# 64 Beam Me Up Lord

The Book of Genesis Day 64 Ge 5:21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. 22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. History literally flies through the pages of chapter five on Genesis. If there are no gaps in the genealogy of Adam as listed here, a total of 1656 years pass from the creation of Adam to the flood. A couple of names I want to spend time on today in this genealogy are Enoch and Methuselah. Of course everyone knows Methuselah. He holds the record for the world’s longest living human being at 969 years! His father, Enoch, is another name of renown in this list. While everyone else is living long lives, his is cut short after a mere 365 years! But unlike the others who “died,” Enoch is “taken” by God. What’s the difference? What does it mean to “be taken?” We get a hint in Heb 11:5, “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” The King James says that God “translated him.” The word “translate means , “to transport with the idea of exchanging or changing sides.” So Enoch, in the twinkling of an eye, changed sides. He went from the side of an earthly existence to the side of heavenly existence without tasting death. He was the original Trekker! “Beam me up Scotty!” The only other recorded instance like this in Scripture is that of Elijah who went to heaven (without tasting of death) in a chariot of fire, pulled by horses of fire via a whirlwind. (See 2 Kings 2) Both of these instances seem incomprehensible to us, but they are important for us to understand because it is no different than what God will do on the Last Day. When the Lord Jesus Christ returns for the Final Judgment, there will be people alive like Enoch and Elijah who will be “transported” to meet Jesus in the air. These believers will not taste of death, and we read about it in 1Th 4:17, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.” And again in 1Co 15:51,52, “ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” So, comfort one another with this account of Enoch, and the account of Elijah. God has demonstrated that He is able to transport human bodies, and He will do just that for all those believers on the Last Day! The question for you and I is a matter of faith. Will we be found in Christ on That Day? He is our only hope! Reflect; Are you a Trekkie? What do you think made that TV show so successful? If you could be “transported” to any place on earth where would it be? Why do you think the Thessalonians needed to speak comfort to each other? How might we comfort one another with these words? Pray: Lord God, thank You for making it plain that You are able to transport those who “walk with You” through faith in Jesus. Help us to remain in the faith until that Day, and should You tarry, help us remember Your promise of raising us incorruptible from the grave, to be with You forever!

# 63 Some Theories About the Long Lifespans of the Adamic Era

The Book of Genesis Day 63 Ge 5:1 This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. Still another standout feature of this genealogy is the longevity of men! Do the math. The AVERAGE lifespan of these men (excluding Enoch) was 912 years! That’s a lot of birthday candles! How is it possible for men to live that long? There are a couple of theories about the longevity of man, and one of them is what I call the “greenhouse effect,” and it goes back to Ge 1:7, “Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.” This account of creation portrays a canopy of water above the sky (firmament) in addition to the waters below. The theory is that this “canopy” of water caused conditions on earth to be like those of a greenhouse, and this greenhouse effect was very beneficial to the health of men. This canopy of water would also account for the tremendous amount of water released to flood the entire earth in the days of Noah. This canopy of water was completely depleted and never replaced after the flood because God promised Noah, never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood.” (Gen 9:11) It is theorized that with the canopy gone, the greenhouse protection was gone and the longevity of man was greatly reduced. We will see that drastic reduction in the genealogy recorded in Genesis 11, where people are now only living for around 200 years, and of course by the time David arrives on the scene, that average lifespan is down to the 70 to 80 degree range. Ps 90:10 “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,” Still another theory is that it took some time for the effects of sin to get a foothold in the world and shorten the lifespan of men. Um, I don’t think that one even requires a response. Sin doesn’t dilly dally, just ask Abel how long it took for sin to affect him! I think the best answer to this longevity question is God! God determines how long we have breath in our body, and if he wants men to live into the 900’s, that’s His prerogative. This longer life span certainly helped speed up the process of populating the world, or “filling the earth,” as God had commanded in Gen 1:28! In the manner of lifespan, all we need to know is found in Job 14:5, which says, “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass. And in Ps 139:16 we read, “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” The real question for all of us is not, “why did people live to be 900,” but rather what do we do with the time that God has granted us? Noah spent his 950 years in a relationship with God and he was blessed with long life on earth, but more importantly eternal life in heaven where 950 years is not even a drop in the bucket! Ps 90:12 reminds us: “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” A heart of wisdom is only gained through saving faith in Jesus: Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” What kind of life? Everlasting! That beats the snot out of 900 years doesn’t it? Reflect: Who is the oldest person you know? How would your life change, if you remembered Ps 90:12? Do you find any comfort in Job 14:5 and Ps 139:16 Pray: Lord, we will never understand the measuring stick of the number of years we or others are granted on this earth. We trust that if it matters, it will be made clear one day in heaven. Help us to redeem our time wisely that we may spend it in eternal bliss with You in heaven!

# 62 The Restoration of Man

The Book of Genesis Day 62 Ge 5:1 This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. Several things stand out to me as I read this genealogy. First of all. I like the review we get in the first two verses. We have the reminder that Adam was created by God in the likeness of God! This is the way we were meant to be, and we were, until sin came into the world. This “likeness” of God, is what Jesus Christ came to earth to restore! Eph 4:24 reminds us of this fact: “ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” With the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, we are enabled to put on the new man that was created according to God , in true righteousness and holiness! How do we do that? We do it through baptism! Ro 6:4,5 says, “ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,” Did you notice the word “likeness” shows up twice here? This “likeness” speaks of the original created condition of man! Speaking about baptism in the Book of Colossians, we read in Col 3:10, “and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,” In baptism, we put on Christ, and the faith that receives the promise of what God delivers in baptism, is confirmed. Col 2:12 says, “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Baptism: “Faith in the working of God,” It’s something He commands us to do, but He then does something for us through it! Those who believe (endure in the faith) and are baptized will be saved, but those who believe not (do not endure in their God-given faith (baptized or not) will be damned, (Mr 16:16) On Judgement Day, when all will stand before God and be judged, it is those who believe and have put on Christ, who will be saved. God will look at the baptized believer and see the likeness of Christ, (the likeness of the original sinless Adam. Paradise restored! Reflect: Have you ever tried to restore furniture? Describe the process. Who will notice the slightest imperfection on a furniture restoration project. How important is it then to stand before God, perfectly restored. What must one do to have that kind of standing? Pray: Thank You Lord for the gift of baptism and saving faith. We acknowledge that only You can redeem and restore us through faith and baptism. Help us to endure in that faith until the end!

# 61 Genealogies: Not As Boring As You May Think

The Book of Genesis Day 61 Ge 5:1 This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. 3 And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters. 5 So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died. 6 Seth lived one hundred and five years, and begot Enosh. 7 After he begot Enosh, Seth lived eight hundred and seven years, and had sons and daughters. 8 So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he died. 9 Enosh lived ninety years, and begot Cainan. 10 After he begot Cainan, Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years, and had sons and daughters. 11 So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years; and he died. 12 Cainan lived seventy years, and begot Mahalalel. 13 After he begot Mahalalel, Cainan lived eight hundred and forty years, and had sons and daughters. 14 So all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years; and he died. 15 Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and begot Jared. 16 After he begot Jared, Mahalalel lived eight hundred and thirty years, and had sons and daughters. 17 So all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years; and he died. 18 Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Enoch. 19 After he begot Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years, and had sons and daughters. 20 So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died. 21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. 22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. 25 Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lamech. 26 After he begot Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had sons and daughters. 27 So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died. 28 Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. 29 And he called his name Noah, saying, "This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed." 30 After he begot Noah, Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years, and had sons and daughters. 31 So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died. 32 And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Genealogies. They make for boring reading, but they are very instructive and God has placed them in His Word for good reasons! This entire chapter is devoted to the genealogy of Adam, but it is important to note that it is not meant to be a complete list of all of Adam’s children. Rather, it is meant to be the thread of Righteousness (make that a capital R for the Redeemer) from Adam all the way to Noah. These genealogies are quite common ion Scripture. We will read of the genealogies of Noah’s sons after the flood, with special attention to the genealogy of Shem. Why? Because the thread of Righteousness continues through him all the way to Abraham. In the New Testament, the genealogy of Jesus is traced all the way back to Abraham in the Gospel of Matthew, and in the Gospel of Luke, it is traced all the way back to Adam! Why does Matthew stop at Abraham? Good question. He stops there because Matthew was written primarily for a Jewish audience, and Abraham was the starting point of their nation. Meanwhile, Luke was primarily written with the Gentile in mind, and hence he goes all the way back to the beginning of the Gentiles! Generally speaking, you will find these genealogies linked to covenants of God’s grace. The genealogy of Adam is linked to the covenant, or promise, of God to provide Eve with the Righteous Seed that would one day crush the head of the serpent. (the devil) The genealogy shows up again in the days of Noah, with the sign of the rainbow in the clouds, another graceful promise of God that He will never destroy the earth again via a flood. This covenant is forever linked to the waters of baptism in 1Pe 3:20,21, “when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” The genealogy of Abraham links Him to blessing all the families of the earth through faith in Jesus. Ge 15:5,6, “Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. And of course, the genealogy of Jesus links Him to all these covenants and marks the beginning of the New Covenant or the New Testament. And here’s the thing about the New Covenant, the only genealogy or “family tree” that you’ll find in the New Testament that matters is the one that finds you as part of the “living vine, because of your God-granted faith in Jesus. Jesus said in Joh 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. Through baptism (Noah’s covenant) and faith in Jesus (Abraham’s covenant) you become a part of the genealogy of Righteousness that was first named here in Genesis! Mr 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Reflect: Read chapter 5 again and underline all the names you recognize How far back can you trace your family tree? Do you have a “spiritual genealogy?” Can you trace it back or forward? What does it take to become a part of the Living Vine? Pray: Father, thank You for including these genealogies in Scripture. It reminds us that You keep good books. Grant us the enduring faith we need to be found in Your Book of Life.

# 60 The Original Bad Bad Leroy Brown

The Book of Genesis Day 60 Ge 4:23 Then Lamech said to his wives: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me, Even a young man for hurting me. 24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold." 25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, "For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed." 26 And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD. This Lamech dude is bad with a capital “B.” He comes home to his wives after killing a young man and brags about it! It is important to note that the tone of his announcement is that of a boast. Verses 23 and 24 are actually a poem, an ode, if you will, a self-penned tribute to the type of man that Lamech was. He is the original “Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown.” If Cain was bad, Lamech was ten times worse! So here we are, just four generations removed from Cain, and man could care less about God and His Word. Polygamy and murder have become things to brag about instead of be broken over. This portion of Scripture sets the stage for what the Adamic world is coming to. A violent, law breaking, God –sneering, rather than a God-fearing culture. But wait! It’s not all hopeless! Adam and Eve give birth to another son, whose name is Seth. His name means, “substituted.” As Eve put it, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel.” We might note here that out of the seed of Abel will come the ultimate substitute…..Jesus Christ, who died for us sinners as a substitute on the cross! Seth and his wife produce a child named Enosh and then something very significant happens in the world. Men began to call on the name of the Lord! Men began to pray! This statement carries with it the idea of corporate worship or prayer. What a difference between the lineage of Cain and the lineage of Seth. While Lamech is bragging about his life without God, Enosh and the other seeds of Seth seek communion with Him. While Lamech and his ilk seek to rely on their own strength, Enosh and others seek to humbly come before the Lord and call on Him to intercede on their behalf. The line has been more clearly drawn in the sand. These are the two types of people you will find in the world. There are no other classifications. Jesus said it best in Mt 12:30, He who is not with Me is against Me.” That’s all we really need to know. The lineage of Cain begets violence and death, while the lineage of Seth brings forth life. What lineage do you want to be part of? Reflect: If you could write an Ode about yourself, what would you brag about? (Don’t be overly humble, just name something you think you are good at!) Where do you think you got your talent(s) from? Is there a connection between your God-given abilities and how you might use them in serving God? Pray: Father, thank You for the gifts You have given me. Help me to seek ways to use them to bring glory to You!

# 59 Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

The Book of Genesis Day 59 Ge 4:17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son-Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech. 19 Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20 And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. 22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah. Cain has voluntarily ditched any semblance of faith, but please note, life goes on. In fact, it goes on rather well! A reminder of the truth Jesus spoke in Mt 5:45, “for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Cain moves to a land called Nod. (By the way, it is pronounced Node, and it means vagrancy.) How fitting, for it is now the land of the vagrant Cain! Cain and his wife have a child and they name him Enoch. Now, you might ask, “Where did this wife come from?” We aren’t told. But she had to be somewhere from the lineage of Adam and Eve. A daughter, granddaughter, or great granddaughter or even beyond because we are not given a time frame here. Remember, pre-flood life spans were ginormous! This child is named Enoch and four generations later Lamech comes along and the sin of polygamy enters the world. The genealogy pauses here because of some rather significant events in secular history. Out of this ungodly line of Cain, civilization marches on. Jabal is born and he becomes the father of those who make a living by moving with their livestock as they graze the land. His brother’s name is Jubal , and he shines in the area of music. Lamech’s other wife, Zillah, had a son named Tubal-Cain, who was an expert in working with metal! At this point, it is interesting to compare Cain’s lineage to that of his younger God-fearing brother named Seth. In Seth’s lineage, we read of no such contributions to society. All we read about is Enoch and Noah and their unwavering faith in God! So while the world is making great strides in agriculture, the arts, and industry, their character lags behind as they serve themselves with no regard for their Creator. Meanwhile, the righteous, FIRST OF ALL, seek to serve and obey God. Jesus said in Mt 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” It’s not that Christians are to shy away from making strides in agriculture, the arts, and industry, or not avail ourselves of the contributions of the ungodly. I mean, come on, what kind of expertise do you think Noah and his sons had as they built the ark? No, it’s just a matter of making God, our number one priority! Think about it, Cain’s lineage and Seth’s lineage both arrived at the same point of time when God unleashed the flood. Ponder the end of each, and realize anew Who, and what, you and I ought to be seeking first! Reflect: If you could invent something, what would it be? Have you seen evidence of children inheriting skills from their family tree? What kind of skills or traits have you inherited? Have you ever heard that Christians should be “in the world, but not of the world?” What does that mean to you? How can we seek first the kingdom of God? Pray: Lord, in a world that sometimes is overwhelming with distractions, help us to keep our priorities straight. Amen

# 58 A Hackey Sack For Satan

The Book of Genesis Day 58 Ge 4:16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. As incredible as it may seem, Cain chooses to leave the presence of the Lord! No more protection from evil. No more check on the sin in his life. Father forgive him, he knows not what he is doing! You probably know people just like him in your own life. People who, for whatever reason, have simply walked away from God. Do you see how important it is, that you pray for such people. If not you, who? If they truly knew the eternal peril they are putting themselves in, they wouldn’t do it! I remember a point in my own life when I made the announcement to my wife, that I was no longer going to attend church. I had been doing a good job of fooling people about my faith but I was tired of the charade and decided to let her know about it. So I walked away from church. (the presence of the Lord if you will.) I had actually walked away from the Lord in my heart many years prior to that, but this announcement made it public. This announcement of mine set off an alarm in my wife’s heart, and she began to pray in earnest. Knowingly or unknowingly, she knew I had become like Cain and opened myself up for all sorts of trouble, as I became what I like to call, “a hackey sack” for the devil. She prayed for my protection and the protection of our family, while praying that God would do whatever it takes in order for me to yearn again for His presence and protection. It was a long, often painful process. There were times when she felt like giving up, but she continued praying, inviting others to do the same. It took seven years, but by God’s grace and an automobile accident, I saw the error of my ways and turned back to Him! Looking back, I can’t believe I would willingly leave the presence of the Lord to be bounced around by Satan, but I did. Others do it too. People you love right now, are being beat up by the devil because they have chosen to turn away from God. Stop denying it! You know who they are! Pray for them unceasingly! Never weary! Intercede on their behalf! You may be their only hope! Reflect: How are you with a hackey sack? Have you ever “walked away from the Lord?” What was that like? What brought you back? Who would you like to see come back to the Lord? Pray for them now! Pray: Lord, how it must pain you to see your children turn away from You. Bring them back by any means, while protecting their loved ones at the same time.

# 57 Away From the Presence of the Lord

The Book of Genesis Day 57 Ge 4:16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. How can anyone go “out from the presence of the Lord?” The Lord is omnipresent! He is everywhere! The Psalmist writes in Ps 139:7,8, “ Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. God is present from heaven to hell and everything in-between! (Except apparently in the land of Nod where Cain settled. Just kidding, apparently the idea here of “presence” is something else.) In the Hebrew language this word comes from a root word that means “to turn.” The idea, is to turn to face or look upon. Though God is still present (even in the land of Nod) He is no longer looking at Cain of facing him. The implication is that Cain will be on his own. God’s back will be turned to his affairs and Satan will have free reign with him. We see this in other portions of Scripture and it isn’t very pretty. When Judah was carried off into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, they were removed from the “presence” (let’s call it what it is, the “blessing” of the Lord. 2Ki 24:20 says, “He finally cast them out from His presence.” We also read of Job, where God turned His face away from Job for a time and let Satan have his way (within God-ordained limits) and of course God turned His face to the nth degree with His only Son Jesus Christ on the cross! “My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” God had good loving reasons to do these things. All of them resulted in ultimate blessing and restoration, even though His loving heart must’ve ached for Judah, Job, and Jesus! God voluntarily turned away for a time and allowed the enemy to “work over “ His loved ones. It appears Cain, voluntarily left the protection of God. How foolish! That’s like being in a room with a policeman and a thug and asking the policeman to look the other way while the thug works you over. How foolish to walk away from the presence and protection of God, yet people do it all the time! There is a favorite blessing of many children of God found in Scripture. It goes like this: Nu 6:24-27, "The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace."' 27 "So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them." What would you rather have spoken over you? This blessing, or, “okay Satan, he’s all yours!” Would you rather have God turning to face you or God turning away from you? Reflect: If you could be present in different places at the same time, where would you go? How is tough love illustrated in the turning away of one’s face? Have you ever had to implement tough love? Pray: Father, help us to trust in You in all life’s circumstances! Take not Thy Holy Spirit from us. Protect us, turn Your face toward us and grant us peace.

# 56 Not A Hint Of Repentance

The Book of Genesis Day 56 Ge 4:13 And Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 "Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me." 15 And the LORD said to him, "Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. Doesn’t your heart just ache for Cain? A farmer by trade, the land would no longer yield a crop to him. He will be a vagabond trying to scratch out a living! He will have no place to call home! A fugitive who will always be looking over his shoulder, should someone seek to avenge the death of Abel. Cain says, “my punishment is greater than I can bear!” Well, before we start feeling too sorry for Cain, let’s not forget his crime. He killed his brother in a pre-meditated fashion! Notice too, that there is something missing in Cain’s response. There is not one hint of remorse! It makes me want to grab Cain and shake him and say, “You fool! Confess your sin! Turn to God! He will forgive you! He will restore you! “ But alas, it wouldn’t do any good. Cain’s heart has become set, like concrete. He is hardened to the love of God. He has steeled himself off to God’s mercy! He has thrown his lot in with the devil as we read in 1Jo 3:12, “ not as Cain who was of the wicked one,” Cain is afraid, but even in the fear of his flesh, he refuses to turn to God with a repentant heart, rather he complains about the fact that someone might find him and kill him. This is so sad, but it also points out a great spiritual truth found in Pr 14:32, “The wicked is banished in his wickedness, But the righteous has a refuge in his death.” Cain is a forever example of all who refuse to turn from their wicked ways (sin) and turn toward God! They will forever be away from fellowship with the Lord, banished for all eternity. No wonder they fear death! But look at the plight of the righteous, those who by grace, turn to God through the Lord Jesus Christ. They may take refuge in their death. They have hope in spades thanks to the death and resurrection of Jesus! God extended mercy toward Cain, putting some sort of a mark on him that would prevent anyone from avenging the death of Abel. This mark gives Cain more time to repent! God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked ! Eze 33:11 says, "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!” The mercy extended to Cain, is also extended to you and I. As long as there is breath in our bodies, we have an opportunity to turn to Christ and live……just ask the thieves on the cross. One was banished for all eternity, the other found refuge in Jesus in death. Reflect: Have you ever felt that someone unfairly punished you? What’s the most severe punishment you have ever received? Do you fear death? Why or why not? Pray: Father, thank You for Your longsuffering with us. We pray especially for those who stubbornly resist Your saving grace. Open their eyes now or even at the last minute as you did the thief on the cross and grant them Your gift of repentance and salvation.

# 55 The Fugitive

The Book of Genesis Day 55 Ge 4:11 "So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 "When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth." Cain has murdered his brother Abel, and God now metes out His perfect justice on the matter. The ground, now tainted with the blood of Abel, will no longer be fertile for Cain. Every time Cain takes in the view of his sickly fields, he’ll be reminded of the field where he took his brother to be slain. Even in this reminder, God would be calling Cain to repentance and restoration. I wonder, in our own lives, what kind of reminders does He put in our path, that seek to cause us to pause and consider our past mistakes? May we have the grace to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to confess our sins and be forgiven! In addition to a lifetime of futility in the field, Cain would now be a fugitive and a vagabond. He would be a vagabond who would ever need to move on, seeking good land, and a fugitive ever running away from his sin. It’s not easy being a fugitive. There is no peace. It is a lifetime of fear, mistrust, and running. Some of you may be living the fugitive lifestyle right now! You may be trying to hide a sinful lifestyle from God and others. Is it an affair? Is it pornography? Larceny? Gambling? Whatever it is, you find yourself in constant fear of getting discovered. You have no peace. You are constantly on the lam and having to cover your tracks. Somehow you have been duped into believing that God does not see. Guess what? He does see my friend, and that’s why we have His Word, the Bible, to help us see as well. It is His desire that we come to the cross to receive the cure, and with the help of Jesus, turn from our sinful ways! Stop being on the lam! Rather cast your sins on the Lamb! The Lamb of God who takes away your sin, my sin, the sins of the world! Run to Him, not from Him! By faith, receive His forgiveness and with it, the peace that passes all understanding. There is no need to look over your shoulder, when you are looking at the cross! Reflect: Have you ever been caught with your hand in the cookie jar? (Ever been found out for some secret deed?) How did that feel? Have you ever fessed up to some secret misdeed? ( “I broke the vase mom”) How did that feel? In the quietness of your own heart, take some time to allow the Holy Spirit to search you for any secret sins. Write them down. Confess them and give them to Jesus, then tear the paper up, confident that the sins have been “tossed into the sea of forgetfulness.” Remember what Jesus said to the woman whose secret sin of adultery was made very public. He said in Jn 8:11, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." Pray: Father God, thank You for Your constant invitation to leave the life of a fugitive. Thank You for the peace You offer through Jesus. Help me to resist running from You and rather seek to run to You and receive Your forgiveness.”

# 54 When Blood Speaks....God Listens

The Book of Genesis Day 54 Ge 4:10 And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground. Cain has just murdered his brother Abel, and the blood of Abel speaks to God! It has a voice! When blood speaks, God listens. Let me share some portions of Scripture with you to illustrate that fact. Ps 72:14 speaks of the blood of the poor and needy and God says, “ He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight.” Blood screams so loudly at God, that He will not hear the prayers that come from the hands soiled with innocent blood: Isa 1:15, says, “ When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Hands that shed innocent blood are among the things listed in Pr 6:17 that God hates! “A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,” Not one drop of blood is shed without the Lord’s knowledge, and one day the earth will disclose her blood! Isa 26:21 says, “ For behold, the LORD comes out of His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, And will no more cover her slain.” In the Book of Revelation, the third bowl of Judgment is poured out upon those who have shed the blood of saints and prophets: Rev 16:6, “For your holy people and your prophets have been killed, and their blood was poured out on the earth. So you have given their murderers blood to drink. It is their just reward." And in Eze 24:6, there is a woe pronounced on the city that is free and easy with innocent blood! 'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the bloody city, “ Do you get the idea that God does not like the shedding of innocent blood? What is He hearing from the soil of the abortion clinics in our land? Now listen, because this is very important, especially for those who have participated in the act of shedding innocent blood. Blood cries to God not for vengeance alone! It also cries for redemption and forgiveness! 1Jo 1:7 says, “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” And Re 5:9 speaking of Jesus says, “ For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,” No wonder God does not take the shedding of innocent blood lightly! It was by the shedding of His Son’s blood that our sins are forgiven. An old hymn says it well, “Abel’s blood for vengeance, pleaded to the skies; But the blood of Jesus, for our pardon cries!” Let us never take the shedding of innocent blood lightly. It speaks loudly to God, not only of our sin, but of forgiveness of our sin as well. Reflect: What are some different ways of non-verbal communication? Does anyone really "get away with murder?" If guilty, what must one do to get right with God? If we are guilty of any sin, what must we do to get right with God? (See 1 Jn 1:9) Pray: Father God, forgive us as a nation for all the innocent blood we have spilled since the legalization of abortion in 1973. Help those who struggle with their own guilt in this matter, and assure us all anew, that there is no sin that Jesus didn’t pay for on the cross!

# 53 Is God Giving You An Opportunity To Confess?

The Book of Genesis Day 53 Ge 4:8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" The deed is done. Cain has murdered his brother. Sometime after the deed was done, Cain is confronted by God, and the “all knowing” Creator throws a loaded question at Cain. It’s just like the one He threw at Adam when he was hiding in the Garden. “Adam where are you,?” becomes, “Where is Abel thy brother?” Of course, God knew perfectly well where Abel was, his very blood was screaming to God from the ground! So why does God ask? He is giving Cain an opportunity to consider what he has done and confess. Isn’t that just like our loving heavenly Father? Let’s consider that opportunity for our own life today. Is there some sin or sins that God is waiting for you to confess? As you read your Bible, pray that you would be open to such questioning from the Holy Spirit. Ask yourself, “Is there some sin in this reading that I need to confess?” Then do it, and receive the promise of 1 Jn 1:9, “ If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Sometimes God will confront your sin with circumstances gone south in your life in order to convict you, and show you that you need to change. Sometimes a situation may arise where you see an injustice, but closer examination reveals that you have your own issues with the practice of being unjust. However conviction comes, learn to embrace it and use it as an opportunity to confess and receive His promised forgiveness. Sometimes it may be a close friend who points out your sin. Don’t blow off a loving brothers attempt to bring conviction and correction into your life. Jas 5:19,20 says, “ Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” * Nathan confronting David about his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 12:1-13) is a great example! Note well David’s response to Nathan’s charge that David “was that man.” He didn’t pass of blame like Adam did, “It was that woman!” He didn’t lie as Cain did, “I know not.” Rather he said, “I have sinned against the Lord. Is God giving you an opportunity to deal with some sins in your life? Be open to the Holy Spirit and respond with David, “I have sinned against the Lord,” and then cling to the promise of 1 Jn 1:9! Reflect: The fact is, we all tell lies. What are some lies you have told? Lies often beget more lies. How do we stop the wheel of lies from spinning? What’s one of the ways we stop our sins from spinning out of control. Memorize 1 Jn 1:9, it will help you immensely in your walk with the Lord. Pray: Father, God, it is so easy to gloss over or avoid our sins. Help us to always be open to Your loving correction. Let us be quick to bring our sins to the cross and receive Your forgiveness. Amen *Just one word of caution here, make sure you remove the log from your own eye before you address the speck in his.

# 52 Like It Or Not, We Are In A War

The Book of Genesis Day 52 Ge 4: " 8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." There’s that phrase again, “it came to pass,” as we have said earlier concerning this phrase, the moment came when God says “go or no go,” and in this case he allowed Cain to proceed with his murderous action! You and I are likely not the first people who have shaken our fist at God and asked, “Why? You could have stopped this Lord, why did you allow this to happen?” Although not recorded in Scripture, I imagine that Adam and Eve were asking that same question! “Why God? What do you want us to learn from this?” Heb 11:4 is instructive for us as we read, “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.” The death of Abel began speaking to us on this fateful day and will continue speaking to us until our Lord returns! What is his death saying to us? Well one thing we learn is this enmity between the seed of the snake and the seed of the woman is not child’s play. There is going to be great animosity in this world between Christians and all others, the Christians role in this is to go on loving, but don’t marvel at the depth of hatred you will likely face: 1Jo 3:11-13 says, “ For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.” 2Ti 3:12 reminds us: “ Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” And Jesus said in Lu 21:16,17, "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.” Early on, God is bracing His church for this fact, and Jesus offers us great comfort in Mt 5:10, when He said, “ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This one verse in Matthew, sums up the short life of Abel and gives all those who suffer for the faith great consolation. We know where Abel is now, may God give us the faith and strength to endure in the faith that one day we will join him in Paradise. Reflect: Name something you had to learn the hard way? When’s the last time something happened and you wondered why God didn’t do something to stop it? What would you say to someone who says something like, “I can’t believe in a God who allows something so bad to happen? Pray: Lord, we don’t ask for understanding, we ask for trust. Grant it to us when we need it the most! Amen

# 51 Like A Yelping Puppy

The Book of Genesis Day 51 Ge 4:6 So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 "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." Sin lies at the door. It lies in wait not only for Cain, but you and I as well. Will we let it in or resist the urge? It’s like a puppy outside a door, yelping to get in. Pretty tough to resist isn’t it? God tells Cain that this sin “desires” to conquer Cain, and the word “desire” here is the equivalent of sexual desire and that should tell us something about the intensity of the battle! Try to grasp the seriousness of the situation. Sin desires to seduce and conquer you. It wants to lead you into a tryst with unrighteousness! Oh yes, beware, for 1Pe 5:8 tells us: “ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” But God tells Cain, “you should rule over it.” There is a glimmer of hope in that statement! We have a choice! We can let the puppy in or not. But how can we do this, knowing the weakness of our flesh? Peter tells us in the very next verse to resist the devil! James helps us even more when he says in Jas 4:7,8, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. “ It is only through the blood of Jesus that we are able to draw near to God, Heb 10:19 says, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,” You can approach God, draw near to Him and ask Him to give you the strength to resist! Remember too, that in your baptism, you were crucified with Christ, and you can tell the devil that “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” For in your baptism you died , and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:3) When sin stirs up yearnings in your heart, when that puppy is outside your door yelping away, don’t forget that He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world! Surrender your members to Him and with the help of God you can turn from that temptation. Reflect: Did you ever own a puppy? When would he/she yelp? What are some temptations that you struggle with? What are some things you can do to fight them? Is it one and done or do temptations keep returning? When are you at your weakest moments concerning temptation to sin? Pray: Father, thank You for this glimmer of hope in fighting the temptation to sin, help us to call upon You in our hour of need. Show us how to wield Your Word when the devil shows up at our door. Amen

# 50 Decorative Waxed Fruit

The Book of Genesis Day 50 Ge 4:6 So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 "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." Some more God questions! I love them! God, of course knows the answer, but He wants Cain to ponder the answer. He wants you and I to ponder these questions at those times when we are angry at God and taken over by a sullen disposition. With these questions, God is offering Cain an opportunity to repent! Let’s see how this can play out with a positive result! “God: “Why are you angry and sullen?” Cain: “Because You accepted Abel’s offering and not mine?” God: “Why do you think I accepted his and not yours?” Cain: “ Well, I haven’t been living very righteously, and my heart isn’t right with You. To be honest, I’ve been playing the hypocrite.” God: “If you have true sorrow for your condition, and wish to be forgiven, and be accepted by Me, just confess your sin, turn to me, and I will forgive you.” With these questions, God is leading Cain to a crossroad; sadly, we know which path he chose. I like to think of Cain’s offering as a bowl of decorative waxed fruit that graces many a table. It looks so nice on the outside, but of course it’s fake! Cain’s offering was feigned worship, feigned surrender to the Lordship of God. He was giving lip service to the Ruler of the universe. If Cain would just turn from His wicked ways and turn to God, that waxed fruit he was offering up would become the real thing and a sweet fragrance to God! Some of you may be experiencing the same thing. You want to be accepted by God, but you are not willing to pay the price of repentance. You are not willing to turn from your ways and surrender to God. You know deep down that your present lifestyle is not the way God intended you to live. You are hurting yourself and others! You have tried to change in your own strength and things have gotten worse rather than better. Listen! You cannot change in your own strength! Your only hope is to turn to the one who has defeated all the enemies of God……Jesus Christ. God challenged Cain to “do well and be accepted,” He challenges you and I to do the same! Jesus said in Jn 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father (is accepted) except through Me!” To do well, is to surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ, and to surrender to Jesus is to be accepted! Reflect: When is the last time you were angry? Have you had embarrassing moments due to outbursts of anger? How helpful would it be to consider these questions from God when your anger boils over? We often use anger to cover up our inability to do well. It is a diversionary tactic that we use to get the focus off of our shortcomings. What are some ways we can learn to control our anger? Pray: Father, All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, (we all have failed to do well.) Grant us true repentance and faith in Jesus that we may learn to rely on His well-doing, rather than our own.

# 49 God Knows Our Hearts

The Book of Genesis Day 49 Ge 4:3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. Adam and Eve’s kids grow up. Abel becomes a keeper of sheep and Cain becomes a tiller of the ground. At some point in time they decide to bring an offering to the Lord. Cain from his produce, and Abel from his sheep. As we said last time, this was the forerunner of the tithe. But a problem occurs with the offering. God respects the offering of Abel, but does not respect the offering of Cain. The word “respect” here means “consider.” Imagine giving someone a Christmas present and they don’t even “consider” it! They ignore it completely! How would you feel about that? We aren’t told why, and we aren’t told how Cain knew that God didn’t pay attention to his offering. Only that Cain was angry (probably at God, certainly at Abel) about the situation, and that his countenance fell. (He got a little long in the face!) Perhaps we should think about the times we get angry at God and disappointed in Him. Maybe Cain was upset about unanswered prayer. The Lutheran Study Bible has a note here that says, “the language implies that the offerings were accompanied by prayer requests, and that Abel received that for which he prayed but Cain did not.” Sound familiar? We too, are often caught brooding about God, when things don’t go our way. But why did God refuse to consider Cain’s offering? First of all, we are reminded that God always looks at the heart and not outward appearances. 1Sa 16:7b, “For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Then there’s the matter of Cain’s character. 1Jo 3:12 speaks of Cain in this manner, “not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous.” And in Jude, 10,11, we read this about Cain, “But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.” 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain Let’s face it, Cain was not exactly Mr. Nice Guy he was an unrepentant, corrupt, evil doing, pawn of the devil, and he was governed by his flesh. God sees external and internal evidence of faith. He knows all hypocrites and if He doesn’t deal with them in the here and now, He will on that final Day! Cain’s offering to God was not considered because Cain lacked true faith and Heb 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him,” Hypocrites are actors, and no amount of offerings and good deeds can make up for the lack of true faith! Hypocrites don’t like to be called out by God and it angers them to the point of murder. Don’t believe me? Just ask Abel, or the prophets, or Jesus! There is only one hope for the hypocrite, and that is the God-given gift of repentance! Ask Him for it with a sincere heart and He will bring it to you. Because as He says in 2 Pet 3:9 that He is, “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” And that includes the hypocrite! Reflect: When’s the last time you were angry? When’s the last time you were disappointed? What kind of damage do hypocrites inflict on the church? At times, we all engage in hypocrisy. What’s the best way to handle it? Pray: Father, help me to avoid the trap of hypocrisy. Let me always remember that I am nothing but a sinner saved by grace!

# 48 "The Go and No Go's of God

The Book of Genesis Day 48 Ge 4:3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. I want to spend a little time on the phrase, “it came to pass.” Did you know that this phrase shows up 452 times in the King James Bible? 452 times! It would seem to me that the Holy Spirit is striving to make a point here! The phrase is almost always used as a way of ushering in an important occurrence or event. In this case, the important event is an offering. It’s the first mention of an offering to the Lord in Scripture. The word “offering” means “apportion” and we get our first hint of a tithe in the Bible. Cain “apportioned” a part of His crop and offered it to God. Just think about the phrase for a moment. In order for something to “come to pass,” it has to arrive at a point where it is “go” or “no go.” Many things “come” to God and to the Throne Room, but not all things come to pass. 452 times in the Bible we read of situations where God in His omniscience, (all knowing) and in His omnipotence (all powerful) either sets things up or allows them to move on to where He needs them to be, to carry out His good and gracious will. It came to pass, it came to a time when God allowed it or didn't allow it. How can this knowledge of “it came to pass” be useful for you and I? Well. you've heard it said perhaps, that God answers prayer in three ways: Yes, no, or not yet. Well we are reminded of this fact 452 times in Scripture. It is just as the Bible states in Ro 8:28 “And we know that all things (I might add, that “come to pass”) work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Once armed with this knowledge and the sincerely held belief that “Father knows best,” we can than learn to live like thankful people, for to live thankfully, is the will of God. 1Th 5:18 says, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. We are thankful for everything, because “everything” is what God has allowed to “pass.” We have a good and gracious God, and we can be certain that anything that He allows to come to pass in our lives will ultimately serve a good and gracious purpose. We may not ever see it or understand it this side of heaven, but one day when we are in glory, standing on the sea of glass, we shall see, and it will give us even more cause to fall down and worship and praise His holy name. When unpleasant events and tragedies occur in our personal lives or the lives of others we sometimes find ourselves shaking our fist at God and wondering, “Why did You allow these things to pass?” It's an honest response and let me assure you, “God's not afraid of your honesty.” But one thing we should also consider is those things that we are not aware of, that God did not allow to pass! Sometimes I shudder to think of the things that COULD have happened in the wild days of my unconverted and foolish youth. I wonder how many times I put the Lord my God to the “pass or not pass” test. I wonder how many times many of you did the same thing! I believe one of the great things about heaven, is that all these things will be revealed to us. We will see what God allowed to pass and what HE did not allow to pass, and we will become keenly aware of His love and wisdom, which will stimulate even more worship (praise and thanksgiving) in heaven. Reflect: What are some important things in your life that “came to pass?” How have you seen God’s hand of protection in your own life? Have you ever had a bad thing happen to you only to see it turn out good later on? Pray: Father, thank You for this reminder of your all knowing power and sovereignty. Help me to learn to be thankful in all circumstances. Amen.

# 47 The Brevity of Life

The Book of Genesis Day 47 Ge 4:1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the LORD." 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Who did Eve “acquire a man from?” From the Lord, and once again we see that God is the Lord and giver of life! You can catch the excitement in her voice over the fact that she had a boy! Would this be the one who would take care of business with the serpent? Would this be the one who would “crush his head?” (Gen 3:15) The name “Cain” means “a lance, a weapon that strikes fast!” Could it be that this enmity between the serpent and man will be over soon? You can’t blame Adam and Eve for thinking that way, we would probably be thinking the same thing! We want it over and we want it over NOW! Well, as we shall see, Cain will indeed strike quickly, but not in the manner Adam and Eve had hoped for. Then she bore another child and named him “Abel.” His name means “emptiness or vanity, something transitory. ” How would you like that for a name? “Transitory!”Like it or not, it’s a name that God has given to all mankind due to the curse. Ps 39:4,5 says, "LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. 5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah” The word “vapor” here is the same Hebrew word for Abel! So you see, these first two children are reminders to us of how quickly our time on earth can come to an end! They are constant reminders of how quickly things can turn, and how important it is for us to redeem our time wisely. The wisest thing we can do then, is to get right with the Lord, before He calls us home. Reflect: Do you know what your name means? ( Go ahead, google it!) Do you know any Bible verses that tell us how to “get right” with the Lord? (Jn 3:16, Mk 16:16, Acts 2:38) How do the following verses speak to the brevity of life? (Luke 12:20, Ps 23:4) Pray: Lord, help us to have a sense of urgency that we may learn to number our days. Grant to us the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus, Amen

# 46 Something to Consider Concerning the Beginning of Life

The Book of Genesis Day 46 Ge 4:1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man “from the LORD." Where does the story of Cain begin? At conception! It is a sad commentary that many in the church today are unaware of this consistent message from Scripture: Life begins at conception and it is a gift from the Lord! We need to stop throwing it away! It’s easy to blame the abortion clinics for this holocaust. As of this writing nearly 60 million unborn children have lost their lives since the legalization of abortion in America in 1973. But it’s not just the abortion clinics! Some estimate that an additional 6 to 7 million children in America are aborted annually through pills and other devices that act by eliminating the fertilized egg! These kinds of numbers are numbing, and they contribute to our ever increasing apathy in this matter. We wonder why the abortion clinics are so busy in this land, but maybe we should take a closer look at our own view of life. Is it a gift from God or not? Ps 127:3 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.” We rightly get bent out of shape about the very visible act of partial birth abortion procedure, but at the same time, 6 to 7 million times a year, a uniquely created gift from God is conceived and invisibly denied an opportunity to live! Many of these “invisible” abortions are taking place in the body of Christ through pills and devices that act as abortifacients! I know this is hard stuff, and I am not here to cast stones! Indeed, my wife and I fell for this “lie” early on in our marriage as well. I am here hopefully, to simply cast a lifesaving light. A light that acknowledges the consistent message found in the Bible. Life begins at conception! There are alternatives to birth control medications and devices that act as abortifacients. As Bible-believing Christians it is incumbent that we do the research! It’s a matter of life and death! Life is a gift from God! Let us thank Him for it, and from this day forth look at ways to nurture it, rather than, wittingly or unwittingly, destroying it. And if we have erred in this regard, let us confess it before God. Then let us receive the forgiveness so freely offered by still Another, who’s story also began at conception…….Jesus Christ. Reflect What’s the most difficult conversation you’ve ever had? How can sheer numbers numb? What are some alternatives to “birth control?” “Adam knew Eve” and in this knowing, there is always the possibility of God creating a new life? How does this knowledge play out in 1Co 7:3-5, “Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” Pray: Father, thank You for the gift of life, help us to reclaim Your view of life and to learn to acknowledge You as the Lord and giver of life!

Labor Day Thoughts

Ec 5:18 Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. 19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart. It’s Labor Day in America. It’s a day that marks the unofficial end to summer. Vacations have been spent at cabins, national parks, water parks, or in RV’s travelling across this great land and taking in all the beautiful sights! Kids of all ages are heading back to school, and most of us will labor away again until the unofficial beginning of summer on Memorial Day. I like what Labor Day has become. One more shot at relaxation, and then let’s get back at it! But the history of Labor Day is something we Americans should not forget! The fair wages and benefits we receive for our labor today did not come cheap. In a sense, our Labor Day commemoration is a second Memorial Day. Our first Memorial Day that we celebrate in May is to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, that our country could remain free, and this “second” Memorial Day is to remember those workers who put so much on the line that we may enjoy “the good of all our labor” today. Here’s a brief history of our Labor Day holiday: The holiday evolved out of decades of tensions between workers and unions, and state security forces and employers on the other. Let that sink in for a while. Decades of tension in the streets, much like we have experienced recently in our nation, only more violent. In the last two decades of the 1800’s 37,000 strikes were carried out and between 1870 and 1914 up to 800 American workers were killed during strikes! The tensions culminated in the Pullman strike in Chicago, where workers went on strike after their wages were cut by 30%, but the rents and prices at company-owned accommodations and stores remained the same. (How fair is that?) The strike came to a bloody head when the government sent in the military to enforce a court injunction against the strike. Ensuing riots resulted in 30 deaths and 80 million dollars worth of property damages! Just six days after the strike, President Cleveland signed the bill that made Labor Day a national holiday in an apparent bid to appease workers. 37,000 strikes. Over 800 dead, it was not a pretty time in America!…….Happy Labor Day! As you pray over your meal at your cookout at the beach today, pause and give thanks and remember those who made it possible for you to enjoy the fair wage and benefits you receive for your labor today. I know this is asking a lot, but maybe you could take out your smart phone and google this passage from Ecclesiastes and read it before you eat! “It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. 19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God.” Rejoice that you may be able to usher out summer with family and friends, but rejoice even more in your labor, and the fruits thereof, for it is a gift from God

# 45 The Flaming Sword Is Closer Than You May Think

The Book of Genesis Day 45 Ge 3:22 Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" - 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. What you don’t know, won’t hurt you. It’s an old saying but it seems to apply here. Adam and Eve had it so good! They had no knowledge of good because they had no knowledge of evil! All was good, but they didn’t know it because they had nothing to compare it to! Ignorance, in this case, was indeed bliss! But once they tasted of the tree, they became like, (as God put it) “one of us.” The “us” here is likely the Trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are aware of good and evil, but they know how to handle that knowledge…..man doesn’t. Think of how awful it would be for man to live eternally with the knowledge of good and evil. How awful it would be, to be resurrected on the Last Day and continue living as we do today. Paradise would be a living hell of reincarnation subjecting us to the effects of evil forever! God, in His great love for us, protected us from this possibility by kicking Adam and Eve out of the Garden before they could munch on the Tree of Life! They (we) must not taste of this tree of life until everything is restored, and that happens when Jesus Christ returns to judge the living and the dead. In the meantime, cherubim have been placed east of the Garden of Eden and a flaming sword was placed in a position to guard the way to the tree of life. This flaming sword turns in every possible direction; there is no way anyone can partake of the tree of life without dealing with this flaming sword. This flaming sword should make cause us to think of the Word of God as it says in Eph 6:17b, “and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” This flaming sword then represents, the Holy One, Jesus Christ Himself, who is referred to as the “Word, and who states unequivocally that “He is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one comes to the Father (no one will be able to taste of the Tree of Life) except through Jesus! Aren’t you glad that God decided to guard and protect this tree? It’s their waiting for you and me and all others who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Persevere in the faith and you will one day taste of its fruit: Re 2:7 says, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."' Paradise restored! No more knowledge of good or evil because all will be good! Reflect: What are some things you regard as good? What are some things you regard as evil? Why is it important that the flaming sword turns every way? How many paths lead to God? Pray: Father, give us a yearning to return to Paradise, help us to finish the race through faith in Jesus, knowing and believing that He is the only way to the Tree of Life. Amen