When One Knows Sin

Scripture: God said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “How should I know? Am I his babysitter?” Genesis 4:9

Observation: There is great attention on "original sin" - the decision by Adam and Eve to reject God's instructions and pursue wisdom on their own - and the next big sin, Cain's murder of Abel. In both cases, God questions the perpetrators. Adam and Eve actually give an honest answer, though it does attempt to justify and explain their actions rather than just confessing. Cain, on the other hand, attempts to outright deceive God. He feigns innocence in the face of a direct question.

These two events are decades apart, as the first occurs before Cain is born, and the second when he is a full-grown man. Therefore, Cain has become well practices in his attempts to self-determine right and wrong ... good and evil. This has now been his mindset for his entire life, even if he does still live close to Yahweh and in regular, personal communication with him. It is from this mindset that Cain knows being angry toward Abel was wrong, and killing Abel was wrong. It is also therefore from this mindset that Cain chooses to attempt to lie to God about it. That attempted deceit is evidence of the sin.

Application: I attempt deception - lying - far too much in my life, and that is clearly evidence that I know I am not doing the right things. This lesson is very clear ... the act of deception, and especially attempting to deceive by deflecting an issue, is evidence of knowing I am in the wrong.

As the new year begins, many people make resolutions they won't keep. If I made a resolution to not lie and deceive, that wouldn't address the real issue. I need to resolve to not do things wrongly so I won't feel a need to deceive. I know what is sinful, and if I resist such things I won't attempt to sidestep the shame.

Prayer: Lord, as I begin this new year, this new orbit of this created world around the created sun, may I receive your assistance in being a better man. Please help me to walk your path, hold your hand, and avoid wrongdoing and wrong thinking in my life. In this way, I would hope I will not attempt to deceive you and others. Amen.