Sin quits, faith keeps on . . .

Genesis 4; Matthew 4; Ezra 4; Acts 4

Imagine a painting refusing certain colors, or an automobile insisting it will run itself without the correct working parts. Imagine a house refusing framing or insisting on its own decisions regarding design and function. These are silly suggestions yet right from the beginning, humanity was created in the image of God yet rebels against our creator.

In Genesis, the first offspring of Adam and Eve murdered his brother right after he realize his own offering to God was not accepted as his brothers had been. God told him, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6–7) Cain was warned but he sinned anyway. Instead of confessing his shortfall and asking forgiveness, he retaliated.

If I do anything that falls short, I cannot please God by anything other than humbly admitting my error.

In Ezra’s story, God gave his people freedom from their exile to go home and rebuilt their temple. Opposition arose and instead of listening to God, they were afraid of the people in that land and the current king and stopped their work.

Giving in to those who oppose what I do in obedience to God is lack of faith and disobedience.

Matthew tells of the temptation of Jesus. His enemy (and ours) made three offers to Him and He turned down all three.

And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” (Matthew 4:3–10)

Jesus had work to do. Satan tried to stop Him by offering shortcuts that would benefit Him but do nothing toward fulfilling the salvation plan of God. instead of giving in to the temptations, Jesus began to teach and preach, calling others to work with Him as He proclaimed the gospel and healed diseases and afflictions. He simply did as His Father wanted.

Because the devil went after the Son of God, I can fully expect to be attacked as well. My efforts to further the kingdom of God are not at the same level of effectiveness as were those of Jesus, but anytime I give in to the lies and shortcuts the devil offers, I am rebelling against the plan of God.

Chapter 4 of Acts gives a wonderful example of what to say and do concerning opposition. Peter and John, in the name of Jesus, healed a man. Five thousand put their faith in Jesus. The religious leaders in that day were upset and confronted them. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said this:

“If we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:9–12)

The opposers told them to stop speaking in Jesus’ name, but Peter and John answered, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19–20) Their example prompted others to pray for boldness and “when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)

What former people of faith could not do, Jesus did. Then He gave His Spirit to His followers and they also were able to resist the temptation to quit when facing opposition. I want to have the courage to always resist temptation and the strength to remain obedient so I am also numbered among God’s faithful servants.