Simpson Devotional
Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Days of Heaven on Earth
The two men who stand worshiping at the gate of Eden represent the two divisions of mankind-believers and unbelievers. The earthly man has far more beauty, culture and real effort in his religion. He brings the first and best of the rich, ripe produce of summer. Perhaps his altar is in favorable contrast to the rude mound of clay on which Abel offers the ghastly and revolting sacrifice of a bleeding, dying lamb. Cain's whole offering was a direct denial of what God had said about the curse upon the ground and its fruits, of the fact of sin and the need of an atoning Savior. Abel's sacrifice acknowledged this truth and accepted God's way of pardon. The first act of faith is to believe what God says about sin-to believe that we are sinners because God says it. Abel did. He took the sinner's place and instantly found the sinner's Savior. Cain would not see his sin and as a result, fell into deeper sin. The devil tricks us into saying, "I have not sinned." Humble faith accepts God's judgment upon sin and thereby escapes its penalty.
Scripture
And the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering—Genesis 4:4