Beginnings Matter

It’s been said if you want to be successful then make sure your beginning is correct.

This is the story of Cain and Able. Both stood guilty before God because of the sin passed down from their parents, Adam and Eve. Therefore they needed forgiveness. Yet God accepted Able’s sacrifice while rejecting Cain’s. Why?

Cain came with the works of his hands. He was a farmer, and he gave God a portion of what he grew, that which he worked hard to produce. Able was a shepherd, and sacrificed the firstborn lamb, his best and most precious (Genesis 4:1-4).

Cain’s offering was rejected while the Lord “respected Able and his offering,” Genesis 4:5. Why?

It was because of faith.

“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” (Hebrews 11:4 NKJV).

Cain’s sacrifice is the sacrifice the world wants to make, which really isn’t a sacrifice at all; rather it’s merely good works.

Able’s sacrifice was of blood. Able knew his sins were grievous to God and would cost the life of an innocent.

The Bible says, “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22 NKJV; cf. Leviticus 17:11).

God only accepts the same sacrifice of blood for our sins, which is why Jesus came to this earth. He became that lamb, the Lamb of God that takes away the world’s sin (John 1:29). And it’s only through the blood He shed upon the cross that our sins are forgiven.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV).

Accept Jesus’ sacrifice and allow His precious blood to be applied on your behalf and you will be accepted and forgiven.