Now more than ever it is crystal clear we live by faith or by sight (see 2 Corinthians 5:7). If we trust in only what we see, we will make our choices out of fear, rather than trust in our Creator. Whereas, Adam and Eve’s son Abel lived by faith in offering his best and being accepted by God as righteous; his brother Cain walked by fear, offering some of the leftovers from his harvest, only to be rejected by God. Cain trusted in the gifts, not the Giver.
Faith speaks for eternity; fear sneaks for the temporary and is separated from God: “And by faith he [Abel] still speaks, even though he is dead” (Hebrews 11:4c). Abel’s faith echoes throughout eternity because he trusted the Giver of Life. Contrastingly, Cain tricked his brother and committed creation’s first murder. He exchanged the truth of God for a lie to worship and serve created things, rather than the Creator (see Romans 1:25). When confronted by God, Cain lied in an attempt to hide his sin. God cursed his farming efforts and made him a wanderer.
The Apostle Paul taught that faith lasts for eternity (see 1 Corinthians 13:13). Evangelizing and discipling others to faith in Christ transforms our world. This should be our number one priority in life. We are called to view our every thought, choice, prayer, emotion, and action through the lens of advancing the Kingdom of Christ in the hearts and lives of others. Before we send a text, email, letter, or card; before we call, FaceTime, or Zoom; before we meet, gather, buy, sell, lease, rent, refinance, or borrow; we must ask ourselves, “Does this help someone walk by faith in Christ?”
What is your echo? Each of us leaves a legacy, an inheritance to future generations. Just as Abel’s faith reverberates through the terrain of time, so ours can do the same. Consider starting a journal to pass along to your children. Each day, write your prayers, your meditations on Scripture, and God’s answers to your requests. You will be handing them a legacy of faith. Read the Bible aloud with your family. Talk about God’s faithfulness. Pray together. Share your favorite new worship song with them. The Holy Spirit will multiply your faith in Christ through future generations who will trust in the Giver and not the gifts.
Episode 447: Faithfully Fitted with Jay Chapman from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.