neither will yours. God asked Cain a question "If you do well will you not be accepted". God was asking Cain if He did what God had asked him to do would he not be accepted. Man has a choice to be accepted by God. God only accepts His offering and His way. Jesus is the only offering acceptable to God. God provided the only offering He will accept. Sin lies at the door of all men's lives and it wants to have rule over you. The Sin Nature is ruling over all men that have not brought the offering that God will accept. The Sin Nature has a desire and all men are controlled by these desires. These desires could be better described as the lust of the flesh. Our Flesh lusts after things that are not of God. It lust or longs for pleasure or things that seems to be pleasurable. Sin seems pleasurable for a season. The Sin Nature will always cause man to be angry with his brother. Gal 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told [you] in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Those who are rejected by God are those who practice such things and God's ultimate rejection is that they will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Hell is the place of ultimate rejection. It's as far away from the presence of God that you can get. Notice after Cain killed Abel he left from the presence of God. This is the end result of Sins. The last statement God made in this verse is that you should rule over it. God's offering has made a way for man to rule the Sin Nature. Wow!!!! Probably not what your accustomed to thinking or hearing. God has made a way for us to rule or have dominion over our Sin Nature. Is Sin ruling you is it constantly at your door never to go away. Bring the offering of Christ to God everyday by putting your faith in Him and what he did at the cross. Start everyday with the offering of Christ and throughout the day offer Christ. Rule over Sin through Jesus Christ. Quit offering what is not acceptable to God. Only Jesus is acceptable!!!!